We select our manufacturers after thoroughly studying about following things:

  • How products contribute to save environment?
  • If fair wages paid to employees?
  • Contribution to the development of society.
  • Healthy and safe work environment for workers.
  • Make sure that producer is not using child labour.

We personally visit our manufacturer at least once a year to make sure that still they conform to above mentioned points.

The first manufacturer chosen by us is Panchachuli. After examining their products and work ethics, we decided to introduce very beautiful and unique products manufactured by them to UK market. Nettle Silk Stoles knitted by women is such a great example of craftsmanship that its been selected by UNESCO for SEAL of Excellence award in 2006. Click here to know more about Ladies Nettle Silk Stole.

PANCHACHULI - Story of Courage by Rural Women of India

All our products currently are made by Panchachuli Women Weavers India. Panchachuli Women Weavers is a development programme, which facilitates economic and social independence for women in the Indian Himalayas using the traditional arts of weaving and knitting. The project has given the women an alternative way of earning their living and has contributed significantly to the structural development of the Kumaon region.

Today, over 800 women from a total of 32 villages in the region are involved in the processing of raw materials and the production of high-quality woven and knitted products. Panchachuli Women Weavers is the largest independent women’s cooperative in the state of Uttaranchal in North of India. The women are shareholders in the cooperative as well as receiving regular wages.

The products from Panchachuli are not only beautiful, but their sale supports the economic and social structure of an entire region. Panchachuli Women Weavers Work is the largest cooperative of economically self-sufficient women in Kumaon.

Panchachuli is now a company, registered under section 25 of Companies Act of India which in effect states that the company will have clear social objective and that its profits will be utilized to further that objective.

Interesting Story about how Panchachuli came into existence

The origins of Panchachuli Women Weavers lie in two very different regions of Kumaon. One is a wildlife sanctuary called Binsar situated in the middle ranges of the mountains at an altitude of 7500 feet, comprising of Oak and Rhododendron forest and six properties made by British over a hundred and fifty years ago. The other, Munsiyari, is located close to the Panchachuli range, five sacred peaks near Tibetan border at altitudes of 19 to 23 thousand feet.

Panchachuli Name has been taken from group of Five Mountain Peaks named Panchachuli.

Woman who started this organization is Mukti Datta, She is half Belgian and half Indian and, with a great deal of perseverance and diplomacy, has managed to change a social structure that has been dominated by men for generations and to give women from an entire region work, dignity and the courage to take control of their own lives.

In 1987, Mukti and group of likeminded village women formed a non profit organization.

Accessing Government funds was a very difficult and slow process and for most part Mukti relied on her own money as well as income from sales to keep women weaving. Mukti Datta happened to meet Dena Kaye, the daughter of Danny Kaye and president of the Danny Kaye and Silvia Fine Foundation. Dena Kaye had been traveling in India looking for projects to support (initially as an UNICEF initiative). This meeting changed the lives of hundreds of people in the villages around Almora and Binsar. Dena´s generosity and her personal commitment played a major role in each phase of the projects, weaving centers were built, looms and raw materials were bought.

Local Carpenters made looms and spinning wheels using traditional designs and soon the training programmes were in full swing with the active and enthusiastic participation of the women, who sensed a great change in their lives was about to occur. Initially men looked on these activities with indulgent amusement, remarking that it was temporary form of entertainment for the women. However, when they realized how serious and committed the women were, they tried their best to talk, bully and coerce them out of training. What they had underestimated was the determination and the solidarity of the women, who continued unfazed under the able leadership of strong and fiery group leaders. Eventually, the men had no choice but to cooperate and assist with household chores while women were learning how to weave.

Panchachuli Women Weavers boarding buses

The sight of hundreds of well dressed, confident and happy working women boarding their buses every morning to work, leaving the troubles and responsibilities of home to their husbands or in laws, explains why women took this decision. The winds of change were blowing through region, and women were emerging from the background to take their rightful place as agents of socio economic improvement. The lives of once underprivileged and downtrodden women changed dramatically when they became the breadwinners. The children were better nourished, better dressed and went to better schools.

At this point, idea of slowly breaking away from a non profit organization and forming Panchachuli Women Weavers as a company with women as directors and shareholders, began to take shape. Women with exceptional capabilities in management, accounts, production and marketing, learnt not through formal education but experience and common sense, emerged as natural leaders having gained the trust and respect of their peers and confidence to assume their roles. By mutual agreement with Dena Kaye, the funding reduced over few years and stopped completely by end of 2005. Thanks to generosity of Dena and her unfailing support and regular presence among women, a strong, self reliant and truly democratic institution run for and by women was ready to spread its wings.

Panchachuli is now a company, registered under section 25 of Companies Act of India which in effect states that the company will have clear social objective and that its profits will be utilized to further that objective.