Vibrant Nature's Article in THE HINDU Retail Plus

Through glasses tinted green

 An initiative for retail that hopes to replicate and reorganise mass consumption into everything green.

Vibrant Nature is a growing dedication that inspires society towards a Green World where natural, eco friendly and bio degradable handicrafts and everyday use products become natural substitutes for many plastic and synthetic products. S. Ramakrishnan, the founder of Vibrant Nature is the man with a vision for Green India. The fledgling company is now four-years-old and has developed over a 100 different products from natural fibres, textiles and other locally available raw material.

Coconut shells and husk, banana fibres and treated banana peels, palm leaves, kora grass, aloe vera and palm leaves are only few examples of the various natural products used to make mind boggling eco friendly products.

Research and development and a keen interest in aesthetics drive Ramakrishnan and his team to create several innovative products. Whole villages have been mobilized into contributing fibres and material hitherto unused or wasted. Local bodies encouraged by Vibrant Nature are enthused by the prospect generating new product lines and income generating projects.

Ramakrishnan says, "Substitution is the key to slowly move towards a green world. Disposable party plates and bowls made out of areca nut fibres could easily replace plastic or paper plates.Plastic containers could be replaced by palm leaf or coconut leaf baskets. Desk top stationary such as pen stands, folders and file cabinets can be made of natural fibres like jute and palm leaf, are eco friendly options."

The latest innovation is the bamboo fibre tee shirt which is all the rage in the Far East and is one of China's largest exports to the West.

Going Green is sometimes an expensive proposition, given that the cost of synthetic stuff is comparatively less. Ramakrishnan says mass production is the key to keeping costs low. This ensures that most segments of the society move towards organic and natural products.

Vibrant Nature sources a huge quantity of raw material that goes through a stringent selection and treatment process before it evolves into a final product. Hundreds of dried coconut shells are examined before sculpting one perfect beatific Ganesha or being shaped into a set of six identical cups.

Vibrant Nature will soon launch a retail outlet in Besant Nagar called Go For Green. It is a dream come true for Ramakrishna who has also recently been instituted in the National Fibre Policy Council formed by the Ministry of Textile, Government of India. The store will stock hand made products that include textiles, kitchen ware, stationary, hand crafted jewellery, tableware like plates, cups, table mats, footwear made of sisal, home accessories like table lamps, runners and decorative floor mats.

Ramakrishnan says, "It is a small step in the right direction and there is so much more ahead."

Vibrant Nature can be contacted on 9940024372.

talktoretailplus@yahoo.com

SUNITA SURESH

The Online Link in THE HINDU : http://www.hindu.com/rp/2010/05/02/stories/2010050250040100.htm

Earth Day - April 22nd 2010

Hi,

Go Green !!!

Thanks for your time. I am happy in sharing the information about Earth day with you. Please follow as many things as possible. We could take at-least a small step. 

What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. Earth Day is celebrated in spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Many communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues. Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22.


Why do we celebrate Earth day? 
We are the people responsible for creating Global warming and its our responsibility to rehabilitate nature. But it is not possible to make no global warming, at least we could take steps to prevent certain destructions.


What can we do?
We could follow basic ways of going green:

• Switch off Lights when not in use
• Use both sides of paper
• Use a Reusable cloth bag for getting groceries
• Plant a tree. Do not cut.
• Save water

How can the awareness be spread?

• All nations should create continuous green awareness
• All schools should have green awareness included in the text books
• Each one of us should continuously follow the ways of going green

Go Green !!! Save Earth !!!


In public interest by Vibrant Nature

Vibrant Nature participating in NDTV Hindu Greenathon 2010

NDTV Hindu conducted Greenathon 2010 in Chennai Elliots Beach on 6th and 7th of March 2010. Vibrant Nature took the initiative of distributing Pamphlets to the participants of the event.

The Pamphlet lists the :
- Tips to Go Green
- Current Research & Development

Arecanut Crafts

FIBER EXTRACTION:

Arecanut plates, bowls etc are currently being used in many restaurants and parties. It is a use and throw product. It is eco friendly and bio-degradable, which is a substitute for plastic and other artificial ones.

Arecanut leaf stalk of Arecanut Tree is used for making the products. For production process, 8” and more than of the sizes of stalks are being selected. The stalks are first cleaned well and then dried in sun. They are then soaked in a big tank full of water and dried in shade. Once the stalks become suitable for making the products, they are made into desired products using different dyes.

OUR RANGE OF PRODUCTS INCLUDES:

Snack Bowl

Plates

Meals Plate

Visit our wide range of products @ www.vibrantnature.co.in

Talipot Fiber Crafts

FIBER EXTRACTION:

Talipot Stalk is taken from a variety of Palm Tree. This stalk is 10-12 meters long. They are cut according to our required length and soaked in water for 60 days. The Talipot fiber is manually taken from the soaked stalk and dried under sun. The pith from the fiber is removed using nail brush. The Talipot fiber can now be used for weaving using handloom.

OUR RANGE OF PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

Table Mats
Coasters
Curtains
Bags
Runners
Home furnishing items

especially latest designs curtains are attractive products which has wider international market, acceptability and demand.

Visit our wide range of products @ www.vibrantnature.co.in

Sisal Fiber Crafts

SISAL FIBER EXTRACTION:

Sisal Fiber is extracted from the leaves of Sisal Plant. The fibers are extracted through hand extraction machine composed of either serrated or non serrated knives. The peel is clamped between the wood plank and knife and hand-pulled through, removing the resinous material. The extracted fibers are sun-dried which whitens the fiber.

Once dried, the fibers are ready for knotting. A bunch of fibers are mounted or clamped on a stick to facilitate segregation. Each fiber is separated according to fiber sizes and grouped accordingly. To knot the fiber, each fiber is separated and knotted to the end of another fiber manually. The separation and knotting is repeated until bunches of unknotted fibers are finished to form a long continuous strand. This Sisal fiber can be used for making variety of products.

OUR MAJOR PRODUCT RANGE INCLUDES:

Lampshades
Tableware Items
Bath scrub
Bags

and much more.

Visit our wide range of products @ www.vibrantnature.co.in

Kora Grass Crafts

FIBER EXTRACTION:

Kora mats are extremely reliable and can be easily folded. Kora grass grows abundantly along the banks of the rivers. The process of creating the mat is complex and painstaking. In its original form the grass is green in colour and normally grows to a height of 3-4 feet. The grass for the mats is cut very fine, while it is still green. The inside white pith of the stem is removed with a sharp-edged knife while the outer part of the stem is used for weaving. The counts of the mat depend on how many strips the grass is cut into; the greater the numbers of strips from each stem, the higher the count. The strips of grass are then dried in the hot sun.

When the dried grass strips turn a yellowish greenish colour, they are boiled in a pot of water and dried again. The dried grass is made up into bundles and soaked in running water for 3-7 days. This wetting causes the grass to swell up to three times its original size. It is then dried again in the sun. The weaving is done on a floor loom. The process is slow and follows a basket weave pattern. Once the weaving is complete, the mat is dried in the sun for a short while. The mats woven are very fine with counts ranging from 100 to 140. It is then finished with a polishing stone. For dyeing the grass both natural and chemical dyes are used.

OUR MAJOR PRODUCT RANGE INCLUDES:

Sleeping Mats
Prayer Mats
Tablemats
Coasters
Shopping Bags
Ladies Handbag
Wall Hanging

and much more.

Kindly visit our wide range of products @ www.vibrantnature.co.in