The enduring potential of Basketry

It may not possess the perks of cool crafts like guerilla knitting but basket weaving is one those skills which can provide the means of earning to a significant population of tribal women.

Some of the crafts are universal in their own way, no matter how developed an economy is, traditions like basket weaving will always serve the greater needs of the market.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has recently funded a Producer-Owned Women Enterprises (POWER)  project initiated by Industree Foundation.The project aspires to empower women to become micro-entrepreneurs who will have collective ownership and operate their producer companies along selected value chains.

Supported by the Karnataka chapter of the National Bamboo Mission and the Forest Department, Govt. of Karnataka. Project POWER has  trained 70 Soliga tribal women from MM Hills region of Chamarajanagar district on bamboo basket making.

Traditionally the Soliga tribal community have long been involved in bamboo craft works over generations but lack the skill sets suited for a global market. And therefore, Industree, through the POWER project addresses this through the implementation of skill training programs with market-led design intervention and leadership skills.

These interventions in skill training will enable producer groups to understand the demands of global and domestic markets. Skill training has been imparted by experts specialized in the bamboo-based crafts from Tripura.

The ongoing project in Karnataka entails the production of goods made by professionally handheld producer-owned bamboo natural fiber-based enterprises supplying to national and global buyers.

It is not just cliched laundry baskets and shopping baskets which they will be producing  – there are some fabulous creations being made with basketry techniques to tempt the buyers across the world.

Cover image by Incredible India