Day Ninety-Seven: an Indian craft comes of age

As parents in Europe and North America shy away from 'suspicious looking' plastic and metal toys, wooden toys are experiencing something of a revival. And, according to today's linked article from the BBC, the positive spin-offs from this trend are being felt not just by BRIO but in Channapatna, India. This town near Bangalore is a traditional manufacturing centre for wooden toys, popular across India but until now unheard of internationally. But local toymakers have seen their business revitalized, as their simple wooden toys - which are coloured with vegetable dyes - have been noticed and marketed by international companies, particularly green and organic brands. Some in Channapatna are not convinced that the toys' new-found popularity will be sustained. But for now the trade is bringing hope (and money) to families engaged in the toymaking craft - and those who had left for the city in search of work are returning. Personally, I think the toys sound lovely - and I suspect this old industry has a lot of growth potential! (Photo from BBC online.)