Regular awareness programmes on health and environmental hazards of synthetic dyes has helped eco-fashion and green textiles to grow in a significant way. From being a niche market for urban fashionistas, it has grown much bigger and better, with several individuals and organisations coming together to further the cause.
Bina Rao and Siva Kesav Rao of Creative Bee design studio from the city are also doing their bit. The couple got a call from the United Nations’ Geneva office for Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa (SITA) to share their knowledge with East Africa. “In world statistics, India is amongst the top countries for handloom and handmade products. As an independent senior consultant, my role was to initiate programmes on handloom and train people with the requisite skills, whereas Kesav was appointed as an independent senior consultant for dyeing and skill building,” says Bina.
Bina Rao
She adds, “India has long been using natural dyes extracted from the roots, wood, leaves, flowers and fruits of plants and trees as well as minerals. And although Africa is also rich in resources, the total scope had not been exploited until now. They already have their set-up, we just gave them the direction to organise it better and sell on a global platform.” Further, Bina says, “As part of its efforts to strengthen the East African handloom value chain, SITA had organised a ten-day orientation workshop and training programme at the Creative Bee Dye farm in Hyderabad for a team of 12 participants from East Africa. Participants included researchers, trainers and weavers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.”
Representatives from East Africa learning dying technique
According to Bina, the whole experience was really great as she got the opportunity to work with the representatives and share their knowledge. “The whole experience will have a multi-fold result — create livelihood and raise awareness about handlooms and handmade products. The programme will continue till 2020. Time and again, we have been part of such initiatives and will continue our best to revive it. We are also planning something for the weavers in Telangana state as well, but it’s in an initial stage,” says Bina.
