top of page
Debasis Mahapatra
Appliqué artisan
2025
Years Present:
Role:
Artisan

Debasis Mahapatra is a 30-year-old appliqué artisan based in Pipili, Puri district, Odisha. He began learning the craft at the age of 14 through family tradition. His work engages with traditional chandua making using appliqué fabrics, thread, and mirror elements. His practice spans ritual, social, and everyday contexts, reflecting the continued relevance of appliqué across multiple domains. He operates across a wider network that includes local markets, cooperatives, intermediaries, and institutional support systems. His practice reflects both continuity and transition, shaped by market competition, material shortages, and shifting generational engagement.
bottom of page