India Meets India A Website For Artisans Of India

How many times do we come across overly-hyped handloom products in the market and complain about the fact that the sellers scrape out a big chunk of the production unit’s earnings, leaving the workers struggling to meet the ends? It’s not like we don’t try to look out for first hand purchases, but it often becomes difficult to meet the craftsmen, given their geographic locations.

Keeping up with the national trend of the decade ‘Make In India’ and encouraging the consumers to do something for the needful not with charity, but with empowerment, INDIA MEETS INDIA is a collaborative that brings consumers and craftsmen together on one platform. Not only does this online portal tap into local regions across the nation to bring forward regional craftsmanship, but also engages with many NGOs to provide a livelihood to the families.

For people who now vouch by Organic Food intake can find joy in purchasing locally produced organic foods which are readily available on India Meets India. Right from the basic pulses and masalas to pickles and jams, it is being sourced from communities like Kilmora (A brand promoted by Kumaun Grameen Udyog), NGO Products (affiliated by the Coconut Development Board of India) and Holy Cow Foundation; to name a few.

Speaking about promoting the ‘Handlooms’ of India, India Meets India has collaborated with communities like Adults with Autism, Rural Migrant People, Geriatric Groups, etc to give them a platform to sell their traditional weaving cultures. Check out some of the ‘Must Have’ fashionable items one should definitely own from their catalogue :

Naga Belt by Tribal Self-Help Groups – Naga belt made by a tribe or a self help group of Nagaland named “Ukrii”, produced on the primitive looms by them are a visual delight. Ukrii tribal weaves is a Self Help group which was formed 5 years back to empower the grassroot weavers for livelihood and preservation of tribal loin loom weave of Nagaland.

Handmade Tan Perforated Leather Jutti with Pom Pom by Women Self Help Groups – High on style quotient, this ethnic jutti has been made by an NGO “Handmade Leather Shoes”. Comprising of unemployed men and women, this NGO, based in Patiala and Pathankot, has been running for generations. With a community size of 100-200 folks, these artisans are adept at crafting these quality leather juttis with finesse.

Red Black Wool Embroidered Jacket by Disadvantaged Women – This jacket, created by self-help groups of women from north-east settled in the resettlement colonies of South Delhi, will keep you warm even in harsh winters. The proceeds from these activities are used for their education, health and rehabilitation purposes.

Stylish Handcrafted Pink Appliqué Work Cotton Kurti by Artisans of Rajasthan & U.P. – Rangsutra is a craft company of thousand artisans from remote regions of India – the desert regions of Rajasthan and plains of Eastern U.P. Traditional crafts, skills and techniques vary from region to region.

They also have a great variety of handbags, that match the versatility of Indian clothing. We featured one of their sling bags in our Chandi Chowk OOTD a while back. Overall, this is a one honest website that connects the artisans of India with us. And because the catalogue is priced at a nominal fare, it makes it more worthy of buying the products here, rather than walking up to an emporium and spending a bomb.