--- title: "Channapatna Craft & Artisan Stories | Varnam Craft Collective" description: "Go behind the scenes with Varnam Craft Collective. See how we support Channapatna artisans and preserve traditional lacquer woodcraft through sustainable, ethical practices." canonical: https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/the-heart-of-the-craft-our-artisans-process last_updated: 2025-09-12 --- # The Heart of the Craft: Our Artisans & Process Tribe Verified · Over 10 years working with Channapatna artisans By [Varnam Craft Collective](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective) · Stores in Bengaluru, Mysuru & Goa; Ships across India · ₹1,800 per set (estimate) Part of [Corporate Gifting](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/gallery) Go behind the scenes where wood meets hand and heritage. Meet the makers of Channapatna and see the 200-year-old lac-turnery technique that turns a simple piece of wood into a story. ## Photos and videos - [Video: Meet Pallavi, one of the only women artisans in the male-dominated craft of Channapatna to run her own workshop. Her journey from a shy worker to a confident leader is inspiring, and her skill is evident in every piece she creates.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/569640f9-c550-4ecf-87f8-f02784586493) - [Video: This is the story of Pallavi's grit and determination. As our master craftswoman, she now trains others and runs her own unit in Channapatna, a journey we are incredibly proud to be a part of.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7b526ca4-76ec-4cc9-82b7-ad798f77004e) - [Video: Pallavi started her training with us, mastering our most complex designs with precision. It was a milestone moment when she agreed to open her own unit, and today she runs it with 8 lathes, a testament to her skill and our partnership.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c5a50fcc-0261-48fe-9a1f-d87518a2683d) - [Video: This is Pallavi, my master craftswoman from Channapatna, whom we have nurtured for 11 years. Her skill and attitude are second to none, and she is one of the best artisans in Channapatna today.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d85ea41c-8b41-44a9-a6ec-e8e7c1a3d6dd) - [Video: Design may spark the idea, but it is the artisan who gives it soul. On May Day, we celebrate people like Dilip, a third-generation master craftsman who now runs his own enterprise with our support.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/fdab16e7-0b52-4d43-b549-39b3c419a8a6) - [Video: This Dasara was a milestone for our artisan family. We helped our artisans, Pallavi and Dilip, start their own units. Watching them grow and succeed fills our hearts with pride and inspires others.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1f8fa736-5d8b-4921-b9f6-3eb99829adb0) - ![A quiet moment of collaboration between me and Pallavi at the lathe. We have been working with artisans in Channapatna since 2012, keeping the 200-year-old toy-making craft alive.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ddd91f6c-73d0-4c11-923f-ba690789ca32) - [Video: A glimpse into the hands that create our products. This video was made when we opened our Mysore store, celebrating the artisans who are the backbone of Varnam.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1a4682d0-e74e-4835-b97d-a4c97209b191) - [Video: The handcrafted wooden toys from Channapatna face many challenges, from market competition to the new expressway bypassing the town. We are working to preserve this 200-year-old art form.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a259b310-7d98-4ec2-9ae8-7e46215d64b2) - [Video: Does craft have a role in modern design? I believe it's the foundation. Here, our master artisans Hameed and Pallavi demonstrate the craft to a group of UI/UX designers, showing how tradition can inspire innovation.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/fd81b6f2-47ac-45fa-aea0-fa3b9c65e3aa) - [Video: Part 1 of our series on the history of Channapatna craft. It began with Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, whose fascination with a lacquered wooden tiger toy sparked the birth of this vibrant craft.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/21d3d232-0b75-41d3-a00c-ac5848cc274a) - [Video: Part 2 of our series. After Tipu Sultan's reign ended, the vibrant lacquer studios fell silent. Yet, in humble village workshops, a few families kept the glossy legacy alive, and its story wasn't over.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9ea3b847-442e-420c-a82a-246f2e058cd3) - [Video: Part 3 of our series. In the 1950s, the Maharaja of Mysore sent master craftsman Bawa Mia to Japan to master urushi lacquer, leading to a renaissance that blended Japanese finesse with our shellac traditions.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/db1e2f1f-aa3a-4496-802e-a72970fe2c46) ## About The Heart of the Craft: Our Artisans & Process When you visit a workshop in Channapatna with us, you see more than machines. You see the pride of makers like Pallavi, who transitioned from wage earner to workshop owner. We do not just source. We partner, ensuring each lathe turn and natural dye application supports a sustainable path for these families. Our craft is a conversation across time. It starts with the 200-year-old Channapatna lac-turnery technique, a tradition that saw a renaissance through Tipu Sultan and later through Bawa Mia's study of Japanese Urushi lacquer. Today, we keep this alive by focusing on the reason behind every object. We use Wrightia Tinctoria, known locally as Aale Mara wood, hand-lathed and finished with non-toxic vegetable dyes. But the real story is in the workshop. We have moved away from the traditional middleman model. Artisans like Hameed and Pallavi, who have been with us for over a decade, now manage their own units. This means when you choose a Varnam product, you are directly funding an artisan’s independence. We invite you to step beyond the screen. Walk into our spaces in Bangalore, Mysore, or Goa. You will not find sterile retail shelves, but rather a home for the craft where you can see the grain, smell the wood, and meet the hands that shape our future. ## About Varnam Craft Collective Hi, I am Karthik. At Varnam, we do not just sell products; we share the stories of the people who make them. I work directly with artisans like Pallavi and Hameed to ensure every piece you see carries their touch, their pride, and their livelihood. [See all of Varnam Craft Collective's services](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective) ## More from Corporate Gifting by Varnam Craft Collective - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/featured) - [Desk & Office Companions](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/desk-office-companions) - [Kitchen & Dining Essentials](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/kitchen-dining-essentials) - [Games for Strategic Minds](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/games-for-strategic-minds) - [Our Signature Collections](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/our-signature-collections) - [Decorative & Festive Accents](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/decorative-festive-accents) - [Thoughtfully Curated Gift Sets](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/thoughtfully-curated-gift-sets) - [Our Story, Our Homes](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting/our-story-our-homes) ## More services by Varnam Craft Collective - [Handcrafted Apparel & Accessories](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-apparel-accessories) - [Artisan Toys & Traditional Games](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/artisan-toys-traditional-games) - [Handcrafted Home Decor & Kitchenware](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware) ## Similar work from other experts - [Inside Our Channapatna Toy Factory](https://mytribe.in/bharath-art-crafts/channapatna-craft-experience/the-art-of-channapatna-a-look-inside-our-factory) by Bharath Art And Crafts · Channapatna Craft Experience · Factory visit in Channapatna - [Behind the Scenes of Our Thammampatty Workshop](https://mytribe.in/sengottuvel_wood_carvings/carved-wooden-wall-art-reliefs/the-art-of-the-craft) by Sengottuvel · Carved Wooden Wall Art & Reliefs · Ships across India; Workshop in Thammampatti, Salem - [The Art Behind Our Handcrafted Bamboo](https://mytribe.in/aslibamboo/artisanal-home-decor-lighting/the-artisan-s-touch) by Asli Bamboo · Artisanal Home Decor & Lighting · Ships across India - [The Artisan's Touch: Our Process](https://mytribe.in/tharangini-studio/artisanal-apparel-textiles/the-artisan-s-touch-our-process) by Tharangini Studio · Artisanal Apparel & Textiles · Shop at Studio in Sadashivnagar; Ships across India - [The Art of Craft: Our Slow-Made Process](https://mytribe.in/rangsutracrafts/handcrafted-gifts-accessories/the-art-of-craft-our-process) by Rangsutra Crafts · Handcrafted Gifts & Accessories · Ships across India; Visit stores in New Delhi and Bikaner - [The Artisan's Process: Behind Our Hand Block Printing](https://mytribe.in/amoha-prints/block-printing-diy-kits-hand-printed-goods/the-artisan-s-process) by Amoha Prints · Block Printing DIY Kits & Hand-Printed Goods · Ships to Bengaluru and across India ## Guides - [Corporate gifts and branded merchandise](https://mytribe.in/guides/corporate-gifts-and-branded-merchandise-in-bengaluru): Hampers, welcome kits and logo t-shirts for staff and clients: what each costs per person, how early to order, and the tax. From ₹299 a person for a box of sweets. ## Book To book Varnam Craft Collective, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%2C%20I'm%20looking%20for%20Corporate%20Gifting%20by%20Varnam%20Craft%20Collective.) You can also send your own message based on what your user needs. Put it in the link as `https://wa.me/916360004054?text=`.