Think locally, buy swadeshi

The newly-opened arts and craft store in thane offers a range of ethnic products with a modern twist, handmade by local housewives and sourced from remote villages

The newly-opened arts and craft store in thane offers a range of ethnic products with a modern twist, handmade by local housewives and sourced from remote villages

Revisit your roots seems to be the mantra at Shilpa's, the handicraft store run by Shilpa Karkare and Ritesh Nawarange, in Thane. They recently hosted a Diyakandeel Mela which showcased 750 handmade lamps sourced from all over the country. It was followed by a kite festival where colourful kites made in Gujarat and Rajasthan were offered as alternatives tou00a0 Chinese ones.

Cloth dolls depicting Naga warriors and a Bengali couple
(Prices start at Rs 700 onwards). Pics/ Suresku00a0KK

"I was taken aback when I realised that something as traditional as the padukas (foot marks of deities used to adorn the temple) are made in China and supplied to India. It shows how closely they study our culture to market their products. That's when I decided to promote lesser-known artisans from remote villages and local housewives who need a platform to showcase their creativity," says Shilpa.
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She has another store by the same name at Gokhale Road in Thane which focuses on accessories and handbags while her new store is completely devoted to arts and crafts.

The range of products at Shilpa's includes terracotta jewellery from Kolkata, lamps from rural Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Kerala, embossed leather handbags from Shanti Niketan and batwas made from the borders of Paithani sarees. Check out the Jodhpur glass lampshades adorned with ceramic and glass chips (Rs 3,500) and the table stand from Lucknow which resembles a tabla (Rs 1,200 for a pair). If you are searching for a quirky gift, opt for the white metal filigree purse (Rs 60) that can be used to gift elaichi and other spices.

You can do a mini-anthropological study through the community dolls (prices start at Rs 700) made by an elderly lady in Madhya Pradesh. Fashioned from discarded cloth, these dolls showcase various communities such as the Nagas, Maharashtrians and Bengalis at their traditional best. There is also a miniature terracotta collection (prices start at Rs 175) which depicts people engaged in traditional occupations such as basket weaving and even includes a snake charmer. They also have traditional Rajasthani cloth puppets (prices start at Rs 50) as well in case you are in the mood to set up your own puppet show.

If you like artefacts with a royal touch, check out their elegant agarbatti containers from Udaipur (Rs 80) or their Rajasthani Khanjar or dagger (Rs 2,200) which will bring out the adventurous streak in you.