The Mask Narrative

Defining the COVID life!

What started as a midnight lockdown thought in my head around mid April with some art explorations has now taken the shape of a reality thats not so good to feel about but maybe can become a ‘looking good’ harsh reality! A fad that is here to stay for a bit. #themaskedidentity

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Summing it all up…

BACKGROUND

The present COVID crisis has disrupted the economies worldwide and it is going to take a good long time to bounce back. In the Indian context it is a severe demand shock to an economy that had started to emerge in the global context across sectors and particularly the handmade sector. This amounts to more than 200 million craftspeople at risk and who are wondering what is going to kill them first, the virus or the fear of loosing it all.

India has been a country known for its heritage and cultural diversity. Centuries back, in the barter world our exchange used to be with textiles and spices. That is where we come from and that is our identity.

COVID AND THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY

In these times, creative professionals and people with a deep passion for crafts can do more than the eyes can see with their expertise. Crafts have the power to connect, with stories and narratives. With the crisis looming large, the masks are going to be part of our identity and so to say, a Need that can be defined through crafts.

THE MASK AS A NARRATIVE

With an intention to contribute towards the cause of #creativedignity of the #artisancommunity and advocating for our #culturalidentity this fundraiser initiative overlooks the mask as a Need that can be driven into a Desire. 

As a designer and a Craftpreneur, I see the mask has the power to become the narrative of our times and our identity. Crafts have always been a chronicler of the times we live in. The mask is going to be a big part of our new normal, just like our everyday clothes.  A need that can be defined locally and vocally, simultaneously supporting the creative dignity of the artisan community that is at serious risk in these times.

 

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How does it work?
As part of the Creative Dignity voluntary initiative we are working to make masks by collaborating with weavers and artisans at large in their left over stock and liquidate it, simultaneously generating an income through it. It also provides an income source supporting the livelihoods of  the migrant and women tailors in the locality. The idea is to create a mask collective using the crafts and weaves and possibly can be made available locally. Working together with the CD voluntary team, creating handouts and tutorial videos that can be sent to artisans and weavers who can make masks at their end with it using their stock and skills.
Decoding The Mask 
One size doesn’t fit all. The surgical masks available were never meant for the purpose it is put to. Let us not move to creating another environmental crisis by using synthetic material masks. Keeping in mind the ergonomic details, functionality and users in mind, the masks that we are making:
– are well designed and constructed as per sizes and needs (baby, young adult and adults, fabric,elastic and comfort all considered)
– suffices the virus protection guidelines 
– uses an indigenous craft technique/ traditional weave 
– is made by the artisans/ weavers/marginalized women self help groups
– all the profit goes to support artisan clusters.
The need of the times is to CONTRIBUTE not DONATE towards the welfare of our craftspeople and artisanal heritage.This is the time to make a shift towards slow and take pride in flaunting what is ours.  It can be a mechanism to drive a long term mindset change towards the way we look at crafts.  
Its a non profit mission and all the money is  to go for artisanal welfare.Urging people to contribute and not donate towards supporting their cultural identity.