There is a colour that changed the history of art on three continents. It is called the Purple of Cassius, named after the 17th century German alchemist Andreas Cassius who first documented its production, though craftspeople in Persia and India … Read More
Responsible Tourism
The Story of Mysore Silk
What is the story of Mysore silk? The story of Mysore silk begins in the 1780s, when Tipu Sultan brought silkworm rearing to his kingdom, and reaches its royal peak in 1912, when Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV opened a silk … Read More
Malpe Fishing Community: What It Actually Takes to Bring Fish
The boats leave before you are awake. By the time visitors arrive at Malpe harbour in the morning, the day’s work has already been underway for hours. The fishing families of Malpe do not operate on tourist time. They operate … Read More
Shankarapura Mallige: The Jasmine That Wakes Before Dawn
The flowers have to come off the plants before the heat of the day. This is not a preference. It is biology. Jasmine blossoms at its most fragrant in the cool hours before sunrise, and a flower left unpicked past … Read More
Udupi Cotton Weavers: The Last Families Keeping a 200-Year-Old Craft Alive
The cotton arrives as a simple cone of white thread. By the time it leaves the workshop at Talipady as a finished Udupi saree, it has passed through hands that know exactly how much tension a warp thread can bear … Read More