Project Overview:

Ghoramara's women have long been custodians of traditional handloom and textile crafts—skills passed down through generations. Yet with limited market access, unstable livelihoods and declining recognition of these traditions, many artisans struggle to sustain their families through this work. Artisan Threads revives handloom production across 7 villages, training 150 women in improved weaving techniques, product design and market linkages. The programme strengthens both individual household incomes and collective community resilience by creating dignified, home-based livelihoods rooted in cultural heritage. Through cooperative enterprise models and direct market connections, women artisans reclaim the economic value of their craft.

Key Components:

• Training of 150 women in traditional handloom weaving across 7 villages with focus on quality improvement and innovation
• Introduction of improved loom technology and sustainable fibre sourcing practices
• Product design and market research to develop commercially viable handloom products aligned with contemporary demand
• Establishment of cooperative production groups for collective marketing and bulk order management
• Development of direct market linkages with retailers, online platforms and institutional buyers
• Financial literacy and entrepreneurship training for women producers to manage their enterprise

Impact So Far:

• 150 women artisans identified and enrolled from across 7 villages of Ghoramara Island
• Comprehensive handloom production training conducted covering traditional techniques and improved weaving methods
• Product design workshops conducted to develop handloom products suited to contemporary market demand
• Cooperative production groups established for collective quality control and bulk order fulfillment
• Initial market linkages developed with retail outlets and e-commerce platforms for product sales
•  Financial literacy training provided to producer women on cost management, pricing and profit calculation

Vision:

Through Artisan Threads, SEED envisions Ghoramara's women reclaiming both the cultural value and economic power of their handloom craft. Households will benefit from stable, dignified income earned through work rooted in tradition and cultural pride. Young women will see handweaving as a viable livelihood path, reversing the erosion of these inherited skills. The island's distinctive handloom products will be recognized in regional and national markets. Cooperatives of women producers will demonstrate that collective enterprise, grounded in community and tradition, can build economic resilience in climate-vulnerable regions.