The wooden-lacquer toys and trinkets depicted in images are traditionally made by craftsmen in Channapatna, a town on Bangalore-Mysore highway in Karnataka. Having been fascinated by the crafts since childhood, visiting fairs regularly and interacting with artisans, Vaidyanathan got interest in it. A few years ago, he decided to combine his passion for working in the social sector and crafts to keep himself occupied outside of his corporate job. He had volunteered to work with a reputed organisation on the Channapatna craft. However, unfortunately when things did not seem to move much, he decided to work on his own.
Vaidyanathan then set up Varnam (meaning colourful), a for-profit social enterprise, to work with artisans to promote the craft and to reorient the craft to the modern context and lifestyle. Varnam is an ode to colourful India. His attempt has been to bring his own aesthetic sensibilities and design philosophy to traditional crafts. The idea is to ensure that each design has a utilitarian value and thereby relevant today.
There is a constant dialogue with his artisans on current market trends in terms of finish, utilitarian value, attention to detail, etc. In doing so, he hopes to enhance the sense of pride amongst his master crafts-people for their skill and ensure that these crafts continue to thrive.
In today’s context, making sure toys are eco-friendly is important for parents. And these Channapatna toys are. The wood used in the craft is hale-maraa (wrightia tinctoria) which is primarily a medicinal plant. Some of their products also recycled pine and rubberwood. And the colours used are natural. They have also tested their colours and got them certified in accordance with US and European Standards. All the parts of the wood are used in the design. If a certain product is discarded, the wood is reused in another design. Even the residual saw dust from the wood is used in the incense industry.
Apart from toys, the Channapatna craft has been fashioned fashion accessories, home decor, kitchen items and more. Their lifestyle products too are quite functional and can be used in a day-to-day environment right from keychains to wine bottle corks, wall hooks, kitchen towel holders, salt-n-pepper shaker sets, clothes hangers, etc.
Source : DNA