CERC: History 1 2
 

Rukmini Devi said in her speech that day that "our aim is not to set up a huge factory, but rather in a small way to produce fine materials of beauty and simplicity. We hope that what we produce here will reflect the most wonderful things that had been produced in our country in olden days." Aware that artisans were losing their livelihoods because Indians turned to imported goods, Rukmini Devi made a very early attempt to rehabilitate weavers in the institute, offering them work and
protection.

Patterns were collected from saris and garments owned by Rukmini Devi and her friends. Old designs were revived, and Rukmini Devi herself chose the color combinations and motifs. The saris from the weaving centre quickly became famous. With their generous borders, unusual motifs, and vibrant colors, a 'Kalakshetra sari' was a coveted possession. The Centre also produced the exquisite costumes for Rukmini Devi's dance dramas.

In 1954, the Centre moved to its present location from the grounds of the Theosophical Society. With aid from the Handicrafts Board, a new building was constructed with ceilings high enough to accommodate the looms, and plenty of light and air for the weavers.

Kamala Devi Chattopadhyaya, a close friend of Rukmini Devi and a renowned advocate for craftwork in India, initiated the Centre's experiments with natural dyes in the 1950s.

Due to a lack of funds, the dye research laboratory was given over to the Handicrafts Board. It was not till 1978 that the Kalamkari Unit was again established, in order to revive the craft of hand painting and printing of textiles with vegetable dyes.
Now called the Craft Education and Research Centre the CERC, from the outset, has trained women from low-income groups in the art of Kalamkari. They work at the Centre under the supervision of traditional craftsmen. Weavers are more flexible; they move between the CERC and their homes in Kanchipuram and elsewhere. The capacity of the centre to fulfill orders has been limited in the past both by the number of looms and the number of available weavers. Each sari, depending on its pattern, takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks to make, and, in the case of the silk saris, requires the work of more than one weaver. Demand has consistently outstripped production capacity, but those placing orders have been willing to wait for these valuable creations.
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