The story
Pipili's appliqué began as temple service, making canopies, umbrellas and banners for the Jagannath temple's festivals, including the Rath Yatra. Artisans cut coloured cloth into motifs of animals, flowers and gods and stitch them onto a base fabric. Located on the Bhubaneswar–Puri highway, the village now sells to tourists and exporters, and the craft is GI-registered.
In numbers
The Pipili appliqué cluster had 117 functional units, a turnover of Rs. 50 crore, exports of Rs. 8 crore and employment of 1,700.
Brief Industrial Profile of Puri District, MSME-DI Cuttack, Ministry of MSME · 2012
GI tag
- Pipli Applique WorkApplication no. Application No. 86 & 108Registration details of Geographical Indications (state-wise register), IP India
Ways in for a newcomer
- Contemporary appliqué home décor for online and export buyers
- Bulk orders for hotels and events
- Supply of dyed cloth and trims to artisans
Problems the cluster faces
- Cheap machine-made copies along the highway
- Low artisan wages
- Limited design innovation
Businesses to start here
Patchwork Fabric and Garments →Textile Made-Ups (Napkins, Mats, Aprons) →Online Folk Art and Art Gallery Marketplace →Handloom and Handicrafts Retail Shop →