Vani is hearing-impaired. The women at Sanskritik have helped her gain confidence and self-sufficiency. Nisha is able to help her family make ends meet and pay the medical bills for her sister who suffers from a rare liver disease.

Sanskritik is a fair trade group of textile workers and apprentices from Punjab, in Northern India. This small group of women is committed to improving the quality of life for the working classes. They pair experienced textile workers with young women from disadvantaged families, training them in the art of embroidery, sewing, and ethnic tie-dye techniques. By compensating them more fairly for their labor, they are able to raise the women’s standards of living.

In creating Sanskritik, the women were influenced strongly by the Fair Trade Federation’s guiding principles, and they focus on the following:

• Living wages for artisans -- enough money for food, housing, transportation and healthcare.

• A safe and nurturing work environment.

• Educational assistance.

• Emergency loans.

• Opportunities for advancement.

• Participatory decision-making.

Sanskritik is about more than just high-quality products and unique designs. They are dedicated to empowering all of the people they interact with.

Click Here for Artisan Flyer in PDF