In 2022, RANI & REINE had been in business for under a year. We were on the lookout for a button maker, because our original source for hand carved horn buttons was not traceable to the makers.
We knew we wanted a collaborative partnership with a skilled button maker, which would reflect the existing partnerships we had with other artisans and organizations. We were also looking for buttons made with interesting materials that were natural, biodegradable, and preferably zero waste.
Our wish: each button should be a tiny piece of art, that is also ecological and sustainably made.
After some initial hunting around Delhi and a little research, we were introduced to Chirangivi, a button maker in Jaipur. We contacted him first in April 2022.
After a multitude of phone calls and a barrage of photos of button designs, hairpins, needles cases, buckles, necklaces, spoons, shawl pins and more, we ordered some samples. Once they arrived, we were enthralled with the beauty of the various wood grains, the polished sheen of the horn, and the precision and intricacy of the carving.
Chairu Buttons and Handicraft, Ltd. was established in 2011, after Chairu had spent 18 years in the industry in Nepal. He works with bone, horn, wood, bamboo, and coconut shell, crafting not only thousands of buttons with a team of carvers, turners and buffers, but also baby rattles, hairpins, knitting needles, thimbles, paper knives; a literal multitude of souvenirs and handicrafts. If it can be carved, Chairu can make it. He currently employs 8 artisans in his Jaipur Workshop.
Chairu’s favourite materials to work with are horn and bone. He is also currently experimenting with colour in coconut shell, and he loves to work with rosewood, black ebony wood and sheesham (sesame) wood, which is rich brown in colour. He also works with guava and karma wood, which are both light coloured woods.
Cow, Buffalo and Camel bone is collected from different parts of India, from animals that have died a natural death (old age, illness, traffic accidents), as well as from the food industry.
Coconut shell mainly comes from South India. Raw tablets, which are small pre-cut pill shaped discs in various diameters and thicknesses, are purchased from suppliers before being carved and formed into buttons.
Our newest collection features buttons carved by Chairu's team in Jaipur. Pairing the texture of handmade cloth with hand carved button motifs and specific materials has been a wonderful creative journey. We have added polished domed horn buttons to our Smock Dresses, and our newest ruffle smock dress. (coming soon)
To one of our newest designs, the Painter's Smock, we asked for hand carved coconut buttons that mirror the texture of the wonderfully slubby handwoven fabrics. This new shirt dress will be launched on February 3, 2024 at BOTHO in Tübingen, and online in late February/early March.
We also carry a selection of Chairu's goods in our Brick and Mortar shop in Tübingen, as well as some needle boxes, darning supplies, shawl pins and other hand carved goods.
If you'd like to read more about Chairu and his work, please watch out for our two part blog post, which we'll be publishing in February 2024.