Banao is a movement in support of small-scale artisans working in India.
Our pieces may have small imperfections that are natural occurring in any handmade process and product.
These works of home adornment art each have their own unique characteristics.
Our fabrics are made on a power loom and hand loomed by someone’s hands.
The ink and patterns that make up this incredible design have been painstakingly applied and stamped by an artisan.
Each embroidered appliqué motifs and characters have been painstakingly sewn on and fastened by hand.
You can see the hand in the fault and this makes the topography of your piece even more beautiful. Each piece tells the story of the day it was made – perhaps there was a power cut that meant sewing had to take place outside in the light of the sun. The small run in the ink of your bedspread might have happened just before a lunch break when the artisan had a shakey hand. These imperfections tell a human story of process and are a treasured aspect of every piece.
Ethical Purchasing + Slow Design
Banao has an established relationship with Indian artisans who have been working with the Social Work and Research Centre and Tilonia Bazaar in Rajasthan India since the 70s.
Banao celebrates kinship, slow processes and artisanal knowledge. Shruthi Nair, the artistic director of Banao, is a child of Hatheli. This project is a return to her roots and a reconnecting of the many dots that make up her family’s story.
All of Banao’s sales go directly back into supporting its artisans. Respect for the slow and imperfect artistry at the heart of these handmade wares define this platform’s ethos. All proceeds are funneled into placing more orders with the production homes that Banao supports, enabling a a consistent source of livelihood for our network of artisans. Every purchase via Banao enables the rural artisan to guarantee and generate more work.
