Solitary Weaver - Make One Employ One

About 35 years ago my husband went to Bhopal. One day a small boy pestered him to buy the wooden wall hanging. He quoted Rs.80/-. 'Shehar mein to sahib dus guna bikta hai.'

To get him off his back my husband quoted 20/. The boy agreed. My husband had no other option but to buy it. Rs.20/ for don't know how many hours of work. What do we call it? Desperate sale for a meal that day.

It's not that the boy did not know the value of his art but was helpless because he did not have the access to a better option. Sadly nothing seems to have changed much.

Understanding the Artisan's Reality

Today, ever since I started making handicrafts, I am wearing the shoes of the boy in the incident, the difference being that I don't have to worry about the next meal.

Seen umpteen number of documentaries and photos of the deplorable and unhealthy conditions under which the children and adults are made to work. Never have I empathised so deeply and strongly.

It started with the first crochet poncho I made about 8 years ago. 'Rita you are wasting your talent', 'Why don't you have an exhibition?' 'They will sell for thousands in the market' from the same people who were not ready to buy from me at half the market rate.

The Pricing Dilemma

Anyway I got tempted and took orders to make for friends. But when it came to pricing I was at a dead end. One friend told me to quote five times the cost price. Another told me that if I wanted to have a market I must keep my prices low. But to me nothing seemed enough for the effort and feelings that went into making.

I did sell some but maybe I am not cut out to be a business woman. I continued to make for myself crocheting n knitting whatever I could lay my hands on. From Stoles, ponchos, baby blankets, coasters, dresses to purses, cushion covers and bedcovers.

How much could I make for myself? Started gifting but there also reached a stagnation point.

Finding Purpose Through Plastic

With both the children having left the nest, I had a lot of time on hands and needed some activity to keep myself busy. Could not find anything satisfying to do with my time. My daughter told me to pass on my talent but where were the takers. Everyone wants to do 'less effort more money' type of work.

'Mummy you can't do anything for the society by sitting at home.' I joined one animal hospital as a volunteer. That was not enough. Passed my day sleeping most of the time.

It continued thus till early this year I saw a video on fb on making mats from plastic bags. And bang I knew it was God sent.

Cut open the plastic bags, make strips, join them to make chain and crochet. It turned out not as simple as it looked on the video. Plastic bags started pouring in. From milk packets to huge Hamley shopping bags.

People around got more excited. Whereas on one hand I was sleeping to pass time, all of a sudden I seemed to have none for it. In fact no time for any other activity. For some days only plastic bags could be seen in the house to the extent that it got my otherwise supportive husband worried. What if one caught fire?

Employing Help

Friends did come to help me out but I knew that was not a long time solution. Then I kept an assistant. She takes the plastic bags home. She has to straighten and fold the crumpled bags before cutting them. Then I cut out the strips which she again takes home to make into chains. And then I crochet.

It's only when you do you realize the plight of those who do for you.

Though I had been crocheting earlier but crocheting with plastic is a different ball game altogether. Not only a slow process it is quite taxing on your arms, wrists and shoulders. Softer the plastic, difficult it is to crochet.

The Reality Check

To break the monotony, I made a simple clutch bag for a friend from bread wraps. She came back with a business proposition from her friend and asked me to quote a price. She also suggested that I just improvise it a bit to get a good price.

Again I am at a dead end. They may have got excited by the novelty of it but I know from experience it will not materialize. They also sent a message that a rectangular piece would do which later they could convert into a purse. I told my friend to ask them to quote the price and then I will decide whether it is worth it or not. Anyway I still have not got around to making another one.

The other day someone came to my house. He liked the mat I was making so much that he told me that he could easily get them sold them for Rs500/- each. That would be 1k/month because I just can't make more than two a month.

To make more I will have to find someone who is skilled enough to understand how to vary the thickness of the strips because each bag is of a different micron. And it is an acquired skill. Also I will have to move at a pace that I will find difficult to match.

Making a Difference

For me employing one is as good as keeping another domestic help. In fact seeing her earn an extra buck by working from home is giving ideas to others. A couple of them approached me for work but I don't need more than one because it is easy to collect plastic but recycling with hands takes time.

In spite of her help I put in about 8-10 hrs. daily. Also too much crocheting is not good for hands and arms. Moreover it is my way of paying back not only to society but to environment also. I can't think of doing business with it.

Making plastic mats serves my purpose very well. It's not only my contribution towards sustainability of earth but has become a mission to create an awareness of the plight of the artisans in this country.

A Call for Change

The first concern of my friends and family is of my health. Wish they feel the same about the unseen hands that slog day and night for livelihood in making beautiful artifacts to decorate our homes.

A lot is being done to encourage the artisans but though handicrafts will continue to be appreciated, will the hard work of the artisans be ever rewarded?

If we don't want the ancient crafts to die then we have to ensure that our prized possessions do not become someone's plight.