Handicrafts from Assam have found a new home at a store in Navi Mumbai. The Guide dropped by for a Dekko
Handicrafts from Assam have found a new home at a store in Navi Mumbai. The Guide dropped by for a Dekko
The seven sisters often get short shrift at exhibitions and you would be hard-pressed to find a craft shop exclusively selling crafts from the North East. So, the launch of Oineetom, a store dedicated to Assamese crafts, marked a welcome change.
Oineetom at Seawoods sells Assamese handicrafts. Pics/ Datta Kumbhar
The month-old shop is the brainchild of Rouhan and Neeyor Sharma, a husband-wife duo who hail from the state. "Inspiration came from my mother who designs two-piece Mekhlas (the traditional dress of Assam resembling a sarong worn with a shawl) while my father is a consultant for several teau00a0 estates," said Rouhan. Neeyor, who gave up her marketing job to start this unique shop, says it is an attempt to create awareness about Assamese handicrafts in the city. "Plus, we found a readymade market in the 1.5 lakh Assamese that reside in Navi Mumbai," she informs.
Something for everyone
Oineetom (which means love song in Assamese) is spread across a single floor and a loft. The red and white design of the store aptly highlights the products and represents auspicious hues.
Their product list includes furniture, home accessories, handbags, jewellery, apparel and stationery. While the prices veer towards the expensive side, Neeyor's explanation for this is that every product is painstakingly made and it provides a direct livelihood to artisans.
On prominent display at the store is Assam's famous cane furniture, including waterproof sets consisting of a three-seater cane sofa, two single-seaters, two side tables and a centre table for Rs 38,000. If you are looking for elegant showpieces, check out the Rang Ghar (Rs 1,300), which is carved from a single block of mango wood and depicts the palace where kings and queens watched elephant and bull fights in spring. They also have a wooden replica of the famous Kamakhya temple (Rs 1,700) dedicated to the mother goddess. Nature lovers can buy cute single horn rhino statues (Rs 2,000 onwards) that pay tribute to the state animal of Assam while tea lovers can indulge in their Assam cuppa (Rs 250, per kilo) sourced from the state's best tea estates.
Metal heads, anyone?
Oineetom sells traditional jewellery that makes use of metal beads and has brass human heads woven together (Rs 3,000 onwards). "The heads are a metaphor for the strength of a family as a family with several heads or breadwinners is believed to be more secure," explains Neeyor. The metal beads are made from discarded brass and copper utensils collected across village households, which are molten and moulded into metal beads.
We loved the large and ultra-cool Japi hats embellished with tassels and beads (Rs 275 onwards) that are traditionally worn by farmers as protection from the elements.
The handspun Mekhlas and sarees designed by Rouhan's mother, Era, are available in contemporary designs and in fabrics such as traditional Muga silk (Rs 15,000 onwards), Tussar silk (Rs 10,000 onwards) and Paat silk (Rs 6,000 onwards).u00a0 You can also place orders for specific customised products across categories.
ADVERTISEMENT
At Oineetom, Shreeji Heights, Sector 46(A), Palm Beach Road, Seawoods, Nerul (W).
Call 8080809052 / 9867490361
Email oineetom.h@gmail.com
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
