When is world is going through a crisis -- #pandemic #lockdown #covid19 -- what is the least we, as consumers of fashion clothing, can do? For starts, contribute our way to aid the lower economic segments of a country. Buying handcrafted products, made with leftover fabrics and hand-embroidered with Chikankari love by highly-skilled yet underrated and underpaid artisans, is one for sure. Here are two COVID-19 Initiatives by Sangraha Karigar Atelier, Concept Apparel & Product Label, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India -- by fashion researcher
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1. Support In-House Artisans -- Sangraha ‘Let-Heart-Pay-For-What-You-Want’: COVID-19 Initiative
मुहीम
एकजुटता, अनुभव, ट्रेनिंग और शिक्षा द्वारा उत्कृष्ठता और नवीनता से सहकार्य करते हुए कारीगरों को वित्तीय आज़ादी पाने में सहयोग करते हुए आर्थिक तथा पर्यावरणीय नैतिकता को अपनाना।
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Mission
Supporting financial independence of craftspeople through social cohesion, experience, training and education for excellence and innovation in co-working and pursuing economic as well as environmental ethics.
Sangraha Karigar Atelier, in an attempt to continue efforts of sustaining in-house artisans associated with it, has started Sangraha ‘Let-Heart-Pay-For-What-You-Want’, a campaign on its online portal where you decide how much you would want to pay for the handcrafted outfit / product you like / love. This payment is based on your heartfelt emotions. You choose a band by simply trusting this responsible social organisation of skilled workers. For each handmade product with Chikankari embroidery you see online, you pay either:
100 % / 91 % / 81 % / 71 % / 61 %
NOTE: The total amount will support and sustain the artisans by giving them continuity of earning in these times of #pandemic #lockdown #covid19. This will ensure that as you buy / pre-book products, the artisans are constantly engaged in making new products. The 1 % extra is an auspicious token charge based on Indian tradition of ‘Shagan’ or goodwill, which we and the artisans believe in. What you pay will not affect the quality of work or craftmanship. There is a total of 30 designs that are listed with various sizes (an approximate inventory of 200 pieces). The artisans who are directly engaged in making these products would also contribute towards Sangraha Mask-For-Need project by making 8-10 mask free every month to sustain the job-working artisans.
YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Let-Heart-Pay-For-What-You-Want
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2. Support Job-Working Artisans -- Sangraha ‘Mask-of-Need’: COVID-19 Initiative
"Na Main Mukhota, Na Main Nakab, Na Main Raak Se, Na Maatra Se Moko Raakh Le Pass, Moko Bant De Sansaar Mein, Main Hoon Aas Mein, Main To Tere Viswas Mein Amol Hoye Aabhar Mein, Hoye Pradan Satkar Mein, Mein To Hoon Vaade Mein, Janan ke Aadhar Mein"
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"Neither I am a mask nor a veil, neither you can have for money nor price.
You may keep me or gift me to the world, I am a Hope and a Belief.
I become priceless when taken in gratitude, and when given with honour.
I am a promise, I am a means for my creator."
The Sangraha Karigar Atelier’s Sangraha Mask of Need: Covid Initiative is an endeavour to support and sustain embroiderers, as custodians of heritage craft, in Uttar Pradesh, India. Today, they are sitting at home during this global #pandemic #lockdown #covid19 times and making these need-of-the-hour utility face masks for you. It started with 500 masks and intends to expand. By embellishing each piece with their handwork, they are engaging their minds, bodies and souls to create additional income. Each mask you order will help each artisan meet his/her basic needs when they do not have regular orders or work. Your valuable contribution will surely help them grow economically in these tough times. It is a gesture of hope, goodwill and cheer. However, the masks do not come with a price tag. There is no unit price. There is no limit to what you can order. So, let us know the quantity you need, pay in multiples of INR 500 and we will send the bunch across to you as soon as possible. Order. Craft. Use. Gift. Let the cycle continue.
YOUR CALL TO ACTION: CONTRIBUTE IN MULTIPLES OF INR 500
__________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT SANGRAHA KARIGAR ATELIER
Sangraha Karigar Atelier was founded in 2015 by Dr. Jaspal Kalra as part of his fashion studies doctoral research. It started as a project for design education of Chikankari (ancient and artisanal Indian hand embroidery) artisans, who though being highly skilled are paid a meagre amount of INR 2,000 – 3,000 (less than USD 35) per month. The primary objective was to value their excellence of craft and maintain their dignity as artisans. It slowly evolved into a brand as the women artisans who did the design appreciation training wanted to explore newer markets. Which they did with support.
Now, Sangraha is a platform for co-creation, where each artisan and designer contribute in and to every stage of the design and value chain. As a result, they not only get paid 3-4 times the prevalent rates, but also given recognition in the brand’s design, sales and stories. The women artisans associated with Sangraha contribute to household earning considerably and also send their children to schools. Sangraha today employs a total of 22 out of 27 artisans who completed the design training, and another 50 artisans who job work as and when needed. Besides its ecommerce section, the brand’s products are retailed through Jaipur Modern, Collage, Artisans, and Arumaa in India.
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