Impact on People and Environment : Kophi and Meenakari

thewa_directcreate
Nov 6 · 3 min read

A crafted product that we make as designers impacts the people and environment around us. The choices that go into it, from the material selection, production process to the distribution of the craft in the market impacts the craftsmen, buyers, sellers as well as the consumers. Each craft is unique to its essence and that must be preserved with our choices. However, opportunities that the craft has to offer must be explored to maximize how we impact, who we impact and how we do it.

Kophi

Impact analysed for Kophi craft through its material selection, production process, essence, opportunities and distribution.

The basket weaving craft of Kophi was conceived from the tribal traditions of Nagaland. Nagaland houses several small scale cottage and medium scale industries that produce fine products of the traditional art of the state. Kophi is a highly skilled and intrinsic craft. It’s essence lies in its structural skill, rigidity, purity of material and form-making technique.

Kophi baskets are produced by the craftsmen locally in villages for fieldwork and other needs of the villagers. If they are produced to be exported, the craftsmen are liable to risk of incurring losses and wasted skilled effort,in case they don’t sell as the production is not need based. Hence, they only produce limited pieces and cannot fully explore mass-production.The baskets are big in size and unportable for transportation to cities. Thus, if they are produced to be exported, it leads to increased transportation cost. Currently, the baskets have been reduced in size to resolve the issue of unportability. Kophi is the prefect example for consuming locally since, craftsmen from the material selection to the distribution phase are operating in a concentrated area, and meeting the utilities of the villagers.

The opportunity for impact lies in modular application of the craft since, this would allow mass-production. It would also lead to maximization of profits for the craftsmen since the production would be demand based and preordered. Hence, reducing the risk of loss of wasted human effort and losses for the craftsmen. Modularization would also result in portability and large sized products when multiplied. The material selection for the crafted product could be the same as it is vernacular and favorable for the locals. All these opportunities could result in production of the local craft globally.

Meenakari

Impact analysed for Meenakari craft through its material selection, production processes, essence, opportunities and distribution.

Meenakari is a craft that predominantly takes place in hubs such as Jaipur. The craft involves multiple techniques and thus, requires an assembly line of craftsmen. It’s essence lies in aesthetic, luxury, preciousness, vibrancy of its colors, reflections of light on its surfaces and statement value.

A wide range of applications have been taking place for Meenakari. However, where it was once used on a large scale and a variety of products. Today, it has scaled down to small-sized variety of objects. This could be as a result of expensive material, change in the trends of society, reduced patrons that could afford large scale applications. Where each piece of meenakari had several craftsmen working on it once, today a single craftsmen can be seen performing multiple tasks. This shift has come in due to limited application and small scale production, resulting in craftsmen changing their line of expertise.

The opportunity for impact lies in personalization of the craft as more people would be able to relate with the small sized products into their everyday life. This personalization will come in with meeting the current needs and utilities of the society in the product range. This may result in shift in trends back to meenakari, with increased demand and inflow of skill back into the craft. Bringing about meaning into people’s lives rather than being a mere product.

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