'Lively'

In 1998 LEC was able to expand its educational programme and proudly announced the foundation of a sewing workshop.

A simple former cowshed, nicely located and surrounded by lush greenery was turned into our sewing outlet. We set up some sewing machines and tables and were ready to start our work. Lively's assortment includes tailored products for adults and children, from Auroville and its bioregion. Our specialty is pillow cases and a great variety of all kinds of stuffed shapes.

The boutique, established in 2000, is housed in a dear old building that was successively used as a pottery, a family house and the old LEC School up till 2002. As LEC was growing so fast and had managed to get a bigger place for its school in another Auroville location, the 30-year old tiny mud house got happily renovated and turned into the 'Lively' boutique.

Our little boutique is regularly equipped with new garments, table cloth, curtains, cushions, bags, embroidered articles, crochet-work and more. We also display a good number of interesting handicraft-products from the villages around and from other small Aurovilian handicraft units as well.

After finishing the 2-year programme, there is now the possibility for interested girls to deepen their tailoring skills or even to become educated as a saleswoman. They then have the opportunity to get an employment in 'Lively', earn their living and get practice as a saleswoman at the same time.

Through these activities we are able to support the school to some extent and it gives us a good feeling to grow, to be more independent through our own work and to be a well-known bridge between Auroville and the villages.

Contact: karinauroville.org.in