From Kashmiri Pashmina shawls and Tamil Nadu’s Pattamadai mats to Bihar’s Madhubani art and Maharashtra’s Warli paintings, a walk through the new TTK Road outlet of Kamala, crafts shop of The Crafts Council of India, takes you on a journey across the rich textile and craft heritage of India. Featuring delicately crafted textiles and handicrafts, the shop is a showcase of folk art from across the country. 

Caranatic musician Aruna Sairam at Kamala, the Crafts Council of India’s store, TTK.Road, Royapettah in Chennai. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

The store, which has shifted from Egmore, features a wide range of daily-use objects such as mats, cushions, toys and decorative art pieces. Pointing to them, singer Aruna Sairam, who was at the store, says: “Our way of life has been to always surround ourselves with everyday objects of beauty. They provide a relaxing reprieve from work.” 

All the works Kamala have been sourced from craftsmen connected with The Crafts Council of India, headquartered in Chennai. The art pieces include Sanjhi paper stencilling from Mathura, Phad paintings from Rajasthan, the fabric craft of Mata Ni Pachedi from Gujarat, Gond tribal paintings from Madhya Pradesh and Kalighat paintings from West Bengal. Kamala also features intricate Kashmiri lacquer work and  Agra’s famous stone inlay work. 

The fabric section is a tribute to the textile traditions of the country — be it the vibrant Patan Patola of Gujarat or the luminous Telia Rumal from Andhra Pradesh. A pop-up featuring Benarasi saris is currently on, and Tariq Ansari, a fifth-generation weaver, is on hand to explain the designs and styles. 

(The store is located at 37, TTK Road, I floor, Royapettah (Opposite Music Academy IN gate)