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Handicraft ~ The act of ‘hand-crafting’ an object to suffice a daily chore; to pacify a need of faith; as an artistic expression; or perhaps to hone the dexterity of a pair of hands. This act of ‘crafting’ is but the most potent proof of the ‘civil-ness’ within any civilization. The ancient act of crafting almost always is a reflection of the times… and sometimes is powerful enough to make time itself its reflection.

Deep within its bowls, a craft holds dear the myths, legends, and faiths that lent it its form, these stories desperately need to be shared with the onlooking audience. These stories not only help the onlooker appreciate the craft righteously but also offer many a lessons in humble living. It’s the transfer of this value-system more than the craft itself, which is the objective of the ‘Gaatha’ project.

Handicrafts have weathered many a storms at the hands of increased industrialization and overall paradigm shifts in the crafts’ production and consumption ecosystem. The global consumer now slowly wakes to the actual ecological price that the increasingly mechanized and plastic-addicted industries entail. They are more willing now than ever before to hear and pay heed to the tales of craft.

The ‘Gaatha’ project was conjured to play that key role of storytelling, and therewith bringing social and commercial benefits to the artisan settlements. We desire to become the instrument though which the artisans can directly connect with the global audience, we desire to be the resource which helps craft sell not as objects but stories and ideologies. We are vying to make not just ‘sales’ but ‘dialogues’ between the craftsmen and their patrons, encouraging ‘co-creation’ possibilities and a collective growth. We are committed to keeping all the good practices intact and all processes humane, just and ecologically
balanced.

Above all, we want to identity and recognize the faceless artisan.