We work with traditional artisans

"My husband Ganesh and I are weavers. 

We had to borrow from moneylenders to purchase raw materials or to pay for any repairs to our loom. 

Because we'd borrowed from them, we were also obliged to sell our saris to them, for whatever price they were prepared to pay." Sukha Devi, India.

Read how we are supporting Sukha Devi to change her situation.

The loss of an art

Until recently 700,000 people around Varanasi earnt their living by weaving beautiful silk saris.

Now their livelihoods are coming under threat as cheap chinese 'fakes' flood the market. This is driving down the cost of the Varanasi saris.

Weavers seek loans from moneylenders in order to survive, and are faced with steep repayment rates. They also struggle to get past the middlemen who don't pay fair rates to the weavers and who often steal their identities in order to access government programmes set up to support the weavers.

As a result the Varanasi weavers are trapped in a cycle of poverty with little hope of an exit route. Many are migrating to the cities and there are reports of weavers committing suicide.

What we are doing

In 2009 our work supporting the weavers of Varanasi to achieve a Geographical Indicator bore fruit. Read more.

The GI is expected to bring a number of benefits: it will protect consumers, who will be sure they are getting a genuine, quality Benarsi sari; it will protect the weavers, by conferring legal protection against unfair competition (i.e. cheap imitation saris); it will add value to Benarsi saris, helping to secure a premium price in the market; and it will help to preserve local knowledge and traditions among rural weaving communities.

In order to support the weavers to make sure that the benefits of the GI reach the weavers we will be supporting them to market and diversify their product, among other things.

Want to support the weavers of Varanasi to continue using their skills to earn a real income? Donate now.

Read more about who we work with.