It was a ‘moment of truth’ for Ankur when he visited his birthplace in India. Ankur Jalvi aka Jayden of Melbourne was in Jaipur with his partner Marlie Rose.
They were amazed by the historical buildings and the colourful bazaars of Jaipur. And then they saw someone selling wooden blocks by the roadside in Pushkar.
The blocks were attractive, and they were curious to find out more. Jayden says, "The person selling these blocks was an artist."
"These blocks were typical of Jaipur’s famous ‘Hand Block Printing’ and the designs were beautiful."
Ankur and Marlie were so fascinated that they visited this artist’s town. The small town Bagru near Jaipur is famous for block printing.
Block Printed Scarf by Bagru artists Source: Supplied
The artists prepare design-blocks and then use natural dyes and vegetables to prepare colours for printing.
Ankur Jalvi realised that these artisans were true artists made redundant by modern technology.
He recalls, "One artist told me that they were forced to sell their blocks on the roadside for giveaway prices as they cannot compete with modern printing technologies."
Ankur was left numb. He thought, the artists work so hard and get nothing in return. He decided to help these artists. The couple came back to Australia and started working on a business plan.
Source: Supplied
“I love wooden block printing and I want to promote it here in Australia," says Jalvi. "So we started a social company last year to promote the art form and the artist."
"So we buy items directly from the artist.
"And we pay Australian wages."
Together, Ankur Jalvi and his partner Marlie Rose started the company Little Jaipur
Getting Australian wages was something the artists in Bagru had never expected.
Source: Supplied
Jalvi had an interesting experience when he had his logo made by an artist.
"It took him 8 hours to make this block," he says.
Ankur and Marlie decided that they will not involve an export house or middlemen.
This has helped them cut costs and pay more to the artists.
He went to Bagru in August and made some connections. He got his own designs made. Now he markets these items on his website in Australia along with artists’ names.
"I want these artists to get their due recognition. In future, I want to bring them to Australia too. And I want to take Australian buyers to Bagru and provide them first-hand experience of the art form and the products."
Ankur and Marlie’s company has received positive response from Australians, according to Jalvi.
He says, "Australians respect hand-made products."
"They like such products. When I showed them the process through a video, they were surprised."
Source: Supplied
Challenges Ankur and Marlie faced:
Some of the challenges the couple faced included finding artists in small village of Bagru that were still trying to keep the art alive and making artists believe that working with them wouldn't damage their reputation with local export houses and buying agents who basically exploit them.
Jalvi said it was essential to "Make people believe that we actually mean their good and want to work for their best. A lot of people promise but deliver nothing."
The couple also didn't always know where to go as it was their first time in Bagru and people there aren't really active on the internet. That meant basically door knocking and talking to locals to spot and find people and then talk to them.
Ankur and Marlie started out with a small investment.
Ankur says, "I am just 29. I do not have a large capital."
But they say they are making it work.
"My business plan is simple," says Jalvi.
"I started this business out of passion and respect for the art form.
"So, I want to make enough money to pay my bills after helping the artists get what they deserve."
