About Indus crafts
Indus Crafts: Empowering Rural Artisans of Pakistan through Fair Trade
Indus Crafts is an online store that promotes fair price trade of indigenous handicrafts to empower rural artisans of Pakistan. The company specializes in selling Rilli/Ralli Quilts and Ajrak, two traditional handicrafts that have been passed down from generation to generation in the Indus Valley region.
The company's mission is to provide a platform for these skilled artisans to showcase their work and earn a fair wage for their labor. By doing so, Indus Crafts hopes to preserve these ancient crafts and support the communities that rely on them.
Rilli/Ralli Quilts are made by stitching together small pieces of fabric into intricate patterns. Each quilt is unique, with its own color scheme and design. These quilts have been used for centuries as bedding, wall hangings, and even as dowry items.
Ajrak is a type of block-printed shawl or scarf that has been worn by men and women in the Indus Valley region for thousands of years. The process involves carving intricate designs onto wooden blocks, which are then dipped in dye and stamped onto the fabric.
Both Rilli/Ralli Quilts and Ajrak require a high level of skill and patience to create. The artisans who make them often come from rural areas where there are few job opportunities outside of agriculture. By selling these products online, Indus Crafts provides a way for these artisans to reach customers all over the world.
In addition to supporting individual artisans, Indus Crafts also works with cooperatives that help groups of women earn income through handicraft production. These cooperatives provide training on design techniques as well as business skills such as marketing and pricing.
One example is the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), which works with women in rural Sindh province to produce Rilli/Ralli Quilts using locally sourced materials such as cotton and silk. The organization provides training on design and quality control, as well as access to markets through partnerships with companies like Indus Crafts.
By working with these cooperatives, Indus Crafts is able to ensure that the products it sells are of high quality and ethically produced. The company also provides a way for customers to learn about the artisans who make their products, including their stories and the techniques they use.
In addition to Rilli/Ralli Quilts and Ajrak, Indus Crafts also sells other handicrafts such as pottery, jewelry, and textiles. All of these products are made by skilled artisans using traditional techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Indus Crafts is committed to promoting fair trade practices that benefit both the artisans who make its products and the customers who buy them. By supporting rural communities in Pakistan through ethical business practices, Indus Crafts is helping to preserve ancient crafts while empowering those who create them.