7.0 - {+}R.O x Tisser : Samagri Design Team : 2016 - Present Team : {+}R.O (Smit, Akshay, Maitreyi)
{+}R.O : Architecture, Design, Discourse Research Office is a collective of three individuals (including myself) that work on research and competition projects to keep the discourse on architecture and academics an integral part of the conversation after graduation. We have taken part in multiple competitions earning citations, honorable mentions etc. and most recently winning a competition to design and build an art installation at one of India’s largest music and art festival NH7 Weekender in Pune, India.
Samagri : Samagri, a word for commodity in Hindi, is a collaboration between {+}R.O and Tisser India as a grass root level intervention initiative. The products made by artisans around India are not always commercially viable from the design or quality aspect. {+}R.O has taken up the responsibility of designing products and furniture for artisans to work on and engage with them personally to develop their skill and also learn about their restrictions and inputs needed to achieve the goal set by Tisser India.
Tisser India pvt ltd : Tisser India is a private limited company with a charitable component that has established a network of artisans from 29 states in India. They eliminate the middle man from the process of selling traditional Indian artwork, which increases profit made by the artisan. The company also funds basic education for the artisans children. It has been an integral part in the effort to revive the Indian Handicrafts industry and provide sustainable livelihoods to artisans across India.
UNDP x Samagri : Samagri is currently working with the United Nations Development Program on 4 different projects. The UNDP has collaborated with Samagri and given us the responsibility to develop and train 10 female artisan clusters in the state of Maharashtra. The training concludes in a festival called Saras in Mumbai, India where they display their products alongside designer brands etc. The aim is to develop their products to a competent level and provide marketing, packaging and cataloging assistance eventually.
Artisan Working on Samagri x Tisser Sketchbooks
Pattachitra Coasters - Work in Progress