Tanvi Kareer

Pollachi, a quaint village in Tamil Nadu, is the home of Ethicus (http://www.appachicotton.com/), a brand promoting sustainable and ethical textiles. With a family of about 40 skilled weavers, Ethicus brings together the organic cotton grown in the Kabini region of Karnataka and the local skill of jacquard handloom weaving, to create hand crafted textiles with a contemporary edge. . . . . . Athangudi, is a collection of contemporary saris developed as part of a 6 month project with Ethicus. Creating a delicate balance between the raw and natural beauty of the handmade, and the contemporary tastes and trends, Athangudi is the outcome of a design process intertwined with the nuances and challenges of a small, self sustaining, grassroot setup.

Weaving and pre-weaving processes at the Ethicus loomshed.

The collection draws its inspiration from the rich and vibrant Chettinad culture. Deep in the heart of Tamil Nadu, Chettinad is a land extraordinary for its architecture, its arts, crafts, cuisine, its way of life and its heritage. Deriving its name from the exquisite handmade Athangudi tiles that adorn the houses here, the collection explores the play of vibrant contrasting colours, the traditional yet contemporary patterns and the striking yet detailed craftsmanship seen in the embellishment of the Chettinad mansions.

Different elements of the Chettinad culture like the grand mansions and their interiors, the courtyards, the tile work, the kolams (patterns adorning the floors hand drawn with a special rice paste), different crafts like basketry, as also the Chettinad cuisine, were a reference for deriving motifs, colours, textures. . . . . . The following pictures elaborate on some of the saris woven as part of the collection, along with some glimpses of the many hands through which they pass, on thier journey from a cotton seed to a beautiful finished product !

. . . . . Pollachi, a quaint village in Tamil Nadu, is the home of Ethicus (http://www.appachicotton.com/), a brand promoting sustainable and ethical textiles. With a family of about 40 skilled weavers, Ethicus brings together the organic cotton grown in the Kabini region of Karnataka and the local skill of jacquard handloom weaving, to create hand crafted textiles with a contemporary edge. . . . . . Athangudi, is a collection of contemporary saris developed as part of a 6 month project with Ethicus. Creating a delicate balance between the raw and natural beauty of the handmade, and the contemporary tastes and trends, Athangudi is the outcome of a design process intertwined with the nuances and challenges of a small, self sustaining, grassroot setup. . . . . .

Working and learning with the Ethicus family!