Indian weavers bring in woolen and cotton fabrics made with natural products and days of hard work for the discerning Global Village visitors
Global Village is a perfect venue for showcasing the small-scale industry of India which promotes traditional handicrafts from different parts of the country. In India, for most of the families that pursue handicrafts as their main vocation the tradition is passed on from generation to generation. Promoting handicrafts is a great step forward in preserving the cultural identity of the people and at the same time it provides a source of income for those involved in this industry.
Yogender, a craftsman from Mirlad, a village about 60km from the Indian capital New Delhi has been participating in Global Village for the past several years. He specialises in hand-woven woolen and cotton fabrics which has been a long-time tradition with the family. For Yogender weaving runs in the family and a demand for handloom fabrics has given an impetus to their industry. In the Global Village in particular, he was very happy to see the visitors showing interest in his work which brings him good business too. That's also an incentive to return to the Global Village each year with a repertoire of his best works.
Handloom is perhaps the best-known Indian craft which has a niche market and is popular throughout the world. The fabrics are woven by hand on a bamboo machine that's based on an old technique. It's the same machine that has been used in his family for generations and has been handed down to Yogender as an heirloom.
Yogender has been weaving woolen quilts full-time since he was 10 years old. Besides wool he also weaves cotton fabrics made of natural cotton dyed with vegetable dyes. By years of practice he can mange to weave 4-6 meters of fabric every day.
Global Village is a very good opportunity for him and each year he makes sure that he brings the best products. "There is a demand for our products because they are made without using sophisticated machines and have our days of hardwork and feelings in it. They also look very bright and colourful and come at a reasonable price," he said.
Added Yogender, "The collection that we created for the Global Village is very special because it involves my entire family. Even my grandparents join in to work by hand and contribute their bit to ensure that people in Global Village get good quality products."
The Global Village 2006 which is on until March 3, 2006 is open to the public all throughout from 4pm to 12am daily and until 1am on Wednesday and Thursday and is sponsored by Americana, Chevrolet, Cool&Cool, Emirates Bank, London Dairy, Aquafina, Cellucom and Pepsi. For further information, please visit the Global Village website: www.globalvillage.ae or their call center on 700044444.
-Ends-
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© Press Release 2006
