Artisans

WoodcarvingIndia "I always wanted my profession to be related to the field of art."In August of 2011, Suresh passed away from complications after a heart attack.  "Suresh was my elder brother. We were very close and his demise has left a big void in our family," Devender tells us. "We spent a lot of time together, be it at work or outside, and we shared many happy memories. He was always very keen on traditional handcrafts, and this is how we started this venture dating back almost four decades ago. "Although he is not with us anymore, I am so proud to...

Wood Jewelry and SculpturesIndia "Carving has been a family tradition passed on from one generation to another. Dad taught me at the family workshop, but formally speaking, my grandfather was my teacher.""I learned my craft from my father. As a child I used to watch my dad and uncle craft beautiful sculptures. Everyone used to work at home together, and it was fun to see! Ours is a joined family and we grew up with a strong bond. All my relatives are involved in carving, and I joined them after finishing 10th standard grade at school. My father, grandfather, and my...

Textiles and handmade papersIndia "I'm excited to be able to sell our designs directly to shoppers overseas.""I was born in 1948 to a conservative family in Delhi. It was necessary for a girl to know cooking, stitching and embroidery apart from all the other household chores. Necessity became passion, and I started teaching sewing and embroidery to younger generations, including my two daughters. "When my husband shifted our residence to a village far from the city, I found myself teaching stitching and embroidery to new admirers — my neighbors. I started teaching them free of cost. "I began with dresses and slowly moved...

Traditionnal wood carvings, embroidery and metalworkIndia "I decided to use my marketing experience to help these artisans market their crafts and assist them in earning what they deserve.""I was born in Delhi in 1983. People who know me well say I am a fast learner, a good planner and tolerant. "At college, I earned an MBA and, later, an executive management degree from the Indian Institute of Management. I worked for 11 years in marketing, business development, new customeracquisition and customer satisfaction for the auto, information technology and healthcare industries. "My work experience and interests are in strategies for new businesses, brand...

Papier machéIndia "Before I joined my father, I got together with a few of my friends and started an NGO for blood donation. We would donate blood ourselves and encourage others to donate.""I was born and raised in the beautiful valley of Srinagar, Kashmir, which for me is the coolest place on earth. Unfortunately, during the early 90s, our state was engulfed with violence and to witness it was perhaps one of the worst moments of my life. I had to cut short my studies as it was difficult to leave our homes, schools were closed, and for days we would...