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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

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15+ Organisations In India Whose

Products Are As Beautiful As The
Thought Behind Them
By: Samah Mariam on Oct 23rd, 2015
17.9kVIEWS
(Updated: Nov 20th, 2015)
Business is run for a prot motive, that is for certain. However, some businesses are breaking the stereotype.
Along with giving quality products and making money, they have a more altruistic angle. Businesses have
realised that giving back to the society is just as important as taking from it. Here are some small businesses
that give back to society.
Polka Social - Be part of the most interesting conversations.

Join the most interesting conversations on a host of topics raging across Women's Issue, Beauty, Fashion,
Moms, Working Women, Fitness. Nutrition etc.
The Retyrement Plan Making furniture out of recyclable material

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: The retyrement plan

What they do: Make furniture and home dcor items out of waste materials, especially tyres and plastic. Their
products include chairs,pouffes,charpais and oor cushions.They aim to make contemporary designs out of old
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material.

Their cause:We all talk about the need to recycle, well, The Retyrement Plan has made it into a viable
business. Recycling automobile tyres, plastic products, and industrial cast-offs by making useful items out of
them. They are doing their part to reduce carbon footprint.

Indian Artizans Supporting art and empowerment

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Image credit: Indian Artizans

What they do:Online store for Indian handmade and handwoven clothing.

Their cause: Proceeds from sales go towardssupporting an Artisan's livelihood, preserving a dying art,
supporting women empowerment (many of their creations are exclusively made by women), and taken a step
towards saving the craft history of India.
Woman Weave Empowering rural women using handloom

Image credit: Women Weave

What they do:They sell handloom products like scarves, sarees and fashion accessories. One can buy their
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products online.

Their cause: Working toward making handloom a protable, fullling, sustainable, and dignied incomeearning activity, particularly for women in the rural areas of India. They have a plan set on how they can go
about this. They create a community of weavers and connect them with potential customers. Craft skills
training, and organisational and design assistance is then given to the craftsmen. They nd out which are the
more marketable products and generate selling opportunities and market connections in India and abroad that
would otherwise be inaccessible.
Katna's Kantha Making street survivors into artisans

Image credit: Katna's Kantha

What they do:They sell Kantha, saris, cushion covers, duvet covers that will remind you of a grand Bengali
home. The label Katna's Kantha was born in a village named Katna in West Bengal, India. It represents the
collective effort of a growing network of women, from Katna and neighbouring villages in the district of
Murshidabad, in making Kantha, the famous Bengali embroidery.

Their cause: Katna's Kantha, a Street Survivors India project, is a livelihood generation programme. It uses a
traditional and evolved skill of village women to economically empower them. Street Survivors India strives to
work with communities in Murshidabad through a holistic approach.
Porgai Crafts Encouraging tribal craft

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Image credit: Porgai

What they do: Tribal designs for pillow covers and bedsheets.The brand Porgai is part of the Tribal Craft
Initiative, which seeks to revive Lambadi embroidery.

Their cause: They believe that the Lambadi tribe should be proud of their tribal heritage. They fear that the
lost art of their distinctive designs would be lost forever, especially since only a handful of old women
remember how to make it. Hence, to uplift the economy, this tradition is now being revived by the Tribal Craft
Initiative, with the older women teaching the younger women.
Aurea Blue Pottery Reviving Jaipur's craftsmanship

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Image credit: Aurea Blue Pottery

What they do:They make exquisite blue pottery that can be used for home dcor and gifts. Based in
Rajasthan, the beautiful craftsmanship behind their work will enamour you. The word Aurea means splendid
and beautiful, and this can clearly be seen in their products.

Their cause: Using the beauty of art, they aim to bring back the glory days of Jaipur's Blue Pottery. The
venture helps them collaborate and provide a livelihood to craftsmen. They seek toempower them with their
design and marketing efforts. Their designs and forms focus on aesthetics, marketability, utility and durability.
The reasonable prots they make help them bring sustainability to this venture.
Varnam Working with artists from Channapatna

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: Varnam

What they do: They are an award-winning social enterprise that train and work with artists from Channapatna
to revive the 200-year old craft of making wooden toys, home decor, and jewellery.

Their cause:All proceeds from sale of Varnam products is routed back to designing and funding more
products from these artisans . The endeavour is also to keep them employed so that they don't leave their
traditional crafts for industry/factory 'jobs'.
Purkal Stree Shakti Women artisans nd support here

Image credit: Purkal Stree Shakti

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What they do:With inspiration from Indias colourful culture, the Purkal Stree Shakti artisans hand-stitch
quilts, bed covers, silk comforters, handbags, and home accessories.

Their cause: Purkal Stree Shakti (woman power) is a women-empowerment program in rural India, which
aims to support women artisans to create and sell hand-made quilts and handicrafts.
Maya Organic Helping artisans earn a livlihood

Image credit: Maya Organic

What they do: They make wooden toys from Channapatna, educational aids and home accessories.

Their cause:Maya Organic is a livelihood development initiative. They look at developing a network of
artisans, workers and micro-entrepreneurs who can make great wooden products. Currently, Maya Organic is
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working with the artisan community in Channapatna a small town near the city of Bangalore in India.
Indie Eco Candles Teaching underprivileged women the art of luxury candle making

Image credit: Indie Eco Candles

What they do: A treat for candle lovers!They makeluxury candles are handcrafted with 100% natural
vegetable wax and infused with the nest fragrance and essential oils.

Their cause: Indie Eco Candles seeks toempower, instead of just help. They wanted to go one step further than
just giving money for charity. They employ and train women from underprivileged backgrounds. They make
sure to provide the staff with safe and respectable working hours, decent pay and essential mentoring for their
children.
Srikriti A mix of women empowerment and eco- friendly

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: Srikriti

What they do: They are known forHandmade Jute and Cotton Bags, Jute Footwear, Wooden Toys, Cotton
Sarees,Scarves & Dupattas

Their cause:A women empowerment Initiative,they promote eco-friendly, handcrafted products. They support
rural art and craft and promote handmade, environment-friendly products. Srikriti also encourages
entrepreneurship and wants to nurture Indian heritage and culture.
Ovenderful Baking for a cause

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: Ovenderful

What they do:A home bakery based in Bangalore that makes delicious confectioneries. They make tea-time
bakes and healthy and organic bakes.

Their cause:They are involved in social and animal welfare causes. They have been conducting fund raiser
bake sales for the past few years, for animal rescue organizations. They have received started partnering with
The Bake Collective, which is a community that also uses bake sales to raise funds for social causes.
Bhushavali Eco Fashion Protecting mother nature and local artisans

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: Bhushavali

What they do:They specialise in Eco Fashion, Khadi-Fashion and Ethno Contemporary Fashion. They strive
to make products that don't harm Mother Earth.

Their cause:Work with Khadi and Handloom weavers to make eco friendly products. Their projects have
helped artisans in Tamil Nadu and Kerela .They believe that India lives in villages. 75% of Indians are in rural
areas. Any growth in India can never be brought unless this 75% is brought into consideration.
Seven Promises Training special children to make handicrafts

Image credit: Seven Promises

What they do: They make wedding cards. They know that weddings can be stressful and try to help the
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customer every step of the way. Every proof is sent to the customer for approval and there is no cap on the
number of times the proof changes. They share the joy with every customer in each and every invitation.

Their cause: Theywork with an NGO that specialises in training special children in crafts and sells their
products online at zero prot. The school is in Noida. Handcrafted products that look like they've been made by
a pro, because the kids have been tutored that well.
Maansi Designs Keeping up the legacy of the sister they lost to cancer

Image credit: Maansi Designs

What they Maansi fulls all your festive needs with handmade products hoping to bring joy and hope into
your lives. They offer paintings, jewellery, gift items, clay art work and much more.

Their cause: They startedthis small venture among 5 cousins in loving memory of their sister Manasa who
just left them in April '15 after a brave ght with cancer. She would periodically visit Shirdi and distribute
money to the poor and disabled near the temple premises. They want to carry forward the same by distributing
a part of the money earned through this venture.
AnuRadha Weaves of modern fashion by local skilled craftsmen

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: Anuradha

What they do:Targeting the women's fashion industry, AnuRadha makes a modern style statement using
traditional fabric to its full potential.

Their cause:AnuRadha believes that Indian craftsmanship has a beautiful story to tell. However, this story
isn't being told because we blatantly ignore the storytellers, i.e, the Indian craftsman. Shining a light on superior
Indian craftsmanship, AnuRadha tries to give craftsmen gainful employment while giving Indian traditional
textiles the respect it deserves.
Omana Making slum women learn entrepreneurship

Image credit: Omana

What they do: Toys making, candle making, different handicraft items, stitching and other which have a good
market. They search for new locations like Diwali fairs, Teej- melas or any other haats or bazaars for them
where they can show their products and get lot of exposure of market trends and demand for particular
products.
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Their cause: They provided trained persons to teach these slum woman how to maximise their skills. These
women learn as fast as they have a very strong urge to prove them against all odds. They tell us that by making
these products they have changed their lives as they make money by selling these products and now they have
better living standards, respect in their families and enjoying good self- esteem. They are introducing these
products in e-commerce marketing as well.
Samoolam Developing livelihoods and the environment

Image credit: Samoolam

What they do:Handmade crochet jewellery and accessories are their products.

Their cause: They strive to seek progress in two eldslivelihood and environment. For livelihood, at present
more than 60 women have joined Prosperity- The livelihood initiative. They train women with handicrafts
skills. After one year of intensive skill building session they are able to craft beautiful handmade crochet
jewellery and accessories. In the environment arena, they work with youth and school children on environment
awareness, conservation and waste recycling programs under Harita- The green initiate.
Rungg Handcrafted shoes by local craftsmen

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: Rungg

What they do: Rungg is the perfect blend of art and style, Theymake designer shoes for women using art
forms that are centuries old.
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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Their cause:Instead of mass producing shoes, Rungg looks to the local craftsman for their designs. Their
lovely collection is concocted by artisans and manufacturers in Delhi. They provide employment to the
underprivileged through their business.
Seema Circle Training low-income women to make beautiful jewellery

Image credit: Seema Circle

What they do: If there was ever jewellery for a cause, it is this. The collection from Seema features meticulous
paperwork, semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, and sterling silver components, sourced from stores in
Pune and Mumbai and handcrafted by local silversmiths.

Their cause: They believe everyone has the potential to be an artist and an entrepreneur. Seema now works
with over fty low-income women from eleven rural villages near Pune, India, beginning with its artisan
training program. Instead of providing a marketplace for experienced jewellers, Seema works with freshers to
give them the same opportunity.
The Crochet Company A design house that powers the rural cottage industry

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: The Crochet Company

What they do: Crochet has always been a handicraft darling. The Crochet Company brings it into style for
women, babies and homes.

Their cause: Their artisans are mostly rural women (mostly based out of Andhra Pradesh) who currently do
crochet as an alternate source of income.
Ada Tales of Kutch tribal artisans in footwear

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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Image credit: Ada

What they do:Handcrafted authentic Indian footwear designs. Their rst collection is called Tales Of Kutch.

Their cause:Collaborating with Indian artisans to make hand-sewn footwear.Tales of Kutch was inspired by
the tribal artisans of Kutch.
Gramshree Handicrafts to make women economically empowered

Image credit: Gramshree

What they do: Various handicrafts made by rural women trying to nd the path to economic sustainability
through a respectable profession. Their product include apparel, home furnishing, accessories, corporate gifts
and kachhi crafts.
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Charity organisations in India that manufacture products

Their Cause: Gramshree has a lot of feathers in their cap, all converging to one cause: help women become
economically sustainable. Through training and programmes, they hope to give women a respectable source of
income. They also want to strengthen the crafts tradition in India.
Tania's Clay Studio Working with under privileged women to make eco-friendly clay products

Image credit: Tania's Clay Studio

What they do: Tania's Clay Studio makes arty oral clay pieces. Each piece is the result of a good causeecofriendly and empowering. They make handcrafted designs, according to requirement.

Their cause: Their aim is to provide underprivileged women with nancial independence. They teach them
while employed and work closely with them .They have English classes , medical services and other perks too.
Great line up of products from organisations who have their heart in the right place, don't you think? Thanks to
all the comments for adding some valuable businesses to this list. Have we missed any organisations? Let us
know in the comments below.

05
Samah Mariam
Samah is an ambivert who writes poetry. Her idea of travel is getting out of bed. She is allergic to things she
loves (like cats). She blogs at http://alotofmariam.blogspot.my/Read more
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17.9kVIEWS
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17 Comments

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Ramya Nageswaran Co-Founder at Bridgeable Pte. Ltd

Great list! Please add Gramshree too. www.gramshree.org
Like Reply Oct 15, 2015 5:01pm

Samah Mariam Christ university,banglore

Hi Ramya! Thanks for the link, will check it out
Like Reply

1 Oct 15, 2015 10:09pm

Annagha S Raut Mumbai, India

This is an amazing list. Loved the post
Like Reply Oct 16, 2015 1:18pm

Lara Rath Co-Founder, Director at Secondsguru

Brilliant effort!!
Like Reply Oct 16, 2015 3:30pm

Jurga Kazlauskaite Works at B-E Aerospace Systems GmbH.

Great, keep up the good work

!!!

Like Reply Oct 16, 2015 10:13pm

Pria Watsa Goa

Wonderful! Where are your outlets
Like Reply Oct 17, 2015 6:40pm

Samah Mariam Christ university,banglore

Thanks! Click the 'check them out' link to nd out
Like Reply Oct 19, 2015 3:04pm

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