A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration(a city/town/few adjacent villages and their adjoining areas)of units producing near similar products and facing common opportunities and threats. An artisan cluster is defined as geographically concentrated(mostly in villages/townships)household units producing handicraft/handloom products.In a typical cluster,such producers often belong to a traditional community,producing the long-established products for generations.Indeed,many artisan clusters are centuries old Artisan.

About Kondapali Cluster:-

Kondapali Cluster falls under Andhra Pradesh State in Hyderabad District.

Artisans who make toys with white sanders wood (a type of soft wood) at Kondapalli, a village about 25 km from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, are now looking to tap the business opportunity in interior designing.

Embroidery:-

Ari embroidery of Andhra Pradesh has its international market in Nigeria where women drape themselves (during ceremonial occasions) in the embroidered cloth from this region. This has ornamentation of tikris and beads, which make them, look attractive. This type of embroidery is done on a frame of wooden beams.The fabric is worked upon with a long needle, threads, tikris and beads. Multi sized frames are used, usually about 1.5 feet high, to secure the cloth on which the design is sketched with a stencil. One hand secures the thread under the cloth to the needle while the other hand moves the needle on top of the cloth with ease. Decorative tikris and beads are attached to the cloth with the needle.

Another embroidery pattern is the jaali or net embroidery in geometric or floral shapes and is done by pulling the warp and weft threads and fixing them with minute buttonhole stitches.The finished products dominantly comprise items for household use like curtains,bedspreads,furniture covers and dress material.

Raw Materials used:-

The fabric is worked upon with a long needle,threads,tikris and beads.Multi sized frames are used, usually about 1.5 feet high,to secure the cloth on which the design is sketched with a stencil. One hand secures the thread under the cloth to the needle while the other hand moves the needle on top of the cloth with ease.

Process:-

As embroidery is not so technical craft to follow procedure but then also small process like:

1. The motif is made on the tracing screen for symmetrical marking and uniformity, like the Khaka.
2. The motifs are marked on the fabric with a marking mixer (liquid) for embroidery work.
3. Now set the marked fabric very tight from all directions. (Saree, Dress materials, etc.) On Wooden frame (it can be done without frame also).
4. It will work easier to do embroidery with the help of frame to reduce tension and get pucker less product.
5. The desired motif is neatly embroidered with different stitches (Pakko, Kachho, Soof, Rabari, kharek etc )to  achieve desired motif.
6. The result can be many colors and is easy to make.

Set the fabric (Saree, Dress, material, etc.) on Wooden frame(it can be done without frame also) according to the design with desired allowance for the product. The motif is made the tracing screen for symmetrical making and uniformity,l ike the Khaka. The motif is marked with a marking mixer in a liquid form (Kerosene and gali powder) whether for embroidery the desired motif is neatly embroidery with different stitches to achieve desired motif.

Embroidery designs are prepared by fixing small round shaped mirrors to the material with the help of the buttonhole stitch, the outline being sketched by hand. Silken thread is used for the stitching done in stem or herringbone, closely worked. Flowers and creepers are patterned against a dark background.

Techniques:-

Techniques vary with the community and region. The term embroidery is basically defined as the method of ornamenting a piece of clothing with needlework; or embellishment with fanciful details. Thus embroidery is regarded as the art of decorating textiles using a needle and thread. This includes the hand and machine embroidery methods. And till date, hand embroidery continues to be an expensive and time-consuming method. However, in spite of this it is preferred because of the intricacy of the handiwork involved.

The basic techniques an embroiderer uses includes:-

1. Cross stitch
2. Crewel work
3. Quilting

How to reach:-

By Air:-

Hyderabad is well connected to national and international destinations with both national and international air carriers. Hyderabad has two airports, the Rajiv Gandhi Terminal is the international airport and the N. T. Rama Rao Terminal is the domestic airport in the city.

By Raod:-

Hyderabad has a large bus terminus and is well connected to other cities in the state by a network of highways.The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses and buses belonging to other South Indian State Roadways also operate from here. The APSRTC also conducts a number of tours and excursions around the city. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) connects Hyderabad to every city, town and all except very small villages in the state. Express and luxury coaches are available for inter-city and interstate services.

By Train:-

The Indian Railway, the world's largest railway under a single management, is divided into nine zones. Secunderabad, the twin-city of Hyderabad, is the headquarters of the South Central Zone. Hyderabad is the major point of arrival or departure. Hyderabad railway station is well connected to all the major Indian cities with a number of daily express trains from Hyderabad to the other cities of India.