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 Nirgacimud Cluster:-

Nirgacimud Cluster falls under Tamilnadu State in Nilgiris district.

The Nirgacimudi cluster is able to form 150 plus Artisans & 8 SHGs supporting the strong work force.The mobilisation gains momentum day by day.

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Embroidery:-

Embroidery of Tamil Nadu has its international market in India 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.Sri Perumbpadur region of Tamilnadu is very famous for this craft where it is done on saris and handkerchiefs.

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.This work done on the Real Madras Handkerchief is exported to Africa where this cloth measuring 36” by 36” is used by Nigerian women on ceremonial occasions.

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 embroidery is done on the shawls by the women folk.The shawl, called poothkuli, has red and black bands that end at intervals of six inches that gives an embossed while the embroidery is done between the gaps in red and black. The most important motif is that of the buffalo horn as the Todas worship the buffalo. Other important motifs include the little box called mettvi kanpugur, Izhadvinpuguti, the design named after the ancient priest of the Todas, motifs named after wild flowers and a quaint motif named after a girl who slipped and fell off the cliff.

Chetipani is the most elementary type of crochet usually made by the novices.The other kind is Athakupani or joint attachment, in which different kinds of flower designs are combined to form the patterns which are inspired from floral, nosegay, almond and date motifs. The colors are black and brown with white weaves. 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.

Techniques:-

The practical course is to introduce modernisation of technique and improve the skills and make the worker capable of enhancing his productivity and his earnings so as to enable him to meet at least the basic necessities of life and come out of the clutches of poverty within reasonable time.

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