Industry focus - Visit to the "ANU" unit

ANU is an organisation based out of the slums of Janakiram Layout, Kamanahalli, Bangalore. It aims to be a profitable outfit which provides sustainable income for women of this slum. It was started by the enterprising and talented Devika Krishnan who is the founder of Arthouse and Studio Sattva. 
All products made at ANU are upcycled from waste. They focus on a small but unique set of products.  The raw materials used are cement sacks and empty juice tetra paks.

Who could think this

 and this



could turn into this?

and this respectively? 

Wow! is all we can say.

The people behind these beautiful products are self motivated young women. They are mostly in their early twenties with 1, 2 or even 3 kids! The women work 5 days a week from 10 am to 1 pm. During this time the kids stay in a creche in a neighbouring building. Most of the children are aged 3 and under.

The kids at the creche

The women are encouraged to manage and run the organization themselves. So they source for raw materials on their own after the initial training. They manage accounts themselves. They can bring in more women to work but whoever brings in someone has to train them too. These women make Rs 3000 to 4000 per month on an average. 
                                          ANU works in a very organized manner with tasks clearly identified and set for every member.

The designs are simple yet pretty and are kept the same for a month. The final stitching and lining of the cement sack products is done by another sister NGO. Thus both the organizations help each other.

Here is Devika at the unit - All smiles!!

The Red River team at the ANU unit -

Chatting with Devika

With Elise and Devika

Yes, Mayaa went visiting too :)

To know more about ANU's products and where you can buy these reach out to Devika at devikamails@gmail.com. 

Collage of Memories!

"Isn’t it that time of the year where you want to look back and wonder, look ahead and smile! It then does call for a trip down that memory lane?
We are building our first ever Collage of Memories!! So help us paint.

A picture speaks a thousand words.
So, send us one picture showing us :
what The Red River reminds you of (an old friend, a moment, your favorite bike, snowfall, good dine and wine, anyone?, a book perhaps? or just color dreams?...what!)
and/or
how The Red River makes you feel ( sing or dance, stand and gaze, friendly, sullen, green or red… how!)

Envelope your thoughts and your feelings on to that ONE Picture. It can be a picture you search on Google or a personal one! Also, If the poet in you wants to drop a line with the picture or a score, send that too. We love music!!

Share the picture by posting a link here.

Now hold my hands, take a deep breath, close your eyes, pause… and send us that picture painted in your mind!"

The Red River at Studio Sattva

The Red River was at the Studio Sattva's Christmas Bazaar for 2 days over the weekend. Thanks to Devika Krishnan for the wonderful opportunity to be amongst such inspiring and enthusiastic people!

This was a very creative & "things-that-leave-you-on-a-high" event. The location was a beautiful sprawling garden full of green trees and a huge raintree. There were carols, odissi dance performances and other shows on both evenings.

Here are glimpses from the event -

12 inch handmade beauties - our small cushion covers

Mr Meow, Puppy Love, Fish, Man and Family series

Star key rings & cloth potlies

Birds on a twig

Cloth bead necklaces

The traditional and modern - all together

Beautiful patterns

Cloth potlies

And here are some of the other stalls at the Bazaar -

Christmas stockings and hangings

Chumbak with its bright and funky products

Yummy chocolates from Amore

Turtles from 'Dastkar Ranthambore'

Unorthodox decor from ABD

Purses and hand bags made from cement bags by "anu"

Odissi dancers getting ready for the performance

Narrating a story - patchitrakatha

Cheers!

Our next exhibition event

You can meet us and pick your favourite Red River products at the Studio Sattva Christmas Bazaar!!
We'll be there on 11th and 12th Dec from 10 am to 6 pm.
Venue and other details in poster below.



If you would like to read more about Studio Sattva click here.

Red River at the OWC Christmas Bazaar

Red River was at the Overseas Women's Club Christmas Bazaar this Saturday. It was a very festive and christmassy affair and hence snowflakes are falling on our blog too :)
We had a whale of a time. It was great meeting some very talented fellow stall owners and some very nice fans who recognized our stall and walked up to say hello!
Thank you all for being such dedicated fans and for the great response!!

Here are some glimpses from the event -

Our stall space

Cushions & colourful cloth pouches

Wine bottle covers

Our first customers for the day who bought a Puppy Love cushion cover!

Birds on satin twigs

A very excited li'l customer who wanted earrings that matched her dress - and she got them!

Kakoli Das - the founder of Red River manning the stall

Simran Dhaliwal helping at the stall



Look out for us at more exhibitions and events! We'll keep you posted so watch this space.

Now available - Puppy Love and Alice in Wonderland

Her first blush, her first crush, her first heart break ...
Red River wraps it up all and presents to you the Puppy Love collection - colorful cotton cushion covers with stories written on them in Kantha stitch.

Did you ever think the humble Kantha stitch could make things look so pretty?

For more pictures click here!



And hold on there is more ....

Alice in Wonderland, our latest offering, is Red River's reflection of her longing for the springtime of life... O how she wishes to dress up again like an angel, stroll through the greens picking violets and innocently drown in her wonderland!!

This is our first co-creation and The Red River wholeheartedly thanks Maheswari Janarthanan for her pretty doodles.

Watch out this space for more as Alice has not yet walked you through her mesmerizing wonderland!! More cushion covers to take you back to your childhood days.
To see more pictures click here!

Our new collection is already being talked about. Eye Candy! That's what blogger Chandana Banerjee calls it on her blogzine "Cookie Jar".