Mura Collective

Ensures fair living wage for producers

Discloses the community being impacted

Reduces the environmental impact

Focusses on women producers

Created using handcrafted methods

Made out of responsible materials

Avoids use of chemicals or toxic materials

Uses portion of proceeds to give back to the community

Mura Collective was started in 1998 by Kusum Tiwari and Prabha Gahtori, as a response to experiencing the lack of workplaces for women and people with special needs. Two decades later, they are now recognized for their pioneering work in Shibori and natural dyes, as well as inspiring dozens of designers and hundreds of craftspersons to learn and perfect the craft

Purpose

Inclusion, of all forms and at all levels, has been the main driving force of the Mura Collective. Whether it is to do with social exclusion, as with special needs persons, or with a cultural and economic exclusion, as with the women in the Neb Sarai area that they work in, the effort is to include and empower through training and employment. Care of the people and care of the earth are two of their core values.

People

Trained more than 500 people in the Neb Sarai and neighbouring areas, mainly women, with all forms of engagement, ranging from full-time work to home-based casual work. They have also facilitated the set up of the weaving and block printing units at Muskaan, a premier Work Centre for people with special needs. They have initiated a craft ecosystem in Uttarakhand to formulate a win-win model for all stakeholders in the ecosystem. It is focused on generating employment opportunities for local inhabitants through handwoven textiles production, natural dyeing, Shibori, high-quality garments, etc.

Planet

Key ingredients of their work that make it environment friendly and supportive of the community are : Judicious use of natural resources, Processes that enable the ecological balance of the environment, (Natural fibres, natural dyes), Generation of local employment opportunities, Fair and equitable returns for work, Engagement in work that enriches life, Self-sufficient, integrated, minimal, low-waste and high-quality systems & processes and lastly use of technology to enhance rather than replace.