Did you know that India has the highest area (13.96 million hectares) under bamboo cultivation and is the second richest country after China in terms of bamboo diversity with 136 species? The annual production of bamboo in India is 14.6 million tonnes and the bamboo-rattan industry in the country was worth ₹28,005 crores in 2017. “Bamboo is green gold,” says Neelam Chhibber, co-founder and managing trustee at the Industree Foundation, which, along with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) runs a POWER (Producer Owned Women Enterprises) project that impacts 6800 women across three natural fibre value chains, including bamboo.
World Bamboo Day was officially established on September 18 at the World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009. The aim was to use this day to raise awareness of the benefits of bamboo and to promote its use in everyday products.
Here's our list of products that make wonderful use of this wonder grass to craft objects of splendour and beauty:
Salmon Gathered Dress
A-line dress by Rias Jaipur with inseam pockets and tie-up belt in hand-spun, indigenous cotton and natural bamboo yarn.
Available on Nete.in; ₹8,500
Mianzi Hive Modular Wardrobe
A storage console that allows for flexibility by adding more structural cubes and re-arranging the bamboo baskets, woven by artisans in rural Madhya Pradesh.
Available on Cicaindia.in; ₹58,350
Bamboo Jewellery Box
Woven with bamboo sticks and cotton threads, this vibrant multi-purpose box can be used to store jewellery, make-up and knick-knacks.
Available on Jaypore.com; ₹699
Nicobar Bamboo Bangle
Brass and bamboo come together to create this versatile bracelet inspired by the Konkan coast.
Available on Nicobar.com; ₹950
Memphis Black Floor Lamp
Woven cane floor lamp on a contrasting black frame accentuating the rounded forms that are making a comeback in decor.
Available on OrangeTree.in; ₹9,199
Gold Bamboo Planter
Textured bamboo planter with a golden finish, handwoven and hand-painted by artisans.
Available on QuiltAvenue.com; ₹3,800
