Tharagai Mission

Our mission is to bring crafts and crafts persons into the main stream of life, connecting with the past through maintaining inherited traditions and looking into the future through the use of modern technology to experiment, innovate and reachout to new markets.

Tharagai emphasises the needto ensure dignity, respect, and self-esteem to the crafts persons.

Training

The Artisans we have identified for the workshop were from the villages in and around Madurai and Gandhigram. Their families were mostly dependent on agriculture and hence on the vagaries of the monsoons every year. Tharagai has successfully trained women in this area and have identified 14 artisans who earn Rs.1200 to Rs.1500 per month as a supplementary source of income.

Tharagai was given an opportunity to conduct the sungudi tying workshop inGandhigram with the support of KaivalamFoundation and PoompuharHandicraft Foundation. Our work was also appreciated by their trustees.

Gandhigram Rural Institute:The Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI) was founded in 1956. With undying faith and deep devotion to Mahatma Gandhi's revolutionary concept of 'NaiTalim' system of education, Gandhigram Rural Institute has developed academic programmes for Rural Development.

Kaivalam Foundation:Continuing the craft initiatives of World Crafts Council.

Poompuhar, Tamilnadu Handicrafts Development Corporation:The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation was set up in 1973 by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Poompuhar is committed to keeping alive the rich heritage of the crafts of Tamil Nadu.


Dyeing Workshop(Sungudi to drive change and being eco-friendly)

The sungudi training program was split into 2 phases. While the first phase was concerned with the learning of the traditional tying techniques, the second phase was about learning to work with the more modern dyeing techniques with Azo-free nature friendly dyes.Tharagai in its mission to revitalise sungudi in keeping with its motto to be environmentally conscious is also adopting Azo-free dyeing.

Mr. Mahalingam from Weavers Service Centre, Bangalore was the main resource person for the dyeing workshop and brought with him not just his immense experience in this field but also an exuberance that was infectious.


Products Created(Bridging sungudi):

Sareesare a must have in every woman's wardrobe! Madurai Sungudi Saree still has its own special place in the minds and hearts of the ladies. Though handmade sungudi has lost its glory to the printed sungudi,Tharagai is consciously trying to bridge the gap to bring back the euphoria which the previous generations experienced.

With thefast pace of modern life, most women now prefer comfortable salwar kameez, jeans, and other outfits to sarees. This made us realise that sungudi also has to evolve in these fields along with sarees. Hence Tharagai introduced the sungudi craft in duppatas, stoles, apparels and yardages.

We have introduced different fabrics

  • Fine Handloom cotton sarees
  • Kota Handloom sarees
  • 80's voile
  • Cambric...

We're also planning to introduce silk in the future.


To Reconnect Sungudi with Madurai

We intend to bring ashop-in-shop concept to exhibit handcrafted sungudiproducts with customized kiosks at various places in and around Madurai. The airport, The Sangam Group of Hotels, Fortune Pandiyan, and the Gateway Taj have been identified as potential places to exhibit and drive Sungudi sales.


Bringing Sungudi To The Forefront

For the hand tied sungudicraft to be revived, it requires our audience to be aware of its existence and importance. In order to do this, we need to use platforms onsocial media, websites, and advertisements to establish Madurai's own craft locally and globally. Being a famous temple town with its own rich history, Madurai is a huge tourist destination. Handmade products and crafts are a big attraction to those who visit here and sungudi souvenirs can help attract tourists!