A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration (a city/town/few adjacent village 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 Kanpur Cluster:-
Kanpur Cluster falls under Uttar Pradesh State in Kanpur district.
The Kanpur cluster is able to form 100 plus Artisans & 10 SHGs supporting the strong work force. The mobilization gains momentum day by day.
Leather Craft:-
The state of Uttar Pradesh is an important supply source for finished leather and leather products.The Tanneries in Kanpur are known all over the world for the finest quality leather tanned by them. Kanpur and Agra in U.P are the two renowned production/export centre for leather and leather products.While Kanpur is known for leather horse riding equipment, footwear (chappals and shoes), bags and purses, Agra is famous for shoes and shoe, garments etc. Agra is considered to be the biggest footwear-manufacturing centre in India.During Mughal reign, shoe and chappals were manufactured for the royal families.Western shoes were introduced in Agra after the East India Company took over Agra fort. To meet the demand of British soldiers, shoemakers from England were brought to train the local skilled artisans. By the end of World War II, market for Agra shoes expanded within the country and to outside countries like Iran, Iraq and East European countries. Leather tanning seems to have reached a high stage by 3000 B. C. which use of this wonderful material. The manufacture of leather articles is carried out all over Rajasthan. Shoes made for rural use have a robust strength with bold patterns executed in very bright colours and heavy coarse stitches.Jodhpur and Jaipur is famous for making light, boat-shaped slip-on shoes called mojris. Bikaner is famous for making water bottles with camel hide. Leather tanning have reached a high stage by 3000 BC. The skins used earlier were of tiger and deer particularly of the dark variety. Even Lord Shiva is clothed in a tiger skin and deer skin was used as a seat by the Brahmans of ancient India. Santiniketan under poet Tagore guidance blazed the trail for the modern decorative leather items, which include current utility articles. Leather tanning seems to have reached a high stage by 3000 B.C. which paved the way for a wider use of this wonderful material man sought.Because of its wide prevalence in the rural areas, much of the tanning is locally done by indigenous methods which are quite laborious. Leather tanning seems to have reached a high stage by 3000 B.C. which paved the way for a wider use of this wonderful material man sought.Delhi leather workers make traditional decorative joottis (shoes) and are engaged in general leatherwork.
Raw Materials:-
Basic Material :Antelope (sambhar) leather Decorative Material : Brass, copper metal, beads, thread for embroidery Colouring Material : Potassium dichromate, aniline, vegetable dyes Basic Material : Camel leather, shell powder, glue, wood apple. Decorative Material : Silk or metal embroidery beads. Colouring Material : Colours. Basic Material : Sheep skin, goat skin. Decorative Material : Beads, copper metal, thread for embroidery. Basic Material : Raw leather, clay, shell powder, glue, colours Basic Material : Sheep skin, goatskin, antelope (sambhar) leather Decorative Material : Brass, copper metal, beads, thread for embroidery
Tools:-
Knife, blade and chisel, measuring tape, revolving punch, stitch maker, pricking awl, a pair of scissor, wooden mallet, shoe hammer.
Process:-
Sheepskin or goat skin is first tanned either with tannic acid derived from bark of tree or from potassium dichromate to avoid the decay.It is finished with aniline.Pattern of the shoe or chappal is drawn on a thick paper.This tracing is kept on the leather, which is cut accordingly.To prepare the edges of the leather for sawing, weight and thickness of the hide is considered.If a heavier weight skin is sewn, inner edges to be joined are carefully thinned. Once skived and creased, heavy leathers are handled like light and medium weights. Stitch gauge is used to mark the seams for stitch holes. Lighter the leather, smaller the spaces between the stitches. To give a firm support glue is applied to the flesh or inner side of seam.
The camel leather is firstly softened and stretched over a clay mould made in the required shape.When the leather hardens, the clay is washed away.A kind of gasso work is used for decoration purpose.At first the pattern is drawn on the leather.After this the portion to be ornamented is raised by applying repeatedly a special preparation of shell powder mixed with glue and a kind of wood apple.The risen surface is painted in gold and other colours while the base is coloured black or red to make the shades at the top stand out.
Leather is first softened and then stretched over a clay mould made in the desired shape.When the leather hardens,the clay is washed away. The pattern is first drawn on the leather, then the portion to be ornamented is raised by applying repeatedly a special preparation of shell powder mixed with glue.When surface rises it is painted in gold and other colours while the base is coloured black or red to make the shades at the top stand out.
Techniques:-
How to Reach:-
By Air:-
The nearest airport is Amausi in Lucknow which is 65 km from Kanpur.
By Road :-
Kanpur is well connected by road with all the major cities of the country. It is situated on National Highway 2 on the Delhi-Agra-Allahabad-Calcutta route and on National Highway No. 25 on the Lucknow-Jhansi-Shivpuri route. Buses ply regularly between kanpur and rest parts of the state.Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) operates buses from Kanpur to various centres in the region, such as Lucknow, Allahabad, Varanasi, Agra, Unnao, Rae Bareilly, Kannauj and Jhansi.
By Train:-
Kanpur is connected to all the major stations of the country by express, super-fast and passenger trains. Kanpur station is on the main Delhi-Howrah railway track.