Varnam - Channapatna Indian Handcrafts

On Saturday, August 2nd we had an organized visit to with the founder of Varnam Crafts. It was honestly an extremely insightful and interesting trip. We had the honor of hearing the founder, Karthik Vaidyanathan, speak and tell us about is brand and why he chose to take this career path as a social entrepreneur. 

When the great ruler of southern India, Tipu Sultan, saw beautiful toys made in the channapatna art form while abroad, he invited Persian artisans to come to Mysore to teach his artisans how to make the channapatna wooden toys. Below I have some images of what these wooden crafts look like.These wooden toys have been around for hundreds of years, and so what Mr. Vaidyanathan does is create new and innovative handcrafts using the channapatna art form instead of the small toys that were its original purpose. All of the crafts he designs are made in the traditional channapatna way which is using a machine that spins a piece of wood, which artisans then carves in to. This craft of carving into the wood is called Lac-turnery using hale wood, which is replanted after each tree is cut down. Because the automated machine spins the piece of wood, all of the handcrafts are circular. Mr. Vaidyanathan also sticks to using natural colors to paint his handcrafts, just as they would have been used in the times of Tipu Sultan. 

As I mentioned, Mr. Vaidyanathan has come up with creative ways for this art form. Instead of solely creating toys, he makes handcrafts that are useful in the home such as kitchen towel holders and salt and pepper shakers; decor items like lamps; and really cool jewelry pieces. 

Beyond trying to keep a dying art alive, Mr. Vaidyanathan works arduously in trying to keep rural artisans employed, who otherwise would be unemployed due to their particular skill set. Vaidyanathan seeks artisans out himself all over the country and ensures that they are producing the work that he truly wants. Seeing as channapatna was originally a muslim art, is dominated by men; therefore, Mr. Vaidyanathan also invests in offering internships for village women where they learn how to make this art form. Mr. Vaidyanathan is a social entrepreneur in several ways: he is trying to keep a dying art alive, he ensures employment in rural villages and he works arduously to help educate and employ women who otherwise wouldn’t be able to help contribute to the income of their homes. He also mentioned on several occasions that one of the reasons that he helps educate the women is because women are always more receptive to his new and innovative designs. The male artisans are used to making the toys, and would prefer to stick to making toys, but that is not what he wants at all. 

It was very interesting and exciting listening to how he was able to take a business idea that he loved, and turn into something that could potentially become so big. As soon as he began talking about all of his social initiatives it actually reminded me of a place in Mozambique where my mother buys furniture from, where all of the wood they use to make their furniture, they replant the trees for. I think that it is extremely important for all companies and organizations to try to invest in social problems, but I know that sales and revenues are always a top priority. It is a sad world we live in, but people like Mr. Vaidyanathan give us a glimmer of hope. 

Emalisa xo

This is an example of a traditional channapatna toy. This is what the ruler Tipu Sultan fell in love with.

These are the types of designs that Mr. Vaidyanathan does with the channapatna art form. These are from his line, "piggy bank": coaster set, salt and pepper shakers and napkin rings.

This is from his line, "Something Round" where are the products are just different colored and sized round objects. The purpose for this is to use your imagination to create whatever design you want.

These are some shirts he used in the traditional "block printing". Vaidyanathan integrates mangy dying forms of art into his designs. 

The bases of these lamps are also in channapatna design, and some of the shades are made with the block printing design.

A friend admiring some block-printed hanging lamps.

This is an example of the jewelry that Mr. Vaidyanathan designs and creates. Note the beautiful, but natural colors. 

Mr. Vaidyanathan just opened up his store. It is so colorful and absolutely lovely.

As I mentioned earlier, all of the products are made in a circular motion. The hanging lamps even are all circular. 

From picture holders, salt and pepper shakers, picture frames, Mr. Vaidyanathan has everything in the channapatna art form.

I bought some great little bits of jewelry! So pretty.

Mr. Vaidyanathan himself standing in the back of the entire group!