Connecting Cultures| Nurturing Crafts | Ethically Handcrafted
Label in Focus

Womenweave

WomenWeave was established in 2002 with the vision to help local women lead better lives by ensuring that handloom weaving became a profitable, sustainable, fulfilling and dignified form of livelihood for them.

Introducing

The Founders

WomenWeave was founded by Sally Holkar, who graduated in political science from Stanford University before moving to India from the US in 1966 . She then married Richard Holkar, the son of the erstwhile Holkar Maharaja of Indore. From 1978 onwards, Holkar dedicated her life to helping the weavers of Maheshwar. She did this as co-founder of Rewa, which to this day provides vital employment for the weaving community. In 2003, based on many years of work with weavers in the local community, Sally founded WomenWeave. In doing so, Sally connected the threads of Maheshwar’s history and intangible cultural heritage with sustainable employment for local women today.

Crafted in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh

Meet the Makers

Based out of Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh the brand aims to connect women weavers with sustainable livelihoods. Many of the women have never woven before. WomenWeave therefore provides them with training and opportunities for enhancing their skills in order to maximise opportunities. Where women have acted as “shadow weavers”, supplementing male family members’ work, WomenWeave creates opportunities for them to gain more control over their lives and be recognised for their labour, as well as enhance their skill-set.

The Process

WomenWeave creates a uniquely dynamic mix of undertaking training and technical innovation for weavers to produce clothes of the highest quality; while linking them to receptive markets for the unique skills and ethos behind handloom. By creating these linkages, WomenWeave is able to fulfil its mission of creating improved and sustainable livelihood opportunities for women weavers.

Standards

WomenWeave is built on the foundation of sustaining the handloom industry of Maheshwar, while empowering women weavers and creating sustainable livelihoods.
  • F Fair
  • I Indigenous
  • V Vegan
  • O Organic
  • R Regenerative
  • R Refashioned

Going the Extra Mile

100% Hand Crafted

All steps involved in creating the final product are done by hand. Utilising skills of artisans involved, makes each piece, one of a kind.

Community Focused

Improving livelihoods of marginalised communities who have suffered the most with the advent of fast fashion, either through artisanal collaborations or simply giving enough back.

Reduced Carbon

Low or minimal use of power, hence reducing their carbon emissions. These brands have opted for slower yet more expensive greener methods of production.

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