Blogs

A manual printing technique whereby a mesh is used to transfer ink into a substrate, except in areas impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. Many of the products here are screen printed with lettering at our very own pint studio

We engage women self help groups and small scale vendors for manufacturing process. Behind each product there is an effort of many skilled hands which adds more value to product. The comfort of work at home, helps them to earn even in their vulnerable situations or in-between the home duties. These include working individuals and also groups of women working together as a unit. Women in each unit are empowered by creating an earning capability which helps their needs and to improve their social and economic standard of living.

Day 1 of Karkidaka Maasam :  It is the fourth month of lunar calendar – Cancer a.k.a Karkidakain malayalam. Doted with plentiful rains, this month is about self-reflections and restrain. (that’s how the tradition goes) The monsoons flourish the great back-waters and people alike, also the tiny micro-organisms. Strictly, the way we see...

MALAYALAM PROJECT is our favourite new pastime. As designers working in the medium of malayalam (language / letterform / landscape) this is an exhibit thats worthy of our time and research. It will show during the Kochi Muziris Beinnale 2014 - 2015 at the new Viakerala Design Shop Space at 292 B, Lily...

Built over hundreds of years, the streets of Mattancherry offer significant insights into the addition of Malabari Jew's architecture. The Jewish synagogue, is an iconic visual metaphor for the historic trading center of Kochi. The main synagogue building dates back to the 16th century - the newer structures grew around it and so did the visitors from...

First in the classic malayalam movie inspired typography series, this rendition explores various facets of Malayalam as a language and its quirkiness. the negative (silk screen)  Ee Sankarankuttiku penu venam, is literally translated as: this Sankarankutty wants a girl. It is also a very common phenomenon in Kerala (and India) that...

Up-cycling the handmade produce from Kerala, we initiated terra-cotta works as Kaithozhil*, hand sculpted & fired earth magnets. Following the same thread of idea we are introducing, hand sculpted ceramic magnets. Celebrating the idea of travel and freedom, be it on foot, ubiquitous rickshaws or soaring high in sky, with these little mementos.Both terra-cotta...

Screen printing has been around for quite a few centuries and even to this day is a widely used practice. Almost anything that can be flattened, can be screen printed. Be it paper, cloth, canvas, wood, metal.... This process is more or less on the lines of developing photographs from...

Each Viakerala tiger is a pillow and a toy but also holds a story of empowerment. We work with women’s self help groups in suburban kochi. Each piece is hand embroidered and appliqué using manual techniques of stitching (not electric or automatic machinery).

Self help Womens groups mean that the women who stitch this can work from home with the flexibility of timing and space and earn an income while also having household responsibilities. 

The Western ghats, one of the worlds richest hotspots for biodiversity, need a wee bit more awareness amongst people. Nilgiri and Anaimalai Hills, the end stretch of Western ghats separates Kerala from Tamil Nadu, giving Kerala its liberal rainfall. These highlands are host to a number of Wildlife Sanctuaries, Jungle Reserves, conserving...

The multitudes of checks and colours one see floating on native shoulders when traveling these parts, that's a sight which sticks to mind as an essential local couture. Upscaling the 100% cotton handloom fabric, traditionally used to drape women in sarees and sometimes men in mundu, we try to gently bridge the gap...

Fort Cochin: Architecture The start to understand the spice market left us standing at its doors with a camera. Architecture spoke and we listened to the eased persuasions of the changing hands, from the star of David to Islamic arches, from Roman kuruss (cross) to Dutch siblings.  Weathered textures revealed the layers of...

The giants of Periyar, their life and ways is brought to life with more design in playful colours, few words and more talk. In a wall hung poster, which also could be pulled out into 6 separate posters, we talk about human idiosyncrasies paralleled in traits of a tiger and...

The giants of Periyar, their life and ways is brought to life with more design in playful colours, few words and more talk. In a wall hung poster, which also could be pulled out into 6 separate posters, we talk about human idiosyncrasies paralleled in traits of a tiger and...

Read it, turn it, flip it, or even hang it upside down, a Malayalam letter is going to intrigue the reader. It does not matter if you can read Malayalam text or are lost in its curves and loops, it would still make sense with its asymmetrical balance. Dipped in colours that invariably catch the eye;...

The weathered textures of hand painted walls are but humble submissions to the gods of this country, who run their democracy with rain. Drawing inspiration from local graffiti, fused with in-vogue design and cuts, is born a sturdy-canvas bag thats ready to travel any weather, any distance.This limited edition canvas...

Look what the flying elephant brought in on Kerala Day - here's a tribute to Keralam and the backwaters; a deep violet 100% cotton tshirt thats modern and funky. 'Local' just got a whole lot cooler!   The malayalam lettering (Keralam) is hand rendered in a verdant green against a...

Baby Kol is half mallu and lives in New York, he met the viakerala elephants last month and they had quite a chat! Kol can't wait to visit this place called Kerala and hang out with his crew. Baby Omo on the other hand, lives in India but again far...

Last summer, India Menninghaus spent a few months doing research and typography design at Viakerala. Heres an excerpt from her writings about working with the malayalam alphabet: 'Listening to Malayalam is exactly the same as trying to decipher the signs around the city: strings of dips and swirls that all...

The design team at viaKerala has been working behind the scenes with artists, users, wildlife researchers & photographers, naturalists and even young kids to develop interesting awareness products at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. We have some names to name and some friends to meet:Dr. A. Veeramani, Ecologist, Periyar Foundation, Periyar Tiger...