CHUG VALLEY, 29 Apr: A six-day immersive workshop on natural dyeing was held in Chug Valleyin West Kameng district recently.
The workshop was organised by the Vanwasi Aadiwasi Foundation (VAF), led by its founder Tripti Shukla, who is committed to the revival of indigenous knowledge systems to empower local communities. To enrich the experience, Shukla invited Sanghmitra Kalita, creative director of Econic India, as the resource person for the workshop, in collaboration with Climate B Venture.
The workshop offered a deep, hands-on journey into natural dyeing and eco-printing, beginning with foraging for local plants and culminating in the extraction and application of natural dyes. Participants were guided through the complete process, emphasising sustainability, cultural respect, and innovation.
A major highlight was the work with the Monpa tribe’s traditional Mon-shugu paper, a craft deeply interwoven with their cultural identity. The sessions focused on value addition techniques to enhance the applications of Mon-shugu paper, and on opening up new possibilities for its use in contemporary crafts and markets. Textile traditions were also explored, bridging ancient practices with eco-conscious design.
The workshop celebrated the intricate link between the land, the people, and their crafts. It became a living example of how ancestral wisdom and modern sustainable practices can come together to strengthen community resilience and economic opportunity.
Through the collective efforts of Vanwasi Aadiwasi Foundation, Econic India, and Climate B Venture, the workshop marked an important step towards safeguarding and revitalising indigenous arts and knowledge systems for future generations.
