Four Tamil Nadu brands give the trusty koodai, a contemporary twist

A lot earlier than the time of glossy, fancy lunch luggage with zips and pouches, the trusty, sturdy koodais of various sizes have been the usual lunch companions. The woven wire luggage, that by some means by no means wore out regardless of being filled with massive snack and lunch bins and water bottles, stood the take a look at of time and for a lot of, a number of years via college.

The standard koodai is now, nonetheless, having a second. They’re in vogue and jazzed up with flaps, pouches, buttons and glossy buckles. The color mixtures you as soon as thought have been cheesy (suppose inexperienced and violet) at the moment are thought of cute, and kitschy. The koodai now is available in many glossy avatars — slings, clutches, and even mini purses with fashionable handles. We meet 4 designers from Tamil Nadu, who’re giving this woven craft seeped in nostalgia a recent twist.  

Basq Artistry

For Sneha Ganesh, the koodai has been in all places since she was a toddler. “I keep in mind seeing my grandmother weave baskets, and a few years later, my-mother-in legislation doing the identical. Whereas a koodai catches your eye, it isn’t one thing that I might instantly decide up and stroll out with,” she says. Sneha determined she needed to make luggage which might lend itself to any outfit or event — whereas retaining the normal look and attraction of the koodai, and shortly based her Coimbatore-based model Basq Artistry.

“There are such a lot of variations of woven baskets not simply throughout the nation, however even in Tamil Nadu. I went on a tour to delve slightly deeper into this earlier than I launched my model. I used to be fascinated with the totally different strategies and supplies used. The basket weaving type in Chettinad for example, may be very totally different from how baskets are made in Pudukottai,” she recollects. 

From tan, to metallic silver, Basq Artistry’s woven luggage scream modern. “I used to be very particular concerning the colors and needed to duplicate the strong colors that we get leather-based totes or luggage in. I obtained these colors customized made for the model, after which obtained luggage woven,” she says. Whereas their tan and brown tote baskets are roomy, and good for on a regular basis use, smaller purses and clutches with metallic buckles and straps are excellent for a night out. “We even have backpacks for kids, and roomy lunch luggage with flaps on all sides. Folks actually appear to want the koodais and different luggage in our assortment which include a cloth lining and a pocket,” she says, of their product line. The convenience that these koodai luggage give, of merely dumping issues inside and taking it wherever is a significant draw, she says. 

Whereas they hope to convey out extra iterations of woven laptop computer sleeves this yr, Sneha says they’re additionally engaged on crossbody journey and sling luggage which will probably be launched quickly. 

Basq Artistry is on Instagram at @basqartistry. Baggage are priced ₹450 onwards 

Knots Bag

Thanusheeya VS on the High Drawer commerce present
| Photograph Credit score:
Dave George

“Koodais are a century-old artwork from Tamil Nadu and I needed individuals to really feel like they’re carrying a chunk of historical past.” The founding father of Chennai-based Knots Bag, Thanusheeya VS, is fast to say this when requested about her model, which was born after in depth analysis and experiments.

“A decade in the past, I used to be in Hong Kong on a vacation and noticed a particular model of woven luggage being a lot in demand. I used to be instantly struck by how we’ve got our koodais again house, and our distinctive weaving strategies,” she says. Whereas she remembers seeing the koodai primarily getting used as a lunch bag, and regarded unusual, she needed to alter issues up.

Baggage with bamboo handles and steel buckles made by Knots Bag
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

 “When a bag can final a few a long time and face up to any climatic situation, I felt strongly about bringing in some innovation and design to make it extra interesting to our present design and style aesthetic,” she says. The design course of was a protracted one, for over three years, and Thanusheeya labored with a product designer good friend, Krishnaveni V from the Nationwide Institute of Design, Ahmedabad to develop prototypes. “Light-weight types and ergonomic handles have been our high focus. Whereas I chip in with the design, the model works with a bunch of round 10 ladies who weave the luggage,” she says.

Produced from LDPE(Low Density Polyethelyne) fibre and recycled non-biodegradable plastic, Knots Bag has light-weight sling luggage in strong, vivid colors, clutches which embrace a tartan clutch specifically made for the Christmas season, mini purses that include steel buckles and bamboo handles, and huge roomy totes. Their newest assortment, has vivid blue woven koodai totes with lemons on it, a vivid yellow minion-themed bag and one thing for cat and panda lovers as nicely.

“Whereas we’ve got made woven luggage with apple leather-based, we at the moment are experimenting with leather-based fabricated from coconut malai. Amongst our newer designs developing is an iPad clutch which you’ll be able to maintain from the within,” Thanusheeya says.

 Final yr, Thanusheeya’s Knots Bag was chosen by the College of Arts London’s Design Commerce Present, High Drawer, they usually had the chance to place up a stall. “This was one thing that UK had by no means seen earlier than and the guests there have been fascinated by the product vary. It additionally made me very cognisant of the truth that right here, we’d in all probability have the final era of artisans on this area,” she says. 

Knots Bag is on Instagram at @KnotsBag. Baggage are priced ₹500 onwards.  

Koodai Kadaii

Koodaii Kadai’s baskets have massive hearts…fairly actually. The model’s signature roomy koodai totes are available a variety of strong colors, with a big coronary heart motif woven on them. “These come in several sizes and with handles of assorted design. We have been the primary to do these coronary heart koodais and the luggage nonetheless stay very eye-catching,” says Laya Krishnaraj, founding father of this Chennai-based model.

Koodai Kadaii’s signature coronary heart totes
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

Laya chanced upon koodais in vivid colors on the memento store within the Tamil Nadu Police Museum Chennai at Egmore, and determined to put an order for brightly-coloured luggage to be woven as return presents for her birthday, in 2022. “I presently work with round 35 ladies from a number of institutes for destitute ladies, who’re educated in weaving baskets and luggage. Whereas lots of them used to do that as part of their remedy work, they didn’t have an outlet or common orders. After I started Koodaii Kadai, orders have been regular,” she says. 

An inside designer by career, Laya credit the rainbow assortment she obtained made for her birthday as having kicked off her Koodai Kadaii enterprise, which she says has gone from being a interest to an essential a part of her life. “The USP right here is empowering ladies. It has been heartening to see them feeling empowered by the orders they get,” she says. 

Cat baskets made by Koodai Kadaii
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

From youngsters ordering koodais to take to high school to individuals shopping for koodais for his or her moms and grandmothers, Koodai Kadaii’s clients span totally different age teams. Other than their coronary heart koodai totes, Koodai Kadaii is engaged on collaborations with artists from the world over. “We would like artists so as to add their very own contact to the koodais we make. Whereas we’re additionally sampling clutches, iPad and laptop computer sleeves, I’m actually excited for the pet beds we’re engaged on,” Laya provides. 

Koodai Kadaii is on instagram at @koodaikadaii. Baggage are priced ₹400 onwards. 

Wire Kadai

Having displayed her koodais at a number of small gala’s and huge exhibitions throughout Chennai since she began her model final yr, Mirnalini V from Chennai says she is actually seeing how versatile and beloved koodais are. 

Baggage being handwoven for Wire Kadai
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

“At Tiruvanmiyur, a bunch of girls have been making koodais for years now. Whereas they work on every part from laundry baskets to cat baskets for a vet clinic within the metropolis, I made a decision to work with them to make a variety of woven baskets, luggage, and slings,” says Mirnalini. 

Working Wire Kadai, she says, has opened her eyes to what number of ladies are ready for alternatives to showcase their expertise. As an empowerment initiative, Mirnalini stresses on honest wages for the koodai collective of artisans she works with. “After I started posting concerning the koodais we have been making, on Instagram, a number of artisans from throughout the State reached out and requested if they might weave luggage for us as nicely. I work with them on the designs, and we trade notes, YouTube movies and even references from Pinterest,” she explains. 

The model has experimented with material and chain straps, and picket handles
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

In a brief span of time, Wire Kadai has diversified and provide you with a variety of designs. From the colorful, roomy koodais and woven totes she began off with, Mirnalini has now experimented with sling luggage that include material straps or chain handles, glossy purses with spherical picket handles, compact lunch koodais that include flaps and may be closed, or have picket handles, and smaller iterations of koodais with stylish handles that make for excellent return presents or marriage ceremony favours. The nostalgia isn’t just restricted to luggage; Mirnalini has additionally made woven chairs which are in demand — just like the spherical, snug chairs we sat on as youngsters.

“Woven luggage are sturdy, simply washable and most significantly distinctive. For us, it has additionally been pretty to listen to individuals recounting their recollections of going to high school with a koodai — these luggage have really made a comeback now,” she provides. 

Wire Kadai is on Instagram at @Wirekadai. Baggage are priced ₹400 onwards.