Think about the women and their workdays. Every day, they work with the beautiful hand-crafted fabrics you see in the line, stitching or embroidering, handling each piece with detail and care so it is special when it reaches you. And their work days are about more than production. There is a rhythm of life within the cooperative—time together, shared experiences, and programs like yoga, recycling, newspaper readings, and celebrations. It’s not just work. It’s community.
What fascinates me is how naturally these fabrics move beyond the workplace and into their homes. When I visit, I see curtains at the workshop and in their homes, made from leftover fabrics, bedcovers stitched from chindis, pillowcases, organizers, even rag rugs. They are incorporated into their lives reflecting creativity and pride.
Many of the women also create for themselves—handbags they carry daily, sari blouses, kurtas. The fabric becomes personal, a form of expression.
And then there are the samplers. At the start of each season, every embroidery artisan creates one to demonstrate her skill and practice new stitches. These are not treated as an assignment—they are done with pride, often with space to experiment and show creativity. With over 150 artisans, hundreds of samplers are created each year.
Deepali, transformed hers into a kurta—thoughtfully designed, beautifully balanced. It was striking and she was so proud of it.
That same spirit has inspired pieces you’ll begin to see this fall, where the samplers themselves are incorporated into the garments.
This is another aspect of sustainability, not throwing out even small bits of fabric, reusing it and creating something beautiful. And it is an indication of how much the women enjoy, appreciate and celebrate their work.
