Payal Nath

Pooja Ratnakar

PROFILE

Would you care for snappy lunch baskets or boat-shaped bags made of sabai grass? Or do you fancy bamboo trays that stand out for their stylishness? Maybe quirky garden lights that are made of coconut shells and attached to wooden stands will catch your attention. All these home décor bric-a-brac, made of organic materials, are on offer at Kadam Haat, the commercial wing of a Calcutta-based NGO, Kadam.

It all started when sisters Payal Nath and Pooja Ratnakar were on a national panel of designers for the Commerce Ministry in 2005. Their work involved visiting places like Manipur and Srinagar and training locals to create artefacts that would appeal to urban buyers. “We realised that a 15-day programme wasn’t enough to sustain the locals’ livelihood and enterprise,” says 40-year-old Nath, co-founder of Kadam and co-designer at Kadam Haat.

The sisters started Kadam in 2006. Their aim was to train rural artisans, bring their products to the market — and, in the process create a model for sustainable economic development in rural India. They launched their brand Kadam Haat in 2008.

Kadam Haat’s products are all made from natural materials by villagers in West Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Half of the profits goes to cover marketing costs and the other half is used to train villagers. About 120 artisans from six to seven villages are currently working for Kadam Haat.

Kadam Haat sells an array of utility picks like ladles, bowls and spoons made of coconut and wood, trays and also candle-stands made of everything from stone to bamboo. In addition, there are different knick-knacks like bamboo paper clips, bookmarks and gift pouches. “We always try to follow the latest trends in home décor design and update our portfolios twice a year,” says Nath, who earlier used to teach accessory design at NIFT, Calcutta.

Says Ratnakar, 36, co-designer at Kadam Haat: “The colour palette of the products is intentionally kept earthy to go with the natural materials used. However, Kadam Haat is launching products in Indian spice colours like bright reds, oranges and yellows this year.”

Kadam Haat products are sold at various outlets like Sienna and the Craft Council of West Bengal in Calcutta, Ideas Afresh and Mother Earth in Delhi, Annabelle and Baaya Design in Mumbai and Inhabit in Hyderabad. They also showcase their products across the country at exhibitions like Aakarshan and Parampara in Calcutta, Dastak Art in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Kadam Haat also supplies to ITC Hotels and the Taj Group of Hotels.

Trends

Both Nath and Ratnakar point out that the market for handcrafted organic products is growing swiftly. This is particularly true in places like Bangalore. In contrast, there’s less interest in smaller cities.

“Utility products are much more valued nowadays than home décor items. Stylish utility products have picked up in the last two to three years in India as people have started appreciating design, uniqueness and quality more than ever,” says Ratnakar.

PROducts

A towel basket made of sabai grass (it’s a tough variety of grass) is hand-woven and available in three sizes. Prices range from Rs 350 to Rs 550. There’s also a hand-plaited sabai grass roti box with a wooden lid, tagged at Rs 500. Both come in a shade of moss green. There are other sabai grass items like fruit baskets, tea trays and double-decker lunch baskets priced at Rs 750, Rs 1,900 (for a set of three) and Rs 1,800 respectively.

Bamboo and wood items are extremely popular. While a bamboo basket — they call it a cereal basket — has red or ochre yellow insides (Rs 550), a set of bowls and spoons made from a combination of coconut and wood has a glazed finish and sells for Rs 500. Also, a cheese platter and cutter made from wood bark is tagged at Rs 450.

There are other utility picks that are reasonably priced. So, a stone candle-holder, priced at Rs 400, will add class to your drawing room and a set of coconut garden lights is a smart pick at Rs 175 per light.

Kadam Haat has launched sabai grass bags this year to add to their collection. A shoulder bag comes with handloom lining and is priced at Rs 750. There are also boat-shaped bags available in green, orange and beige, tagged at Rs 650 each. You can also pick up a foldable picnic wrap bag at Rs 650.

Photographs by Pabitra Das