DESI OON, BIKANER HOUSE
The Desi Oon Exhibition offers an experience of the journey that the wool of Kachchh undertakes as it begins from the back of a sheep to entering your home as a product. Curated for the urban audience, Desi Oon attempts to reestablish the importance of local value chains by highlighting the system of interdependence and self-reliance that promotes sustainability as an inherent virtue. Through this exhibit, Khamir attempts to reposition the collapsed local wool economy by allowing a wide range of audience from a consumer, consumer/ designer/ entrepreneur/ layman/ youth would witness and understand the value chain from a macro as well as a micro-perspective as they indulge in the economic, social, cultural and skill-based aspects of the value chain.
Khamir organised Desi Oon: A four-day exhibition held from 10th-13th December 2020 in Bikaner House, Delhi. Desi oon celebrates indigenous wool, its craft, and sheep breeds. It was organised in collaboration with weavers, spinners, dyers and felt artisans of Kutch along with designer collections. This exhibition is the first step by Khamir to communicate the utility of indigenous wool to urban consumer markets. It was inaugurated by a panel of ten members that represent the entire value chain of wool. The story of wool and sensitively designed woollen products helped sway consumer preferences, opening them to accepting wool in their households and closets.
For the exhibition, the wool used was developed from indigenous Kutchi sheep yarn procured from 8 herders and spun by more than 150 spinners. The exhibition showcased works developed by local artisan weavers and felters alongside Khamir initiated designer collections. All the products underwent value addition and wool treatments facilitated by Khamir. Total 8 artisan units participated with unique collections developed especially for launch at this exhibition, along with two designer collections by Archana Shah of Bandhej and Amit and Richard of Amrich Designs. The collections were limited edition and presented for market reaction and limited sales.
The exhibit narrated the story of sheep pastoralism, the local craft of spinning, weaving and dyeing wool and was accompanied with visual narratives in film, images and exquisitely crafted textiles to narrate the story of the Indigenous wool of Kutch. This exhibit was open on all days from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The exhibition entry was free for all visitors.
Additionally, Khamir held daily craft workshops which accepted participant registrations online and on spot. Registrations for these workshops required payment of a subsidized fee. Workshops were conducted on:
Desi Retiya (charkha) and Takli/Dhera (Spindle) spinning demo and workshop.
Kharad weaving on Nomadic loom demo and workshop.
Felting demo and workshop
Split ply demo and workshop