Youngster experiments with weaving miniatures on matchboxes

Four years ago, her grandparents gifted her a Rigid Heddle loom and she started making various handwoven products. The 24-year-old self-taught weaver has started a venture called Aslii Thari with an aim to cast a spotlight on the beauty of this traditional handicraft. “I learned weaving on my own and it’s a beautiful handicraft. Through this venture, I wanted to promote the art of weaving especially among youngsters. I make eco-friendly and sustainable products,” says Vaishnavi. 

Recently, while weaving an idea struck her - how it will be if she can be independent of the loom and is able to weave with everyday objects. “The idea struck me while thinking about how I can showcase this handicraft differently. Why I should restrict myself to weave only on the loom. I started to think about different materials to weave on. An empty matchbox was lying around and I began to weave on that using a needle and threads. This is more like miniature weaving. I weaved a few products on matchboxes. This weaving collection celebrates life’s larger moments, with a pocket-sized tribute. It is also a reminder that we are only limited by the size of our imagination,” explains the photography post-graduation student. 

Unlike the loom, Vaishnavi says that it is a challenging process to weave on matchboxes. “Matchboxes are fragile and you have to handle it with utmost care. Otherwise, there are high chances of tearing. I have done matchbox weaving for occasions like World Photography Day, Madras Day, Vinayaka Chathurthi and Onam,” she smiles.