But the urbanite should learn to look at the craft itself, not just what it's doing to the rural economy. If we always go back to the village, use the rural artisan's skills, their hands, urban crafts won't progress. I tried being a mechanic, then a carpenter, eventually a draughtsman apprentice to an architect. But it was frustrating, having to deal with other people's ideas. Pottery was so freeing.
All designers eventually sacrifice themselves at the altar of market needs.
Their product then becomes a business, no longer a passion. Cynthia and I realized that we had to live down, think small, to retain our freedom. It's just 10 per cent of your product cost. But Cynthia and I have to work hard for at least five weeks to produce one kiln load. Priya and I are trying to design clothes parallel to the mainstream.