Looking for shishas (mirrorwork)

xairoise · Jun 27th, 2008, 09:16

hi guys. I'm an visual artist residing in manila, philippines and I'll be going to chennai next year for a residency at the dakshinachitra. I'll be needing a few things :

1. Second Hand Stores : does chennai have plenty of second hand clothes store? I live in manila, we have plenty of thrift stores around that sells clothes super cheap, sometimes at 10 pesos (25 US cents)each. I rip them apart and either repaste them on canvas or sew them in a different way. I'll be needing indian printed clothing... paisleys, lace trimmings, etc. Would you have an idea of the areas where they sell cheap clothing there?

2. Shishas : I have been looking all over for shishas (mirrorwork).They're the ones that you see in bedcovers, pillowcases and rajasthani clothes. (Nope, not the one you smoke around with...) I've tried going to alibaba, and some sites, Uk and US, but it's not practical to buy the mirrors at 1 dollar each. would you guys know any region in india or store that i may be able to get in touch with and buy "raw" materials such as shishas? (I'm thinking rajasthan, but I always find finished products over the net, not just the mirrors themselves.)In manila, we get pillowcases from rajasthan priced at 200 pesos... roughly around 5 US dollars, including the indian mirrors attached to them.

I know the small glass pieces are cheap, I just don't know where to buy them... *sigh

Hope some of you guys may shed some light to my problem! Thanks!

capt_mahajan · Jun 28th, 2008, 02:09

Dunno about the small pieces, but look for the Rajasthan Emporium in Chennai, I think I have seen it on mint road.

Also visit the periodic handicrafts exhibitions any large city seems to have in India, you may get lucky there.

There will be secondhand clothes available somewhere. AChennai-ite will know better, but I would say somewhere near T nagar, possibly.

Nick-H · Jun 28th, 2008, 02:29

Cheap second-hand clothes, no.

Cheap new ones; yes, no shortage at all!

My hunch is that you are likely to make contacts through dakshinachitra who will know where to source items that may be unusual to the rest of us. There is also Cholamandal Artists Village, nearer to Chennai, where you may get useful contacts too.

Just make sure you don't ask for Shishyas

xairoise · Jun 28th, 2008, 07:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Cheap second-hand clothes, no.

Cheap new ones; yes, no shortage at all!

My hunch is that you are likely to make contacts through dakshinachitra who will know where to source items that may be unusual to the rest of us. There is also Cholamandal Artists Village, nearer to Chennai, where you may get useful contacts too.

Just make sure you don't ask for Shishyas

...oh... thanks nick and capt'n! but... what are shishyas? (other than people who study under a teacher or guru) ?

wonderwomanusa · Jun 28th, 2008, 07:30

The mirror embroidery comes from Rajasthan and Gujerat, so I'm thinking that's where you will have to go to get the raw materials.

Nick-H · Jun 28th, 2008, 11:46

Quote:

what are shishyas? (other than people who study under a teacher or guru)

Just that!

I had a mental picture of you going out looking for mirrors and coming back with a collection of students following you

.

Jun 27th, 2008, 09:16	#1
xairoise artisan Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: manila, philippines Posts: 49	Looking for shishas (mirrorwork) hi guys. I'm an visual artist residing in manila, philippines and I'll be going to chennai next year for a residency at the dakshinachitra. I'll be needing a few things : 1. Second Hand Stores : does chennai have plenty of second hand clothes store? I live in manila, we have plenty of thrift stores around that sells clothes super cheap, sometimes at 10 pesos (25 US cents)each. I rip them apart and either repaste them on canvas or sew them in a different way. I'll be needing indian printed clothing... paisleys, lace trimmings, etc. Would you have an idea of the areas where they sell cheap clothing there? 2. Shishas : I have been looking all over for shishas (mirrorwork).They're the ones that you see in bedcovers, pillowcases and rajasthani clothes. (Nope, not the one you smoke around with...) I've tried going to alibaba, and some sites, Uk and US, but it's not practical to buy the mirrors at 1 dollar each. would you guys know any region in india or store that i may be able to get in touch with and buy "raw" materials such as shishas? (I'm thinking rajasthan, but I always find finished products over the net, not just the mirrors themselves.)In manila, we get pillowcases from rajasthan priced at 200 pesos... roughly around 5 US dollars, including the indian mirrors attached to them. I know the small glass pieces are cheap, I just don't know where to buy them... *sigh Hope some of you guys may shed some light to my problem! Thanks! __________________ nothing... just looking ...

Jun 28th, 2008, 02:29	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,866	Cheap second-hand clothes, no. Cheap new ones; yes, no shortage at all! My hunch is that you are likely to make contacts through dakshinachitra who will know where to source items that may be unusual to the rest of us. There is also Cholamandal Artists Village, nearer to Chennai, where you may get useful contacts too. Just make sure you don't ask for Shishyas __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Jun 28th, 2008, 02:09	#2
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	Dunno about the small pieces, but look for the Rajasthan Emporium in Chennai, I think I have seen it on mint road. Also visit the periodic handicrafts exhibitions any large city seems to have in India, you may get lucky there. There will be secondhand clothes available somewhere. AChennai-ite will know better, but I would say somewhere near T nagar, possibly.

Jun 28th, 2008, 07:30	#5
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,512	The mirror embroidery comes from Rajasthan and Gujerat, so I'm thinking that's where you will have to go to get the raw materials.

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