Lambani mirror work to grace silk fabrics

The skilled Lambani tribal women have been roped in by the Central Silk Board to extend their embroidery and mirror work on silk fabrics.

At least 15 Lambani women, part of the Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra, have undergone training to understand the silk fabric and to extend their skillful handicrafts.
A Central Silk Board official said that they wanted to extract the rich heritage of Lambani skills on a rich fabric to enhance quality of the handicrafts.

“There are four types of silk—eri, muga, tussar and mulberry. We have not yet completely exploited these fabrics and texture to suit the handicrafts. Just six months ago, we roped in the Lambani women and made them understand the silk fabric and they have undergone three weeks of training.

“There are still more experiments to be done to use all types of silk in handicrafts,” he added.

An embroidery work on a silk pillow cover would cost not less than Rs 1,200, the official added. Similarly, various other products will be priced as per the work and the fabric. The Central Silk Board wants to enhance and extend this work in the coming days, the official added.

The Lambani women were invited for the valedictory function of the 23rd Congress of the International Sericultural Commission here on Wednesday.
 
Union Minister of State for Textiles (independent charge) Santosh Kumar Gangwar released silk hand embroidery products created by Lambani women’s groups.

Women empowerment
According to Gangwar, after agriculture, it is the textile industry which can generate employment, and handicrafts on silk fabric is one way of women empowerment. Although India trails China in manufacturing of silk, the Central government is working to strengthen the textile industry and make an identity of our own, he added.

The Central Silk Technological Research Institute, the Central Silk Board and L’Oreal India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to take up a collaborative project on Eri Silk Face Mask.

You can browse and buy silk products online at www.silkmark.gocoop.com.  The web portal is part of the collaboration between Silk Mark Organisation of India and Go-Coop.