Wire baskets, once the staple school lunch bags, have made a comeback in style, as a fashion statement in recent years. They are even spotted as work bags. This trend revival has been a great boon to roadside basket-makers, giving them a reliable source of income.
Indrani, affectionately known as Indrani Paati, on Five Furlong Road at Guindy, dreams of selling her baskets all over the world, especially her signature lush pink bougainvillea-hued basket. For decades, she was a flower-vendor and she switched to basket-weaving. “I have been doing this for six years now.
Earlier, I used to go to markets at dawn to buy and sell flowers, which I could no longer do. So, I learnt how to knot baskets to support myself. I sell them for ₹120 to ₹600.
” ‘A struggle’ There’s Ramya U., a differently abled vendor, who has been making and selling wire baskets at the Agaram junction for five years now. “I have made more than a thousand baskets, such as biscuit baskets and Sivan Kann, but my favourite is Nellikai koodai (Amala-knot baskets).
It is a struggle to weave, but I feel satisfied once I finish.” Ramya’s cart has aquamarine blue baskets to golden poppy, and she has always been wiring something new — currently creating customised temple visit baskets for a neighbourhood family. “I learnt this on my own, and I’m happy my sales are up recently.
When I first took up this craft, I never thought there’s going to be heavy competition among basket-sellers. So, I am al.