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I have always struggled with the word sustainability. It's way too generic and just a feel-good word that doesn't hold anyone responsible. I had decided not to write for some time, but I guess I suffer from a writers itch. So here is the story, and believe me, you are the protagonist.

Sometime back, I got to know of this weaver in the Bellary district of Karnataka and happened to meet him before the second wave. As his work interested me, I had asked him to call me back if he wishes to reciprocate. I don't pursue working...

Kasuti is a traditional form of folk embroidery practised in the state of Karnataka. The history of kasuti dates back to the 10th century of the Chalukya period. The word kasuti derives from 'kai' meaning hand, and 'suti' meaning cotton. It was one of the 64 arts recognised in Karnataka.

Kasuti embroidery, which is women dominated work, involves embroidering intricate patterns that the rural womenfolk of north Karnataka find in their everyday objects, nature and culture.

Earlier, the yarn of the saree was counted and then accordingly embroidered, and the threads required was drawn from the saree itself.

Over the...

Our recent collection of hand-quilted quilts/bed-spreads are designed and crafted by the women of Dambal, a small village in North Karnataka.

The women-folk of Dambal have been traditional quilters for generations. These enterprising women travel to nearby cities periodically and collect worn-out clothes and sarees from various houses and convert them into quilts and give them back to their respective owners and earn their living. Each woman has her territory in the nearby city to collect the waste textiles and seldom trespass with others.

We have been providing these craftswomen with some of our sarees, and textile bits that were...

When the cotton is grown without harsh chemicals and fertilizers, not only more landmass becomes organically fertile but also helps in reducing the production of chemicals in factories. In turn, it improves the health of the producer and buyer. Organic farming supports you.

During the spinning of cotton either by hand or with marginal energy, the yarn produced or the textile made with it on locally made wooden looms, requires nil energy. This handmade industry decreases fossil fuel exploitation. So, nature and energy are conserved better to support you.

The handmade sector employs many unseen hands, and weaving requires the...

Is selling less sustainable? Does working with handloom, natural dyes, organic cotton alone makes us sustainable? Are mending and second-hand purchase the definition of sustainability? Does consistent work for the entire value chain with fair wages the sustainable mantra? Is less carbon footprint in producing and selling a sustainable goal?

'Semantic satiation' is a phenomenon whereby repeated use of certain words results in losing their meaning. For instance, the word 'green', is hastily interpreted as the environment and when left to a person to act on it, leads nowhere. Similarly, the liberal use of the word sustainability is too stretchy...