A burst of kaleidoscopic colours, the kind you can only get when someone’s imagination is let loose, spills over the fabric of the products on display at the Weavin launch. Some lines run straight, some cross each other, the reds stand out against the white, while the yellows and greens nuzzle. The iPad sleeves, spectacle cases, tote bags, and wallets, among others on display, are all made of cotton.
The products of Weavin, a brand created in collaboration with three NGOs, are all made of fabric spun by people with intellectual disabilities.
It started when Shuttles and Needles, a city-based creative textile art studio and supply store, joined hands with Maithree, Vasantham, and We CAN India, to acquaint their trainers with freestyle weaving, which can be used as a tool for therapy. “That was three years ago. Recently, we thought, why not make use of all the fabric we are getting out of it? All the returns from these sales are given back to the people who made them, so that they can be productive members of the society,” says R Naresh, managing director of Shuttles and Needles.
Weavin employs around 70 adults with intellectual disabilities, to weave cotton fabric through easy-to-use looms provided by Shuttles and Needles. “We use ergonomic equipment such as sari looms, to help them weave easily. All of our weaving is freestyle, based on the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which believes that beauty lies in imperfection,” he says.
The fabric thus created is given to designer Kalyani Pramod, who chooses bits and pieces from each to put together the finished product. “The raw fabric is entirely up to them. It’s like painting with yarn: they have been given a set of colours and they can let their imaginations run wild. After they are done, I group certain colour schemes together for the best result,” says Kalyani, who receives the fabric in rolls of 10 metres.
Visibly proud of their work, she describes it as a riot of patterns, colours and rhythm. “You see, in design schools, you are taught certain patterns and you stick to them, you tend to repeat it. But with these guys, there are no rules!” Admiring their uninhibited style, she recalls a particular design that took her by surprise, “It was inspired by the pongal paanai, where the colours seemed to be spilling out from the pot.”
When John Rajkumar of Maithree was approached with the idea of Weavin, he agreed almost immediately. “Naresh and Kalyani came to me with this proposal, and I thought it would suit us very well. Freestyle weaving is the kind of work that is simple and repetitive,” he says.
Agrees Gita Srikant of We Can India, that works with people on the autism spectrum in particular. “People who have autism don’t understand the social norms of working and earning money. Keeping them interested in one thing is a task. Weaving is good for them because it provides a creative outlet for two-three hours a day, and at the same time helps with their finances,” she says.
Kalyani reiterates that the trainers are only asked to teach basic weaving skills, and not influence the patterns in any other way. Adds Naresh, “That’s why every single one of our products is truly unique. Even a limited edition pen would have at least 10 others of its kind. But each of our products has a special connection to the weavers, a story to be told. Because it’s all handmade by different people, no two products can ever be alike. Moreover, they produce less than one third of the carbon footprint that machine made products do.”
A revolution, of sorts
The work is on a completely voluntary basis. Weavers can put in any number of hours, depending on the extent of their disability, and are paid per metre for the fabric they produce. “Right now, we are not retailing per product. We only sell gift hampers starting from ₹5,500,” says Naresh. “You need to contact us to place an order: we will send you a link for payment and courier the hamper anywhere in India.”
What Naresh hopes to do now, is start a revolution of sorts. “I invite all NGOs to join us in this venture, and make this a viable source of livelihood for our specially-abled friends. This way, everybody wins: and that really, is the concept of Weawin,” he concludes.
To place an order, contact mail2weavin@gmail.com or visit www.weavin.com.