Revitalizing and imaginatively reinterpreting Indian artisanal crafts, the fresh lineup from Design ni Dukaan
India's Design ni Dukaan is making waves in the design world with its latest collection, 'Roop Aroop.' This innovative collection is not just about contemporary furniture and design objects, but it's a passionate effort to revive two endangered Indian crafts: Sujani embroidery and quilting from rural Gujarat, and Pathamadai Pai mat weaving from Tamil Nadu.
The collection, based in Ahmedabad, works across architecture, interiors, furniture, and product design. It seamlessly blends traditional craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities, providing a blueprint for how innovation and inheritance can coexist in design.
Traditional Crafts Meet Modern Design
'Roop Aroop' integrates wood and brass pieces in its designs, giving a contemporary twist to traditional crafts. One of the standout pieces is the Ras Bhari Chair, hand-shaped with a natural grain of wood, and the Gyaan Peeu, a multifunctional study table and chest of drawers, featuring veneer patterns, brass motifs, and vibrant panels.
Another fascinating piece is the Rafiq ni Sujani Partition, a foldable screen created in collaboration with design studio Raasleela. Crafted by Rafiq Bhai, the last Sujani artisan in his lineage, it uses a double-cloth weaving method, creating a distinctive tactile quality and allowing light to pass through the fabric's dense weave.
Adapting to Contemporary Life
The 'Roop Aroop' collection seeks to weave the threads of tradition into the fabric of contemporary life. The Beevi Pai Swing reinterprets traditional mats as seating elements, while the Banu Pai Cabinet features abstract geometric patterns on its shutters, drawing inspiration from traditional motifs.
The Sangat Manch table, inspired by a parasol, draws attention with its hand-carved curves resting on a single brass rod, creating the illusion of weightlessness. The collection's Ras Bhari Chair also boasts dismantlable joinery, making it not just a beautiful piece but also practical and adaptable.
A Vanguard of Design Innovation
Design studios in India are reclaiming indigenous narratives and practices, and 'Roop Aroop' is a testament to this movement. India is emerging as a vanguard of the design movement that emphasizes innovation and nostalgia. The collection is inspired by the verse 'Yugan Yugan Hum Yogi,' attributed to 15th-century mystic poet Sant Kabir, which meditates on timelessness.
With 'Roop Aroop,' Design ni Dukaan is not just preserving rare artisanal skills, but also adapting them to current aesthetics and functionality, ensuring their relevance and sustainability in today’s market. This approach not only preserves these endangered crafts but also breathes new life into them, making them relevant and desirable in contemporary settings.
The 'Roop Aroop' collection, with its focus on interior design, showcases how traditional crafts like Sujani embroidery and mat weaving can contribute to a modern lifestyle and home-and-garden aesthetics. For instance, the Ras Bhari Chair and the Banu Pai Cabinet blend timeless Indian crafts with modern design sensibilities, creating pieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing in contemporary settings.
