To celebrate the milestone of 25 years
since the inception of Aranya Natural, SrishtiCharitable Trust supported by
Tata Consumer Products Ltd.(formally known as Tata Global Beverages) and Tata
Trusts, is hosting a 2 – day international conference on ‘Sustainability of
Natural Dyes’on 22nd and 23rd February 2020 in Munnar, Kerala. Mr. Amitabh
Kant, CEO, NitiAyogwill deliver the inaugural address to around 250 attendees
from countries across the globe.
One
of the units of Srishti Charitable Trust,Aranya Natural’s mission is to provide
gainful employment to the differently abled young adults in the tea plantations
of Munnar, while adopting environment-friendly and conscientious practices.
Aranya Natural’s eco-friendly practices include the use of forest discards like
seeds, flowers, fruits, nuts, pigments from leavesand other raw natural
ingredients like turmeric and indigo in the dyeing process.
In
the words of Srishti’s Managing Trustee,Mrs.RatnaKrishnakumar, “Aranya Natural
has become a household name with world famous designers like Ralph Lauren,
Eileen Fisher and others being regular customers. Even after 25 years, I remain
amazed at the talent and creativity displayed by the youngsters here. Their
dedication and hard work has led to Aranya Natural being where it is today – a
recognized brand as a 100% percent natural dyeing unit.”
The
global conference, which will bring together subject experts and professionals
from around eight countries, will seethem presenting their papers on the
subject, followed by panel discussions. Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada, Dominique Cardon,
Axel Becker, Jenny Balfour Paul, Jagada Rajappa, Uzramma and Vikram Joshiare
some of the renowned speakers, to name a few.
The
2-day conference will be followed by workshops and demonstrations on
‘Techniques of Natural Dyeing’ on 24th and 25th February on the premises of
Srishti.Pioneers and experts like Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada - an internationally
celebrated Shibori artist, curator, historian and teacher in the contemporary
textile and fiber art field, Michel Garcia - a botanist. chemist, dyer and
naturalist, Jagada Rajappa - an independenttextile entrepreneur /consultant on
natural dyes, Linda LaBelle - a weaver and natural dyer specialising in Indigo,
to name a few, will conduct these workshops and demonstrations.
The
evening of 22nd will see some entertainment with a scintillating violin
performance by Dr.AneeshVidyashankar popularly known as India’s Walking
Violinist, followed with a fashion show of collections by reputed designers
SunitaShanker, Sreejith Jeevan and Riddhi Jain showcased by the special
associates of Srishti. A dance and music program on 23rd evening will bring the
curtains down on the conference.
About
Aranya Natural
An
endeavour by the Srishti Charitable Trust an independent body, in turn,
supported by Tata Consumer Products Ltd.and Tata Trusts, Aranya’s products are
the handiwork of physically and/or mentally challenged children of tea garden
workers in Kerala’s Munnar district. Aranya Natural is involved in the art of
natural dyeing of fabrics using forest discards and other raw ingredients
available from nature, which are designed and produced by the specially abled
associates in Munnar, Kerala. Children are trained with artistic skills of
fabric art like batik to solid colour printing to the intricate tie-and-dye
process of shibori, eco printing, and vegetable printing intending to create
confident and independent individuals.
Aranya
Natural adopts diligent practices to create no toxic, environment-friendly,
azo-free natural dyes and is one of the most recognized brands in the natural
dyes world.
