Bhakti, a homemaker, had to consider deeply before spending her allowance on anything. Because she was financially dependent on her spouse and had to give a valid explanation for every purchase she made.
However when Bhakti joined Tisser at the start of 2021, everything changed. There, she honed her Warli painting skills and produced masks and coasters. She gained self-confidence, which proved to Bhakti that Tisser offered many chances for advancement and financial success. Now she can give her children extra pocket money, and feels proud to earn her own income.
Tisser India is a social enterprise created with a vision to work toward social upliftment of artisans across India and the revival of the handicraft industry and Indian art & culture. The enterprise seeks to offer these rural artisans access to professional support, options for income generation, and sustainable livelihoods.
French name, but Made in India
Tisser, which means to weave in French, has been generating livelihoods for 1000+ rural clusters in 18 states in India by utilising more than 100 different art forms to create more than 1,000 different goods. Over 10,000 groups, SHGs, and artisans make up Tisser’s network within South Asia.
Tisser also makes India flags made of bamboo. So don’t forget to get one to celebrate Har Ghar main Tiranga this coming week commemorating India’s 75th year of Independence – Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Tisser has created a diversified market for both the contemporary consumer and the rural artisan through its professional training, cutting-edge models, and technology solutions.
“With our talented and diverse team, we empower the marginalised communities in India, establish an entrepreneurial ecosystem, develop sustainable livelihoods and a greener environment,” says Dr Meghna Phansalkar, Founder, talking about Tisser’s mission.
Tisser has an experienced team that emphasises on fundraising through various methods such as government grants, acceleration and incubation programs and much more.
“All our products are made from eco-friendly materials such as clay, glass, fabric, bamboo and paper. We give high priority to the quality of our products and ensure that all our products are durable, user friendly, well made, well cut, safe and devoid of toxic chemicals,” adds Meghna.
The product portfolio includes everything from apparel and accessories to artefacts like furniture and decor.
Projects & Partnerships
Tisser has partnered with various organisations and associations and done some remarkable work to empower rural artisans. For instance, to help the most vulnerable stakeholders recover from the Covid-19 catastrophe, Tisser collaborated with Samhita on the Revive project. With the help of charitable CSR, and business funding, Revive offers returnable grants or zero-interest loans to employees and business owners in vulnerable localities. Revive helped 2,000 female entrepreneurs while producing 20,000 masks.
Another one is the “My E-Haat” project from the HCL Foundation and Tisser collaboration, which aims to enhance the handicraft supply chain by empowering artists to bypass exploitative institutions and engage directly with customers. The initiative offers artisans the necessary market-driven information to empower them to improve their goods, forge connections between markets, and develop their entrepreneurship skills.
Another initiative is the Kosa Silk Project that aims to assist and improve the quality of life for beneficiaries engaged in Kosa silk related activities in Chhattisgarh. During the project, Tussar Fabric and items were created by 200 beneficiaries including sericulture farmers, reelers, warpers, weavers, dyers.
In 2019 Tisser also collaborated with Tata Power Community Development Trust (TPCDT) to create market connections for women artisans, promote & protect regional enterprises, and develop capacity.
Tisser also carried out The “Women Artisan Skill Enhancement Project” that aims to upskill marginalised communities (by bringing them to Maharashtra) through the revival of the Warli art form. The project was financed by Larsen & Turbo Infotech, with UNDP serving as a knowledge partner.
With an increase in revenue and the activation of 503 women as artisans, the project was able to change the landscape for women in the rural clusters of Aarey, Ansoli, Thane, Chunapada and Tumnipada.
Creating change
Tisser addresses the issues facing the handicraft industry as well as the underlying reasons of poverty among artisans. Meghna points out, “We identified the gaps in the various solutions designed for artisans and conducted research to determine how to close those gaps.”
Tisser organises female artisans into producer groups to offer training in creating in demand handicraft items and provides access to sources for capital required for various aspects of business, digital tools, streamlined supply chain.
Through initiatives centred on the 6Cs Ecosystem Model (Capacity, Construct, Capital, Channels, Create and Connect), Tisser offers this support.
Each producer group has an average membership of 20 individuals. Moreover, according to artisans, participating in producer organisations enables them to secure more work orders, which increases their revenues.
Tisser has achieved significant milestones and surmounted various challenges over the years. But much work remains to be done. The upcoming goals include boosting the demand for handicrafts and strengthening market ties, supporting artisans throughout the value chain with hands-on assistance, strengthening the decentralised production model, and creating a multi-stakeholder strategy through partnerships and collaborations.
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