Hands that know the craft.
A market that finally sees them.
Across Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, artisans work with Ringaal bamboo, moonj grass, block print, zardozi and more, skills passed down over years, often within families. These are crafts with their own history and recognition, though that recognition doesn’t always translate into a steady income.
Arthat works to change that, in a few ways. We pay fairly for the work. We fuse traditional craft with new design and context, so it finds meaning in spaces it hasn’t been seen in before. And we sit in between artisans and buyers, understanding what retail, hospitality, and corporate clients need, and helping artisans shape their craft to meet it, without losing what makes it handmade. Many of the artisans we work with are women, and their independence matters deeply to us. But this is bigger than one group, it’s about making sure real skill, wherever it lives, gets what it deserves: to be seen, paid fairly, and carried forward.
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4
active states
2019
year founded
4+
Market channels
What we stand for
Arthat works with skilled artisans across regions where traditional craft runs deep, but market access doesn’t always follow. We build that bridge: training, design support, quality systems, and a direct route to buyers who pay fairly. Craft becomes a livelihood, not just a tradition, and artisans get to build that living without leaving their villages behind.
Where we’re headed
We’re working toward an India where traditional craft has a lasting, dependable place in the market, not as a one-time product, but as a real livelihood. Where artisans, women especially, gain financial independence through their own skill, and where that skill is passed forward because there’s finally a reason to.
Growing with intent
New techniques, stronger brand partnerships, and a real push toward women stepping into entrepreneurship, not just employment.
Reaching further
Craft that started in villages found its way into luxury gifting, home décor, and corporate partnerships that valued it properly.
Building what’s next
Now we’re focused on integrated hubs, built to support more artisans, more consistently, across more of India.
From one cluster to a movement.
Since 2019, what started with a handful of artisans in Uttarakhand has grown into something bigger, without losing the intent it started with.
Getting the foundations right
The early days were about doing this properly. Ethical practices, quality standards, and real skill-building across artisan clusters.
A six-step model built
for lasting change.
Identify and mobilise
We find artisans with real skill and organise them into strong village clusters.
Production and quality
Made in villages, held to standards that meet market demand.
Skill development
Hands-on training in weaving, printing, stitching, and more, built to a consistent standard.
Market access
Connecting that craft to buyers who value and pay for it fairly.
Product innovation
Traditional craft shaped into products that fit today’s market.
Sustainable livelihood
A steady income, built from home, on their own terms.
The people behind the craft.
Behind every handcrafted product is a passionate team working across design, production, operations, community engagement, fundraising, marketing, partnerships, and the maintenance of yearly compliance. Our team believes sustainable livelihoods are built through partnerships, collaboration, innovation, and deep engagement with artisan communities. Together, we work alongside women artisans to strengthen traditional craftsmanship while creating opportunities that generate lasting social and economic impact.
Ankita Negi
Trustee
Neelesh Srivastava
Trustee
Shilvia Katoch
Trustee
Ashwani Sharma
Trustee
Busra
Trainer
Shilpi Devi
Trainer
Anupam Kumari
Trainer
Our work, recognised.
Taking Indian craft to global platforms
Through our association with corporates and market partners, we have showcased the work of artisan communities at exhibitions and trade platforms across major Indian cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. These opportunities have connected village-made crafts with wider markets, buyers, brands, and businesses, helping bring Indian craftsmanship to broader audiences.
Working with CSR partners
Our collaboration with the DCM Shriram Foundation helps us create opportunities around skill development, artisan livelihoods, and community-led growth.
Building partnerships with the government
We are registered with NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, and are working towards an MoU with the state government under PMEGP to strengthen artisan livelihoods and support the communities we serve.
Sustainable production practices
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We work with locally available materials, traditional skills, and village-based production, keeping the process close to the communities where the craft comes from. The aim is to make thoughtfully, use what is available, and build a way of working that can continue into the future.
