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 Keishamthong Cluster:-

Keishamthong Cluster falls under Manipur State in Imphal West district.

The Keishamthong  cluster is able to form 181 plus Artisans & 10 SHGs supporting the strong work force.The mobilisation gains momentum day by day. Keishamthong Cluster is famous for Embroidery, Cane and Bamboo.

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Embroidery:-

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. Embroidery of Gujarat has earned its fame because of the versatility of creations by the artisans.The artisans of Gujarat use an array of stitches that are used to decorate the items.The most important centres of embroidery work of Gujarat are located in the Sarasota and Kutch regions and are admired for the creative excellence.The embroidery of Gujarat is one of the main sources of income for different other communities.Today, even though embroidery is amongst the most traditional methods of decorating clothes,it is still as popular.Designs may date back to ancient times,or the modern geometric modern day designs,but all the same embroidery continues to be one of the common ways of decorating clothes.In fact,specialists feel that today,there is much more scope for creativity and innovation,because of the acceptance level.

Ari embroidery of Gujarat 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,like 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 

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Cane and bamboo:-

Cane and bamboo craft in Manipur is an integral part of their daily life. It is a traditional craft and has been practiced from time immemorial. Initially these natural fibres were used to make products of daily use.Every tribe and community makes materials of aesthetic yet functional use, their skills evolved over centuries of usage. 
 
Manipur is the second largest producer of bamboo products after Tripura in the north east.Some of the bamboo products are sofa sets, murhas, mats, basketry, tray, chair, table, flower vase, ashtray and other decorative and utility articles. Bamboo and cane is also used in housing, fencing and even clothing.Most products of the plains are of commercial use like the baskets and the fishing traps.The hills are more into furniture, houses and its implements etc. Though many commercial items are also made today.

Basketry involves joining cane, bamboo with bamboo strips with minimum number of tools.It is done on account of high tensile strength of the cane or bamboo.Joining grass with grass with the minimum use of tools can be considered.

In the can craft, mostly furniture items are being made which has a very good local demand.The range of items produced that time and still in use in village include patlo (basket), varli (used for washing) rice and grains), suplis (for cleaning rice), mats in different sizes etc.
 
Bamboo stems or culms of smaller diameters along with cane are used in whole or split form for a variety of baskets, furniture, winnowing trays, hand fans, head gear, fish traps, umbrellas and floor mats.The hollow inter-nodes of bamboo make ideal beer-mugs, hukkas, pipes and musical instruments.
 
Bamboo stems or culms of smaller diameters along with cane are used in whole or split form, for a variety of baskets, furniture, tray, hand fans, floor mats etc.The articles made include mats, table lamps, bags, moorahs, fruit baskets and vases.The other special items are bamboo screens, lamp stands and table mats.Screens made from spilt bamboo are so finely worked that they acquire an ivory look. These are delicately ornamented with colored bamboo chips applique.

Raw materials:- 

Cane, Bamboo, Reeds, aloe fibre., grass, leaves, papers, hacksaw, bill hook, kerosene lamp, mat loom.

Process:- 

The whole stem of cane and bamboo is cut with a hacksaw and split longitudinally into various sizes by a billhook.The cane is heated on a slow fire, generally with a kerosene lamp for flexibility.The objects can be made in two different forms:coiling for baskets; and weaving for mats.In coiled basketry, foundation of the basket is built first by coiling a cane round a central core. It is built up spirally and gradually the width is increased until desired height is attained.The coils are joined together by sewing strips which can be attached in two ways: each stitch passed over the new portion of the foundation coil.Figure of eight is made i.e., the stitch passes behind up, over and under the preceding coil and right over the new coil.Thus coil material is sewn with the strips and a basket is made.The ornamentation of the baskets can be done with attaining lace, paper and shells.
 
The craftsmen cut the bamboo into sizes of desired length with the help of cutting tools called Dao. Bamboo length cut as per thickness with the help of different kinds of knives. The material thus ready is used for making frame of an article or furniture where as pencil cane is used for designing and binding purpose. The thick cane is used for making frame of an article or furniture where as pencil cane is used for designing and binding purpose. The cane is bend in the desired shape for a furniture or article by process of heating with blow lamp. The ends are joined with adhesive and nail and the joints are binded with strips of pencil cane. The items produced in cane & bamboo are cleaned with sand-paper and polished with varnish. 

Techniques:- 

The Techniques of cane and bamboo articles involves the cutting of whole stems with a hack saw and slicing them into splits of various sizes using a bill hook or dao. Slicing is done longitudinally along the length of the densely packed fibres and a fairly smooth operation, requiring only the requisite amount of moisture in the culm. A kerosene lamp is used to heat the cane before it can be bent into shape. 
 
The whole stein of cane & bamboo is cut with a hacksaw and spilt longitudinally into various size by a bil hook. The cane is heated on a slow fire, with a kerosene lamp for flexibility. The objects can be made in different forms. The weaving Techniques is done by hand, using water to soften the splits.

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How to reach:-

From Guwahati daily on the NH 39 via Dimapur and Komiha. Manipur State Road Transport Corporation(MSRTC) and many other private buses available.From Dimapur daily on the NH 39 via Komiha. Manipur State Road Transport Corporation(MSRTC) and many other private buses available.From Silchar daily on the NH 39 via Jiribam. Manipur State Road Transport Corporation(MSRTC) and many other private buses available.