Konaseema’s craftswomen set to roar online with lion faces made of coir fibre

The Lion’s Face, an exquisite creation made of coconut coir fibre by a group of craftswomen of a tiny hamlet of Janupalli panchayat in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district in Andhra Pradesh, is set to hit the online platform to explore market avenues. 

Groomed by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts- DCH) under the Ministry of Textiles, five women came up with ‘The Lion’s Face’, which is crafted with five layers of coir fibre. Each layer depicts the respective features of the lion’s face.

The craftswomen behind the artwork are Sudha Pushpa, Rudra Subba Lakshmi, Geddam Lakshmi Durga, B. Prabhavathi and Ms. Lavanya, they are also skilled in the extraction of coir from coconut husk. 

“The Lion’s Face has been crafted completely with coir fibre, which is available across Konaseema region. Little yarn is also used to fix the layers of the fibre in making of the craft, which is completely handmade by the women craftspersons,” explained Suguna Raju Seva, an empanelled designer of DCH, Southern Region. Alumnus of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT-Hyderabad), Mr. Suguna Raju and Odisha’s Maser Craft Person Sarojini Panda have groomed the Janupalli and Rama Lakshmi Colony women in the coir fibre craft.

The Lion’s Face is an outcome of a design and development workshop conducted for the 30 craftswomen. The first product of the Lion’s Face is being sent to the headquarters of DCH-New Delhi for display. Prior to the workshop, the women of Janupalle panchayat were making ropes with coir fibre. 

25 products

“We are now capable of crafting more Lion’s Faces on our own to hit the market. We have come up with 25 products made of coir fibre during the 25-day workshop. The Lion’s Face is the biggest creation,” claimed Geddam Seeta Devi of Janupalle village, where she was groomed in the coir fibre craft. Deer, Oxen with horns, handbags, bird’s nest and lights are a few other creations by these craftswomen.

The Development Commissioner Handicrafts, Vijayawada, has scheduled an Entrepreneurship Development Programme for the Janupalli coir craftswomen.

Online avenues

“We will be with the Janupalli craftswomen to form any entrepreneurial entity and get assistance from the banks. We are preparing to allow them to use the platforms of the Ministry of Textiles to promote and sell their products online. This apart from displaying their creations in all the exhibitions,” Assistant Director (DCH-Vijayawada) Aparna Lakshmi told The Hindu.