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Craft Documentation & Design - Bamboo Products

Bissamcuttack, Orissa

We were offered the project of documenting and design development of bamboo products in Bissamcuttack, Orissa. This was a 15-day project.

The artisans of this area collect bamboo from jungles. They go to jungles & cut bamboo as their everyday routine. So it is fresh & green bamboo. Primary technique used is of splitting, & weaving. The artisans are very sensitive while making products of bamboo, and ensure zero wastage.

The artisans make products for their own use like boxes for wedding. Most of the work is done manually without using any tools other than knife and axe.

The artisans make a stand by splitting the bamboo in a finger joint, We used the same concept to make furniture, trays etc. Also, we developed series of bags with the artisans like carry bags, suitcases and school bags.

If the artisans make products for contemporary markets, they will definitely sell, however a major challenge is of transporting the voluminous products. They need support from the govt. to convert this craft into a revenue generating channel.

Samastipur - Bihar

The first phase of the Samastipur project was a Need Assessment Survey in the Bamboo Clusters, and was followed by a Design Development workshop with the bamboo artisans. We also documented the craft process, in fact we were the first to enter the craft pocket & document it, do a SWOT analysis and make reports.

There were a few chief artisans who were doing very fine work in Bamboo by using multiple techniques like cutting, splitting. They were using the bamboo chips, bamboo powder & flakes are also . Even roots of bamboo are being utilized to make products, which is rare.

Huge variety of products like sculptures of gods, godesses and utility products are made. Story telling in the products like crow and the pot, and other mythological stories is also done.

There is no electricity in this craft cluster, so everything is manual. The speciality of this craft is the concept of zero wastage by utilizing every part of bamboo.

We designed some tools of manually splitting the bamboo, to increase the productivity. Also, standardisation of the sizes by such tooling is faster.

We further developed new products like animal forms, model of aircraft  & toys using physical & structural properties of bamboo.

Training for storing and packaging the products was also given. These products are being sold in the popular Sonpur Mela of Bihar.  However, if they improvise their products in terms of quality , they can sell them across the country.