Chendamangalam

Actor-dancer Rima Kallingal is in her element when we meet at the Fine Arts Hall in Kochi, Kerala. She is “happily tired” for she and seven members from her dance company, Mamangam, have been practising daily for the past two months for…

Tucked away in a quiet part of Chendamangalam near Kochi in Kerala, is a tiny, barely-100 square foot workshop. Its longest wall is lined with tools and violins in various stages of production. The work table is littered with scales, tapes,…

A snapshot from Kiru Keshiki | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A couple of years ago, the Chendamangalam Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Societies in Kerala’s Ernakulam district were grappling with yarn and dye shortages, and poor sales.…

Hankotsu, usuba, nakiri... Jesudas Puthumana of Chendamangalam, Kerala, makes 13 kinds of personalised Japanese kitchen knives Hankotsu, usuba, nakiri... Jesudas Puthumana of Chendamangalam, Kerala, makes 13 kinds of personalised Japanese…

Sreejith Jeevan has kasavu saris with nautical stripes and in orange (you read that right!) For Sreejith Jeevan, this Onam is about relevance. About weaves that are traditional yet contemporary enough to be used beyond the festival that…

Onam this year may not be as bad as 2020, when the industry was reeling from the pandemic. But, drawing buyers now requires a twist on the traditional gold and white weave Usually, Onam is the busiest time on the calendar for handloom…