About The Artisans

Sevya supports artisan groups that have little access to marketing avenues by reviving endangered art forms and showcasing their products in the global arena. Sevya works with thousands of artisans throughout India, including weavers, block printers, embroiderers, and painters. Theses artisans are part of the cooperatives and nonprofit organizations and most often, the entire village is involved in some aspect of the craft from dyeing the yarn to setting the loom, weaving and hand tasseling. The emphasis is not on highlighting an individual artisan, as each piece represents a collective effort in which many hands and hearts have contributed to its making.

Each Sevya product showcases a classical art of India and these traditions are carried on by a along lineage of master artisans with tremendous knowledge and skill in their craft. Sevya encourages the use of traditional techniques and materials such as natural dyes and forest silks, which benefit both the environment and the people who make and use the products.

The artisan cooperatives are collectives in which all members are owners of the cooperative and share the profits equally. Special programs such as micro finance and health care initiatives are also an integral part of these cooperatives and nonprofit organizations, which enables the artisans to save money collectively and borrow loans at low interest rates. Cush measures are vital to ending eh cycle of poverty in the more remote regions of India.

Every purchase o f a Sevya product directly benefits these artisan groups and enables them to pass their rich traditions on to the next generation.