Bhubaneswar, Nov. 15: The kansa baasan of Odisha is set for a makeover, courtesy the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) here.

Worried over bell metal — that once ruled the state’s utensil market — losing out to steel, fibre and ceramic wares, a team from the institute have geared up to train the once-rich-and-famous artisans of Kantilo in Nayagarh district, the hub of bell metal craft, to make the products lighter, fashionable and up market.

In a project sponsored by the department of handicrafts, staff from the institute will be developing new designs that are commercially more viable, said NIFT director K.C.S. Ray. “We will train them to diversify the products and introduce new designs in jewellery, kitchen ware, lighting and desktops,” said faculty member, Sushmita Behera, who is leading the project.

Kansa is a type of bronze with a higher tin-copper ratio. The metal, when struck, generates a ringing tone for several seconds, which is why it is called bell metal.

“Bell metal is an expensive product and people are hesitant to pay too much money for it. Our aim will be to introduce bell metal sheets that are much lighter and easier to use. This will bring down the price greatly and make it affordable for most customers,” said Behera.

The artisans will be trained how to cut and shape the sheets, moulding them as well as dying and framing it. “The craftsmen in the state continue to use medieval style of shaping the products. Our aim will be to create awareness of the technologies now available and motivate them to upgrade their machines and hand tools to help them design the products easily and in much less time,” she said, adding that the project will take off in the second week of December.

The craftsmen shape each object by hammering the hot metal lump into various forms. The rich golden colour improves with age and food stored in it remains fresh and hygienic for a long time, said a NIFT official.