This past week, Amrita Serve and AMMACHI Labs worked together to exhibit village products at Amma’s 63rd birthday celebrations in Amritapuri. There were hand crafts made by women from Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, colorful spices from Byse, Karnataka, and traditional sculpture pieces from Chhattisgarh. Amrita Serve was also selling reusable cloth sanitary napkins, designed and made in Amritapuri, and hand made soap.

Products included bags, both sewn and crocheted, pictured above.

From Chattisgarh, the stall had beautiful dhokra metal work pieces, constructed out of bell metal, brass and bronze.

The goods for sale included many items made from upcycled materials. The zippered bags pictured above were made out of cement bags, woven with wool thread and transformed into beautiful, and brightly colored usable items. The earrings below were made out of paper, and decorated with paint and glitter.

Below, Anuradha, from Mysore, shares the story of the paper earrings with customers.

There was also an exhibition section, to display future products. There were items of clothing and textiles made in Idukki region of Kerala, using hand block printed fabrics from Jaipur and khadi cottons. The exhibition also included jewelry, both malas and bracelets, woven, braided, and knotted.

The stall was a success, with many people visiting and making purchases. The customers were happy to hear about where the products came from, and to know that their money was going to support the women in India’s villages.