Vibhanshu and Tamanna

"We are Tamanna and Vibhanshu Chaturvedi, a brother and sister duo from Uttar Pradesh. We paint on apparel. Our family has always supported us and been with us through thick and thin. <br><br> "Since we were children, we've been fascinated by India's vibrant arts and how each region depicts unique stories. <br><br> "We especially enjoy being exposed to diverse arts across the country. We believe these define our cultural heritage, and each folk art has a story to tell. <br><br> "We were surprised when we traced the history of an art form in Bihar known as <i>Madhubani</i>. It originated almost 5,000 years ago when King Janak ordered artists to paint the city walls for the wedding of his daughter, Sita. <br><br> "Similarly, the art of <i>Mata ni Pachedi</i> in Gujarat developed from the caste divisions in Indian society. People of a lower caste were prohibited from entering temples, so they painted goddesses in their homes to worship. The <i>Pithora</i> art in Gujarat is created to honor a local deity, <i>pithora baba</i>. <br><br> "Together, we set up a workshop where a team of artists from different regions are encouraged to exhibit their art on apparel. Making hand-painted apparel a reality was really difficult. We identify dying techniques, bring artisans together and travel to meet them. Traveling to the remote places in India has been tiring but also rich in vivid experiences. <br><br> "Our tee shirts are hand-painted in different regional Indian styles. These art forms were dying and our artisans faced many challenges to earn a livelihood. Some crafts in Southern India were practiced by only four artisans who also worked other jobs. <br><br> "The current generation is not passing these crafts to their children and our rich cultural heritage was in danger of being lost. Our initiative has given artisans a new avenue and we now connect with artisans in eight different states. <br><br> "Our only hope and dream is to bring these crafts to people who appreciate our efforts and also sustain the livelihood of artisans keeping these distinct Indian art forms alive."