Mrignayani happens to be one of the most successful handicraft stores by Madhya Pradesh Government. The state emporium has been serving people with its exclusive handmade collectives for both men and women including handicrafts and home decor essentials for 50 years now. And with growing time it has only added glory to its inordinate hand defined creativity and idea of empowering women by increasing support of women as employees.
The cottage industry that initiated in the year 1962 with an idea of not getting any machinery in between their hand defined dexterity. Mrs. Jyoti Singh, Manager- Indore Branch: a unit of Laghu Udyog Nigam Limited (head office- Bhopal), is designated as a Sales Supervisor since 1989.
Conversation with Mrs. Singh at Mrignayani, Indore
1. How do you feel being a part of this emporium for so long?
I am very happy about my work. The time when I had joined, things were way different from what they have evolved into now, but fortunately it has all the history alive with the handicrafts and symbolic arts.
2. What has kept Mrignayani different from the malls and local stores out there in the city?
Our work at Mrignayani comes out unadulterated if we compare to what is available in the city stored. From sari to jewelleries to paints and handicrafts and home furnishing as well- it’s all hand maden and abstract.
3. What is the reason behind women employers at your stores?
It’s all women work, and we are giving them opportunity to grow and even empower themselves.
4. What is the best historic art?
Theva art jewellery- the traditional of M.P, tribal jewellery from ancient years, sari collection of chanderi and maheshwari come standing high to the saying, ‘Old is Gold’ and the handicrafts have placidly improved with time.
5. What kinds of prints are used here and are they being copied by outsiders?
Yes, they are copied by the locals markets but there is remarkable variation in the quality of the two. In addition to which we serve a muckle of range in bagh, batik, zari, silk-zari, tissue, dabu prints, blocks, embroidery etc.
6. How many Mrignayani stores are there in India and is there any International outlet too?
We have eight stores in India at different places. We don’t have international outlets but have exhibitions held in couple of months at Australia, Switzerland etc.
7. What are the expressions of people outside the country?
People are crazy for such works and simple clothing that comforts and is easy going. Outside the country people we meet are very curious about handmade clothes, handicrafts, jewelleries like tribal, theva art, kundan, rabi , panna and for handicrafts mainly of Shri Krishna and Lord Ganesha.
Celebrating ages long of intangible work experience and efforts, the showroom takes conceit with their fecundity in collection of leather toys, dewaan sets, linens, vessels, bangles and other handcrafted pieces from styles of vivid ages. And even if too much ethnic does not fit in your taste, you may always find at least one thing to keep you going for the season.
Do not bother to haggle as the showroom is a government’s venture and the adroitness of handwork would leave you spell bound to spend or rather invest in what you choose to pick.
Mrignayani , Indore adds to the historic valuable asset to our state. The homespun art by many people together make it a highly substantial effort to preserve the essence of past in the work of present.
