Investing in our artisans to help them thrive
The importance of providing artisans with fair and additional compensation against market rates cannot be overstated. By going beyond prevailing market rates, we aim to uplift the economic well-being of artisans. This differential income generated directly enhances the economic value of their craftsmanship and ensures sustainable livelihoods.
Our artisan co-ownership model instils shared responsibility and collaboration amongst artisans. It also promotes democratic decision making and provides economic empowerment to the rural artisan community.
Through our better market linkage practises, we ensure that artisans receive fair and equal wages for their handicraft creations. Our handloom weavers and tailors work with us full time. Our artisans receive an average wage of ₹7,500 which is 2.3 times higher than the average income of a rural artisan.
We provide a platform for artisans to directly access the market thereby eliminating the middlemen who usually take a higher share of the sales price, leaving artisans with an unfair income for their efforts.
We maintain clean, well-ventilated workspaces with designated areas for different stages of production. The centers are equipped with clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and proper waste management systems. Regular inspections and updates ensure that buildings are structurally sound, equipment is safe, and that all safety regulations are met to prevent accidents.
Artisans undergo regular upskilling training and retraining to enhance their design repertoire. It also helps in improving the product quality and consistency. In the financial year 2023-24, around 164 trainings were conducted which were related to skill and compliance trainings.
Our centers are more than just workplaces; they are community spaces where artisans can work together, share experiences, and feel empowered. The infrastructure is designed to support both the physical and social well-being of the artisans, with a focus on creating a collaborative and supportive environment.
Practices that make our products better
We follow international level quality checks, compliance and honest, ethical practices at every stage of production.
We evaluate tensile strength, durability, and resistance of threads and fabrics, while also ensuring color accuracy to ensure we meet global testing standards. Our extensive experience, developed through the decades ensures our commitment to ethical practices.
Every product goes through multiple rounds of quality checks. Having collaborated for decades with a diverse group of international and local partners.
We want our products to have a longer shelf life. We design products that are versatile and adaptable for different situations and occasions. The silhouettes are contemporary yet simple. This allows them to be paired and accessorised differently for each wear.
Loving and respecting our environment + planet
Our goal is to minimise our resources and overall carbon footprint at every stage of production. From raw material sourcing, to the fabric choices made to the energy consumed to produce our collections, every decision is made keeping the environmental impact in mind.
Our handicraft textiles/apparels production model helps our products be ~31.71% less emission-intensive compared to mechanised cotton textiles. Our data indicated a substantial 150.61 tCO2e savings from the use of sustainable materials.
We have set up 108 kW of Solar RE capacity across 3 states (Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh)
We choose to use sustainable Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) grade cotton for more than ~80% of our raw materials. BCI cotton reduces water intensity in production and outperforms organic cotton in terms of water use per seed tonne.
CRAFT FOR CHANGE
CFC is our collection of products made from upcycled, surplus fabric. By repurposing materials that would otherwise go to waste, we've created practical and planet-friendly products that celebrate the beauty of mindful design. With this range of products, we want to emphasize on our commitment to a more sustainable future.
