Welcome to the Beautiful Silks Great Textile Wsate to wealth products In 2007 Annie Yopung and Marion Gorr set off to India to see what they would find. Along the way they met Maheshchandraguru, who invited them to visit Mandya. Annie and Marion were so impressed with the hand skills of the women there, especially the string makers who were making string out of banana fibre waste, they asked if they could invite others to accompany them and do workshops in Mandya in 2008. This idea took flight and in October 2008 the Beautiful Silks Mandya Waste to wealth project was launched. And surprise, with the small remittances that we sent to Mandya and the will of the cvommunity there, a building was commenced and when we arrived in 2008, it was in a state of readiness for the workshops. See the opening ceremony pictures here
Below we have some pictures of the art dolls these women are making. Every 1000 dolls builds a freehold home on the land the Vikasana Institute has purchased for housing. The silk cords are available now and each packet has the name of the maker. These cords are made from silk cloth waste which is purchased in the area and delivcered to the Institute. These strings are ideal for any textile artists to have stored in their just in case kit. One packet of 10 cords of 50cm length is available for $AUD50 plus gst - offshore orders do not need to pay gst. For currency exchange calculations go to this page - we mail order on credit card payment also we are setting up a paypal system. We also accept bulk orders and despatch daily.
Dolls
Saguna's dolls then straight above on this page one doll from Dilshed Sowbagya did the group above and on the far right these are Farida's dolls. These dolls will become collector's items as the world moves toward different trading and justice for handworkers, we reject slavery and encourage the old ethos of fair trade. Below: Dolls by Abida on left and Zeenath on the right. All these women are accomplished handworkers, and want homes, they trade you their time and artistic effort for a sale of goods and a home. Please ask Beautiful Silks for prices and bulk orders.
www.vikasana.net has details of our other fund-raising activities for this organisation, of which we and our associated business elephantconcepts.com are the major sponsors. India Flint, below collaged behind some of her results: Collage: Sandra Fisher, who was an Australian participating in this event.
India Flint set up outside, and was soon inundated, whilst Nalda and Lindy worked inside with the string makers, first Nalda got the workshop participants making bags.....
Marion will be accepting bookings for the 2009 tour until the workshops are full. 2009 workshops will take palce during the first 2 weeks of December. Bookings must be accompanied by a deposit. $500.00 deposit and $1000.00 progress payment is due. Balance due 31st August 2009. Visas need to be applied for earliest 60 days before travel. It can take 30 days to secure a visa to India.
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Anne Young with Sowbagya in blue, the bagmaking start, and above left, completed eco bag. 