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Highlights of #HandmadeDilSe Telethon: An Initiative To Support India's Weavers and Artisans
Handmade Dil Se is Habba's attempt to bring back the demand for handmade in India and revive the livelihoods of artisans and weavers. Habba has curated surprise hampers from across India for you. The art hampers feature carefully curated art forms across Textiles (handwoven, and hand embroidered), Wooden, Metal, Earthy and Hand Painted handicrafts from across India. You can choose the art forms you want to support and buy these exquisite surprise hampers for yourself and your loved ones.
Here are the Highlights of the #HandmadeDilSe Telethon:
We leave you with the message from Co-founders of Habba on what needs to be done to help our artisans and weavers
To lend your support to the initiative click on this link: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
To lend your support to the initiative click on this link: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Thank you participants: Over Rs 1.30 crore collected at the end of the 2-hour #HandmadeDilSe telethon
To support artisans and weavers, buy handmade: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
To support artisans and weavers, buy handmade: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
A lot of children of artisans are not taking the legacy forward. If we all use handmade products more then it will be useful for both us and weavers. in the long run, it is much better. these clothes last long: Vidya Balan, Actor
We are always struggling with man and machine, we need to move mass produced to produced by masses: Osama Manzar, Founder & Director, Digital Empowerment Foundation
We have been working with artisans for last 10 years. From Rs 60 crore we have expanded the market to Rs 250 crore. We realised it is very important to imbibe the artists, as they don't know the tricks of the trade, market reach and digital is one thing they haven't been able to get. That is why when COVID came, they lagged behind.
I believe that the artisans of India are the true designers: Prasad Bidapa, Fashion & Textile Consultant
We have to focus on the idea of embracing the 'handmade': Sanjay Purohit, Chief Curator, Societal Platform
Habba ensures that our artisans have agency and choice. There is a large, complex and dynamic problems to understand what works and what does not and how to respond. We have to see how to use digital technology to create such infrastructure so that various actors of the society like the government, consumers etc so that the artisans can sell their products in a unified way like Uber App. So we need to create a unified environment for our artisans.
Dr Ashok Khosla, Chairman, Development Alternatives and Kanika Verma, Lead, Entrepreneurship Programme, Development Alternatives on #HandmadeDilSe telethon
Make in India is not just about setting up factories, it is also about supporting the millions of families of artisans. Industry has to be empathetic towards the artisan so that they get rewarded with empathy: Vinita Bali, Former MD, Britannia
If there is one sector that can back Make in India campaign it is our handicraft and handloom sector: Mahesh Yagnaraman, India Country Director, Acumen
Acumen fellows are working with poor and marginalised. Certain organsiations and social enterprises are run by our fellows. We support them directly. Now is the time to generate awareness and create demand. There are two ways - firstly, after the farmers, handicraft and handloom is the second largest segment in rural India - 160 lakh families, it is a staggering number of people employed here. If their income is affected they leave and look for job. Secondly, the aspect of Make in India, if you look at supply chain of artisans and craftsmen, everything start here, the whole value chain is actually captured here.
Shubhra Nayar, Founder, The Real Elephant Collective that created life-size elephants made by tribal artisans from Thorapalli in Gudalur using Lantana, a poisonous plant
The elephant has been created as part of a large project called Coexistence. It is a herd of 100 life sized elephants have been created. These elephants have travelled the globe and the idea is to encourage people to live with nature. One of the key things about project is the indigenous artisans who create these, while I design. Every elephant is a replica. Five of these elephants have travelled 5000 km across the globe.
The impact of COVID has been terrible in case of my artisans, we didn't have money to pay wages so a lot of my producers were sitting at home: Nivedita Banerji, Co-Founder, Samaj Pragati Sahayog & Director, Women's Empowerment, Social Enterprise and Design, Founder and CEO Kumbaya Producer Company Limited
Anonymous donation of Rs 20 made by a foundation for Handmade in India
Buy handmade: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Buy handmade: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Atul Johri, Founder, Atul Johri Designs on impact of Chinese products on artisans of Channapatna
2 Anonymous Individuals have pledged Rs 5 lakh each to support Handmade in India
Here's how to get involved. Buy handmade: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Here's how to get involved. Buy handmade: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Gita Ram, Chairperson, The Craft Council of India on #HandmadeDilSe telethon:
Artsians have always been dependent on bazaars and haat to sell their art. Pandemic started in April and lot of them sat ideal. Some got work and did amazing paintings. But it has been very bad. When we offered to help their business back with our funds, they didn't want it. They said, 'do something about our stock sitting with us.'
We have to do something about marketing. Bazaars are not going to happen otherwise. Volunteers have come forward, helping artisans photograph their products, create e-catalogues, helping them connect to e-commerce. A lot of it is working. It hasn't been easy as not every artisan has smartphone. It will take time. We are all surging ahead. Habba initiative has brought a silver lining to heavy clouds. As we were preparing hampers for Habba, we had to reach out to artisans for more products, they were thrilled.
It is about marketing. For handlooms, railways can start using handloom. Schools and colleges can say wear handloom once a month. Offices in Odisha wear handloom every Friday. Initiatives like these have to come. With craft it is little more difficult. Crafts were part of our daily life earlier. We are trying to bring it back. We are working with artisans to bring product that fits our contemporary lifestyle.
Meet the people behind Habba: Smita Ram and Ram N K, Co-founders of Habba
[Sponsored]#HandmadeDilse | Smita Ram and Ram NK, the co-founders of Habba, an artisan-centric eCommerce initiative, speak to NDTV
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 1, 2020
More at https://t.co/Mxl3DkjSp6
In partnership with @RangDe@habbaorgpic.twitter.com/r4RUNaYory
Artisans don't need charity. They need business: Manoj Kumar, Founder & CEO, Social Alpha
At Social Alpha we look for innovators who use science and technology to solve complex economic problem. 2 things that impressed us, maximum value was captured at artisan level. Habba was reversing it. it was sending maximum value to artisans. Secondly, transparency. They allowed consumers to know they are buying the right product and what percentage is going to artisans. They know the cost of product, margin etc. this is the level of transparency.
Future for Habba is scale. They have already proven the concept and created finest products. Next stage is for consumers to actually buy. People with huge purchasing power need to purchase. Scaling Habba means more artisans can get value for their products.
Nimesh Sumati, Co-Founder, Caring Friends on #HandmadeDilSe
We are associated with over 75 NGOs in 23 states and also Caring Friends doesn't have a bank account. We are not registered. 100 per cent contribution goes to NGOs.
Rang De for making my job easier. They have got artisans right on their finger tips. It is first time that a receiver, giver will buy online and all will feel good.
I associated with Rang De way before. Their micro finance was very transparent. Smita and Ram have made a dent. Scale is not something they are scared of. They are always growing.
Thari - The Loom is a classical dance program, but inspired by the sari. Now the sari is not just a piece of cloth. It's not just an unstitched garment. But it's an emotion, it's a state of mind, and sometimes it's even a statement: Malavika Sarrukai, Dancer & Choreographer
It is time to bust the myth that craft is cheap and repetitive. Today we have young artists who are leanring from their predecessors and innovating: Ananya Bhattacharya, Director, banglanatak dot com
Bangalnatak believes traditional skills and knowledge we have is tremendous cultural asset for development. We work across India with performing artists, craftperson to build grassroot creative enterprise. Our philosophy, artists must be directly linked to the market. Art, artist, village is what we focus on.
We work with over 25,000 artists. We saw their resilience during the pandemic. Entire market and traditional channels to market were disrupted. These artists didn't give up hope. They upskilled themselves to use digital technology. They ahve been using Facebook, WhatsApp to sell their products.
Artists have created stories on the impact of pandemic. They have collectivised and taking forward their craft with tremendous resilience.
Zerodha pledges Rs 18 Lakhs for Handmade in India
To buy handmade click on this link: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
To buy handmade click on this link: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Weavers need work they don't need charity form anyone. I had a programme in Varanasi, we met excellent weavers who had no work. Children were malnourished, adults were poverty stricken. But no one asked for money. They said, give us work. Not one person in entire village of weavers asked for money: Ratna Krishnakumar, Founder, Aranya Natural & Managing Trustee, Srishti Charitable Trust
I get disappointed when we think short term. Pandemic is a classic example that we have to think long term: Ferose V R, Senior Vice President and Head of SAP Academy for Engineering
The pandemic is really a marathon. It is very different from natural disaster which starts and end. COVID will be with us for next few months if not years. We have to look at long term solutions. This sector has been left behind. I have outstanding artisans who don't have basic website to showcase their artwork. We have to look at it holistically in 3 stages -
1. What can be done at local level - buying local and from local artisans
2. Corporate - what are the policy changes that can be done
For example, what we have done - when we built our own SAP campus, all paintings have to be procured locally. That's simple to do.
3. Policy level changes are required at macro level, of all the changes we will face, the core is to focus on 'service, community and introspection'
The one thing you need to do especially right now, whenever you go shopping, just try and buy one garment that is either hand woven, handblock printing or anything that is done by rural India: Anita Dongre, Chief Creative Officer at the House of Anita Dongre
Today fashion designers need to use creativity to support this sector. Design plays very important role by working closely with weavers on design, colours, texture. They have the skill and craft but if a designer works together with weavers and artisans, it is a win-win situation.
India should be proud of what we have. Tourism in our country can encourage visit to handloom units so that people can see how talented these weavers are. Just taking pride in this leagcy we have. Students can be taken to these units. We undermine what we have. We are always looking to the west. It is time to look within
Corporates should use CSR budgets to support this sector. If all get together this whole sector can see revival which is needed.
We have more active looms than China, Korea, Vietnam can ever imagine. If you want to beat them, you can do so with handloom: Prasanna Heggodu, Theatre Director & Founder, Charaka
COVID has actually come at a a right time in the sense, today I can say handloom is the fabric of future. If you want good future for society, economy, treat handloom seriously and as a sector which needs to be invested in. You know most people don't know, most bureacrats don't know, most politicians don't know that active looms in India even now is bigger than the rest of the world put together.
Prasanna Heggodu, Theatre Director & Founder, Charaka on #HandmadeDilSe telethon
We went through a crisis but we bounced back because of help from the consumers. The people, mostly women, they couldn't weave, dye, print so what they did was for 2 months they did mud work, mud flooring. There is a lake next to Charaka and they desilt it. That is how they bounced back.
Optum India has pledged Rs 28 lakh support for handmade in India. In the true spirit of Diwali, Optum team members will receive handmade gifts.
To buy handmade click on this link: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Buy handmade because it reflects Indian culture and aesthetics. In a world where everything is getting uniform and branded, handcraft is unique: Laila Tyabji, Chairperson & Founder Member, Dastkar
I was talking to a group of veteran craft people, they said COVID and lockdown was worse than demonetisation and any natural disaster that they have seen. Craftspeople wonder what the market will be like after the pandemic because the economy has been hit and people's purchasing power is low. Craft is not a priority and it is not something people rush out to buy. I am so happy that NDTV has taken this initiative because it is much needed.
For craftspeople their strength is also their weakness. They are a part of our culture and aesthetic. Most importantly, they are a part of our economy but this slips past. We tend to take them for granted. Today when economists, bureaucrats, politicians who are debating future actions, craftspeople are left out somehow. Craftspeople do they have a part to play? Should they be subsidieed for a duration? How do we do it? I think we have to invest in packaging, promotion, presentation, R&D, design development because consumers' lifestyle has changed. We need to create things which are in line with the lifestyle.
Laila Tyabji, Chairperson & Founder Member, Dastkar joins #HandmadeDilSe telethon
Prannoy Roy sets the agenda for the #HandmadeDilSe telethon
I feel this initiative dedicated to weaver, handloom workers, craftpersons and all forms of artisans. It is one section that makes us so proud and is respected globally. Their work is recognised universally and they make India proud. They are not given economic incentive and the boost that they deserve. This program is just a start for remembering and supporting them. It is a move to ensure they get what they desevre. It is a really important initiative. Artisans get less money from thir own products than what the government gets from GST. This is sad. It must change. We must do something and that is what this programme is about.
#HandmadeDilSe Telethon gets underway with a beautiful 'Thari' performance
Thari - the Loom', the latest group production by Malavika Sarukkai, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer specializing in Bharatanatyam. The performance is inspired by the loom and the design and play of thread, this choreography explores the interplay of the constant and variable, the eternal and changing - the warp and weft.
Join us for #HandmadeDilSe telethon to support our artisans and weavers
Buy handmade: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Buy handmade: https://special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Watch Live a special 2-hour #HandmadeDilSe telethon to support artisans and weavers whose lives been have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown
Habba has curated surprise hampers from across India for you. The art hampers feature carefully curated art forms across Textiles (handwoven, and hand embroidered), Wooden, Metal, Earthy and Hand Painted handicrafts from across India. You can choose the art forms you want to support and buy these exquisite surprise hampers for yourself and your loved ones.
Buy handmade: special.ndtv.com/handmade-dil-se-79/buy-handmade
Handmade Dil Se is Habba's attempt to bring back the demand for handmade in India and revive the livelihoods of artisans and weavers.
Habba and NDTV present Handmade Dil Se to celebrate our belief in India's arts and artisans
The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have caused havoc in the lives of rural artisans and weavers. With no orders, and massive stockpiles of inventory, their livelihoods have come to a standstill. Many in fact, have turned to manual labour to sustain themselves and their families.
Each region of India has a rich legacy of art and craft that has been passed on from one generation to the other. However, the custodians of this legacy are now in dire straits.
More than 160 lakh households are involved in handloom and the art and crafts sector, with over 80 percent of them living in rural areas.
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Banno started working with Habba in 2001, she supports her two young children, in-laws and her own old parents with her earnings.
Gora walks on her hands, she does not have legs. She is part of the production team and is one of the top earners.
Gyarsi comes from a small village and was struck with Polio as a child. She has been working with Habba since the last five years.
Kamala Bamne is one of the best producers and is recognised as a leader amongst the producers of Neemkheda Bhawan.
Naseem Bi has been a producer with Kumbaya for over 5 years now. She dreams of providing the best education for her children.
Urmila Kochle has been working with Habba for 15 years. She has gained strength and courage through her work.
The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have caused havoc in the lives of rural artisans and weavers. With no orders, and massive stockpiles of inventory, their livelihoods have come to a standstill. Many in fact, have turned to manual labour to sustain themselves and their families. Our artisans and weavers do not need handouts. They need work and orders for them to continue their craft. This festive season, we invite you to stand in solidarity of our artisans and weavers by buying handmade in India.