Handmade in India

RAMBAANDS-NATURAL FIBRE CRAFT
Production Clusters
Dehradun district:
Dehradun
Products
Langar
Fishing Net
Dhurrie
Brushes
Coasters
Baskets
Mats
Bags
Hats
Slippers
Toys
Stuffing
Tools
Decoraticator
machine
RAMBAANS IS A variety of the sisal plant and grows
abuntantly in the lower hills of Uttaranchal.The leaves of the
plant are long fleshy blades radiating from the roots.The
glossy but stiff cream-coloured fibre extracted from them is
used,after processing and treatment,a similar process used for
jute and hemp to make utility and decorative products.The
fibre is bunched,rolled and braided into toys,rope,table
mats,bags and hats among other things.It does not deteriorate
if it comes in contact with saltwater.The villagers cook the
leaves into a tasty dish.The fibre is extracted using a diesel
decorticator.It is washed thoroughly,dries and bound into
bales.There are around 300 species of the sisal plant but fibre
is extracted only from some of them.
1. Detail of a circular table mat.
2. A coaster made from rambaans.The fibre is spun into
yarn and made into a narrow braid,which is arranged
into coils stitched together in the desired pattern just
like jute coasters.
3. Rambaans fibre woven in a cotton warp and then
crafted into utility items such as house slippers and
hats.
A hat
LANTANA FURNITURE
Production Clusters
Dehradun district:
Dehradun
Chamoli district:
Chamoli
Products
Chairs
Peg Tables
Racks
Baskets
LANTANA CAMARA,known as panchphulli in Hindi,has overrun
entire hillsides in Uttaranchal and experiments to find uses for it
have been going on for some time.One of the uses discovered
looking at the hard woody stem was lightweight furniture.The main
stem is strong but can be split.The stem is heat bent and the edges
are bound with lantana splits,nailed in place.Lantana is probably a
native of South America which was brought to India by a priest as
an ornamental plant.
1. Detail of lantana furniture bound wiht its splits.
2. A tray resembling those made from cane or bamboo.
3. A table made of lantana wood.The stem can be heat-bent like
cane.
It is a perennial woody shrub,which has become a major
pan tropical weed.Its infestation has now spreadd all
over Uttaranchal`s lower hills.Thousands of hectares of
land have become unproductive owing to lantana
infestation.Somtimes villages have had to shift being
unable to cope with the menace.The leaves and seeds are
poisonous to cattle and thus have no fodder value.It is
also being used to generate electricity,used as fuel,and to
make agarbatti,incense sticks.The only plus point in
favour of this weed is that it affords soil cover and
checks soil erosion.
Tools
Hammer
Blow Torch
Knife