Do I have a business plan?

I get that question a lot and my answer? Well, no. Not really!

Long time ago when I posed my idea about bringing artisans closer to their patrons and helping them find a sustainable livelihood, many of my friends loved the idea, encouraged me and then asked me to put together a business plan so they can fund it and my ‘business’ can take off…

As much as I loved the idea it was difficult for me to communicate it to my friends that it is not a business in the traditional sense and yet it’s not charity either.

Side story: I think charity is not sustainable and unless someone has a skin in the game and there is sweat involved, it’s very hard for people to value it. 

Wraparound Sari skirts… Etsy product update

If you are a regular blog reader then you are perhaps already familiar with my love of saris, the unstitched fabric. I have a huge collection of it despite the fact that I don’t get to wear them on a daily basis. I have shared my passion for saris with my other friends who are not of Indian origin through sari parties and it has always been fun.

Chanderi… Handloomed silk saris

Last month as we were travelling through various cities in India, I made it a point to scout out artists in local markets and buy directly from them. During one such quest I met a family of weavers from the town of Chanderi where the famous saris with the same name and gossamer glow are handmade on looms. Chanderi sari is now protected by the geographic indicator (GI) and can only be called so if it’s produced in the region as defined under the GI and is recognized by World Trade Organization. Further demarcation for these Chanderi saris is that they can only be hand loomed, so if you are buying a real chanderi you can rest assured that it is handmade and not woven on a power loom.

Cotton Lehnga for Dolls- Etsy update

This weekend I carved out some studio time and finished making Lehnga (Indian dress) for the dolls. Started working on it last weekend but was able to put finishing touches today and then photograph it too.

Eri Silk Infinity Scarf

I am so happy and excited with the little successes I encounter each day with my new venture. And I am so thankful for your support and encouragement. Through craft sales, Etsy (Craftiste) and other personal sales, the venture is slowly inching towards being self-reliant. When I took this first step, my main goal was to be sustainable, not just for my business but for all those indigenous artisans that I wish to support. The idea is for all the artisans to be able to create a livelihood for themselves and in the process preserve the art forms and the cultural traditions.

Lehnga for an American Girl Doll

Its festival season and this year I chose to make dresses for the dolls instead of my girls. Remember the sari that I made for them last year on Diwali, well they are well preserved in the dresser drawer ever since and I am not sure if they’ll wear it again (read: fit into it again).

The little 18 inch dolls offer a lot more predictability and the kids are still introduced to a cultural element, hence the decision to make lehnga for the dolls. Lehnga is a traditional Indian dress comprised of a long skirt, a short top and a veil; and to stitch this outfit I used a combination of red polyester fabric and upcycled the embroidered sheer fabric from an odhni (veil).

My Etsy shop...

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."      -MLK, Jr.

So, I've talked a lot about, mindful decor, and conscientious approach to making choices, and it feels like it's time for some action in the form of my own Etsy shop where you can find one-of-a-kind pieces for your personal use or for gifting to others.

Over the years, during my travels  I've collected some articles which to me looked good and functional and which instead of being mass-produced, were hand-crafted artifacts, to which the artisan could personally relate to, and not as a cog in a giant machinery but as the creator. This would become obvious in the these wabi-sabi pieces, which bear the imprint of the craftist's hand as it shaped the piece.

The craft forms, that yielded these articles, have been practiced for centuries, with the techniques of giving form to the article and then giving it visual appeal, having been passed down generations. It would be rare for any two pieces to look alike, even though the designs maybe similar.

At present my shop barely scratches the surface of indigenous art and craft forms out there, and presents a mere glimpse. But this little shop, kitty corner from your abode on the internet, holds a promise - that of bringing to fore art form that are in need of patronage. 

This shop represents commerce not for its own sake but in aid of crafts that may not make it on their own. The profits from the sale from this shop would be reinvested towards the betterment of artisans, mainly the women folks pursuing art as a means for livelihood. 

This holiday season instead of buying mass market products, go for artisanal gifts - its a win win all around...