A very popular saying goes ,”Magnificence can only be handcrafted.” A handicraft is not just a product, it is the outcome of labour by skilled hands. These hands carry forward traditional skill sets, running within the families since generations. And these skill sets need to be protected, nurtured and cherished. Thus, OBEETEE, India’s largest luxury rug maker, has collaborated with Abraham & Thakore, the much celebrated designer duo, to “provide opportunities to engage their weavers and preserve their craft.”
These two established entities have come together to glorify the second phase of their ‘Proud to be Indian’ collection. The collection is supposed to be a beautiful amalgamation of the old and new. The collection will have designs inspired by Vintage saree borders from Kanchipuram, block prints from Sanganer and the ever trending tie and dye Bandhani from Kutch. The designs are also influenced by the geometry of double Ikat Telia Rumals. The most unique element, which will make the collection stand out is touch of the art of calligraphy, an ancient, ornate lettering techniques. This will be made possible by the use of old handwritten letters and faded ink.
All these mere words will be woven into glorious rugs, under the OBEETEE banner. As stated by the OEETEE Chairman, Mr. Rudra Chatterjee the reason for the collaboration was to ‘create rugs that represent design, material and craftsmanship that are local, yet exceptional in heritage and quality’. The company’s sole motto has always been to provide their consumer with a high end luxury, which cannot be mass produced. And they have lived up to it till the last detail. Even after appointing some of their best weavers, it took them more than a year to knot their first carpet. This so happened, because the finest silk was first obtained, to weave a rug as dense as 200 knots per square inch. This rug, though traditional with its motifs and designs, followed a colour palette that was quite loud and bold. Abraham and Thakore beautifully describes it by saying that the rug has a modern design voice with a rich traditional vocabulary of Indian design and craft.
The designers also appreciate complexity of the knotting techniques used by craftsmen to create a surface. Though amazed by their skill, the designers have worked in harmony with these skilled weavers. providing a distinct aesthetic to every master piece. Moving beyond every mysterious element of what one calls modern art, this collaboration has glorified craftsmen’s spirit that ‘in crafting there are no mistakes, just unique creations’.
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