Oct 13 2022 to Oct 15 2022 10:30 a.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Zaina by CtoK brings you the 2nd edition of its flagship event KASHMIRIYAT - a celebration of the crafts and craftspeople of Kashmir contemporized but with its unique 600 year old traditions and skills. The exhibition cum sale will be on from the 13th – 15th of October at Bangalore International Centre. On display will be a series of products celebrating contemporary Kashmir and showcasing the possibilities of design in the home and lifestyle space such as lighting, home furnishings, carpets, bags, accessories that have a wide urban appeal across crafts ranging from embroideries, pashmina, walnut wood, Namda, Kashmiri carpets, papier mache to copper. This will be the first time all the crafts of Kashmir will be showcased together. There are workshops for both adults and children. Through the event Zaina by CtoK hopes to reignite interest in the creative arts of Kashmir and keep alive the rich tradition of their craftsmanship in a rapidly changing urban market. Zaina by CtoK, is the off shoot of the Commitment to Kashmir initiative in the Valley which was started 11 years ago to help young Kashmiri artisans, some of the most talented in the world, discover new contemporary directions for their skills.

Zaina by CtoK, the buyer seller interactive platform of Commitment to Kashmir (CtoK), is a social enterprise started in June 2020 which offers the skillful artisans of Kashmir a marketing platform to showcase their craftsmanship and access a world outside their Valley. It aims through good design to provide sustainable livelihoods, pride and an identity to the artisans from Kashmir by bringing their creations to a stage accessible by all. Our attempt has been to reorient the Kashmiri crafts to the modern context by ensuring that each design has a utilitarian value and an aesthetic that is current. On display - All the designs co-created with the artisans that received the Lexus Design Award in the category of Design for Social Impact 2019 will be on display and for sale for the first time. The products that were selected as part of a curated design showcase at Milan Design Week 2019 and at the Ambiente Messe Fair at Frankfurt 2019 will be on display. The papier mache sakhta collection titled "The Substance Collection" that was awarded the Elle Decor International Design Award (EDIDA) India 2019 will be showcased at the exhibition.

The KASHMIRIYAT 2.0 event will also have a demonstration by a wool felter as he showcases the technique of making rugs without weaving and the new innovative technique of Nuno Felting developed as a part of the project funded by Titan. For children, Zaina by CtoK brings a special workshop of “Making Your Own Xmas Decorations” from the famous papier mache artists of Kashmir. There will also be a special Design Walk Through by Designer Devika Krishnan as she takes the people through the journey of the crafts and the crafts people of the Valley.

There is also a Walk The Talk with designer Burhan Khateeb of Studio Kilab and The Kashmir Paper Collective on The Magic of Papier Mache. Shruti Jagota, Project Head at CtoK and Co-Founder Zaina by CtoK - “For a Kashmiri the craft is not just a means of making a simple product, but it’s a form of expression that’s closely connected to their history and identity. For the artisans of Kashmir, their craft is so much more than just a source of income – it is how they share the beauty of their home with the world. These crafts - and the stories that come with them - form the foundation of each Zaina by CtoK product. Each one is a celebration of the unique and longstanding tradition of Kashmiri design. With each of our products we endeavor to bring the paradise that is Kashmir, closer to you - It's ethereal beauty, vibrant nature in its mountains, lakes, gardens, flowers and birds.”

Laila Tyabji, Chairperson Dastkar and Founding Trustee of CtoK - “Kashmir has been a constant in my life since our annual holidays there as a child. Later came the discovery of its many wonderful crafts, and even more, it’s incredible craftspeople. Years of insurgency, bandhs and curfews had isolated Kashmir from tourism and potential buyers. Craftspeople were suffering and the crafts stagnating. Working with them was a challenge. It’s been exciting and moving to see how Zaina by CtoK and the Trust’s inputs in design, product development and entrepreneurship have given these young Kashmiri craftspeople a new creative impetus and hope. Now we need you to support them”.

Gulshan Nanda, Chairperson Commitment to Kashmir (CtoK), Ex-Chairperson Cottage Industries “Zaina by CtoK is an endeavor coming from Commitment to Kashmir (CtoK) to help promote and advance lives and crafts of Kashmiri artisans . They are bringing a new design aesthetic using the traditional Kashmir crafts to you in Bangalore- pls do go out and support this effort with your generosity and share the news with others too” Wajahat Rather, Founder Raffugar, Designer with CtoK It is always great to go back to Kashmir and work on the crafts of the valley. I always get new perspectives about the crafts of Kashmir. Rather than taking direct inspiration and having the flora and fauna motifs of Kashmir on the set of cushions, we have used a new approach to our designs and explored abstract forms of Birds and Dal lake in embroidery, employing an impressionistic approach to the art works. I can see this collection as a part of many households in urban India and abroad. Burhan Khateeb, Design Head of Kashmir Papier Mache Cooperative “Ctok has revitalized the crafts industry in Kashmir by setting examples of young craft entrepreneurs who are trained in a holistic manner and linked to the right markets. As a designer working in Kashmir, I see this event being organised by Zaina By CtoK as a perfect opportunity to showcase the latest and greatest in Kashmiri crafts to an evolved audience. We will showcase our latest work in Paper Mache and willow wicker crafts and hope to network with new customers, get feedback on our products and open up new channels of collaboration through this event.” Devika Krishnan, Design Mentor At CtoK CtoK is a rare initiative that looks at creating a positive impact in crafts based livelihoods in the Kashmir valley by engaging with people from the valley who are keen to set up or enhance businesses through traditional Kashmiri crafts. I am fortunate to have been a part of this program that worked with over 40 Kashmiris since 2012 and helped establish at least 3 dozen micro and medium enterprises in the valley that engage hundreds of locals who create beautiful products for home and fashion using their hand skills. Along with me there are several established designers from India who too worked with these artisan entrepreneurs. We not just developed new products but also created entirely new genres in traditional practices of namda and papier-mâché. The products embody the finest of Kashmiri hand skills in a completely contemporary style, a grand celebration of the old with the new. All this and more will be available for all to see and buy at the KASHMIRIYAT festival at BIC. This event is an ABSOLUTE MUST SEE!”

Venue: Bangalore International Centre, Domlur, Bangalore

Date: October 13th – 15th, 2022

Time: 10.30 AM – 7.30 PM