When Kairavi Shahu started work on the exclusive vegan leather line for Club Artizen, the task seemed simple: use natural products, and create lifestyle products that appeal to all. After all, as founder of LEERA Crafts Pvt. Ltd, she had been working for the revival of traditional dyeing techniques like Shibori and had created a home décor line, among other products. 

When she and Anita Hariharan, co-founder of Club Artizen, started work on the wallet, they noted the specifications that were to characterize the products. 

✔Must be as eco-friendly as possible. 

✔Must work for men and women. 

✔Must be durable (for everyday use). 

Kairavi, along with Anita Hariharan, co-founder of Club Artizen, zoned in on a few products: wallet, passport holder, business card holder, and a luggage tag. 

What seemed like an easy task was actually quite challenging, as the journey of sustainability often is. The biggest challenge?  Achieving an aesthetic and durable product from handmade fabric. 

Handmade, hand-dyed fabric is usually delicate and soft and to give the fabric the required stiffness and durability was a challenge, Kairavi says. This was especially true of the passport holder and wallet, which had several layers: the outer hand block-printed fabric, the inner leather, the lining, and the interlining. 

The other challenge was coming up with an aesthetic that would work for all. 

‘It was interesting to note how different men and women see products. Based on market feedback, we went back to the drawing board and made some changes,’ says Anita.

After a few tries, the team emerged with a winner! 

For the passport holder, for instance, the inner layer is made from vegan leather, and the interlining from natural rubber. The outer layer is made using hand block-printed fabric, and the product comes in two neutral shades. 

The products are made in stages by women artisans: the block-printed fabric is sourced from the units in Rajasthan, and is cut by women artisans who work from home. The cut components are then taken to the stitching unit of LEERA, where other women artisans stitch and finish the product, ready for shipping. 

LEERA’s idea of helping women access craft-based livelihoods right from their home fits in perfectly with Club Artizen’s passion of promoting sustainable living through craft. 

‘The great thing with the vegan line is that it’s a pleasure to use, and is also easy to maintain and wash,’ Kairavi says.

The Club Artizen Vegan Line is now available in its own Sohrai gift box, encapsulating the power of collaboration, eco-consciousness, and the enduring legacy of Indian art.

Club Artizen Sohrai Art Box

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