Rural Artisans Step into Global Fashion Value Chains through Amrita Sankalp AVSAR

On a crisp winter morning in December, Muskan Chhatwal, in-house fashion designer at WE Project Store, travelled through the bylanes of Mandhawali village in Faridabad to engage with the women of the Amrita Shree Kiran Vedi Self Help Group. The visit marked a significant step in expanding production for the international clothing label TULA, while ensuring that rural women are not only trained, but fully equipped to meet global industry standards.

The session was part of AMMACHI Labs and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality (CWEGE) ongoing commitment to sustained community development. Through the Amrita Sankalp AVSAR programme, Amrita continues to invest beyond project timelines—offering long-term handholding, capacity strengthening, and tangible livelihood pathways for women artisans.

During the intensive training, participants were introduced to advanced pattern-making techniques using presentations, physical samples, and real production patterns. Emphasis was placed on practical seam finishes without over-locking machines, highlighting their importance in achieving durability and export-quality finishes. Each seamstress received individualized feedback, along with practice assignments to be completed ahead of the next visit.

The session also covered quality benchmarks required by international brands and provided a clear understanding of professional terms of engagement, preparing the women to confidently participate in global supply chains.

As rural women step forward with skill, confidence, and care in every stitch, the initiative reflects the growing impact of community-led empowerment models. By taking the spirit of the Make in India Mission to the country’s rural hinterlands, AMMACHI Labs and CWEGE continue to bridge local craftsmanship with global opportunity—ensuring that empowerment is enduring, inclusive, and economically meaningful.

Supporting Global Goals

This initiative directly contributes to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 1 – No Poverty
• SDG 5 – Gender Equality
• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 11 – Sustainable Communities
• SDG 16 – Strong Institutions