Srishti Kalai Art Collective was borne out of my love for Indian heritage, art, and culture. India is a land of diverse cultures and traditions – nowhere is this manifested better than in our rich history of art and craft. Our handicrafts not only reflect this heritage but also help to preserve it. Many traditional techniques are passed down through generations and are unique to specific regions or communities.
SKAC is an endeavour to promote India’s cultural heritage across the far corners of the world.
But more importantly, we strive to support highly-skilled artisans, helping them showcase their talent and encouraging them to keep their traditional techniques alive. By purchasing and promoting their handicrafts, you give the artisans creating these items a sense of pride while supporting their livelihood.
WHAT WE DO?
SKAC was founded with a vision to promote Indian arts and crafts globally and help small artisans earn a living from them. We work with creative artisans across the country, curating their crafts on the website, thereby providing a sustainable business model for them. We offer a diverse range of products across multiple categories, including traditional art, tribal art, stone sculptures, and woodwork. Each product is meticulously handcrafted and hand-painted with intricate details by skilled craftsmen.
We are on a mission to preserve traditional crafts, designs, and techniques and share the talent of India’s artisans with the world. We aim to reignite enthusiasm for our country’s exceptional legacy of art and craft, which spans several millennia and is spread across the country’s length and breadth.
But that’s not all. We’re also raising funds for education in India. We donate a percentage of our profits to educational charities and NGOs supporting educational initiatives in underserved communities.
WHO WE ARE?
I’m Suja Pillai, a mom, wife, avid painter, and lover of arts and crafts. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats – I’ve been a Aloha teacher, an arts teacher, and an educational entrepreneur. Sprouts, a preschool and daycare, was my first business venture. Working with children brought me immense happiness, and my days were filled with play, action, creativity, and fun. Unfortunately, COVID came along, and we had to shut shop.
During the pandemic, I discovered that painting was my true calling. It made me the happiest and helped me connect with my inner self. While showcasing my paintings at various exhibitions, I met fellow artists who were highly skilled but lacked a suitable platform to sell their wares. I was also introduced to generational artisans struggling to preserve their traditional crafts.
On the other end of the spectrum, I found friends who wanted to buy handicrafts and artwork but were deterred by the exorbitant prices on online art websites.
SKAC is an attempt to bridge the gap between artisans and their market. We source products directly from artists and sell them at an affordable price to discerning buyers. We’re here to break the myth that art is outrageously expensive and out of reach of genuine connoisseurs.