Shop but for a Cause!
Kamrunisa is one of the artisans belonging to the urban low-income communities of Mumbai who has been confined to the boundaries of her home since March 25th – when the Indian government had declared a lockdown to contain the outspread of COVID-19. Prior to this, she was engaged in creating handcrafted products at Mumbai’s AfterTaste which allowed her the economic means, knowledge & skills to help break the cycle of social & economic poverty.
In India, due to COVID-19, millions of women workers (and their families) have been stuck in cities without any income or food, where they face greater exposure to the virus given their limited access to hygiene & space. Each day of unemployment/no income multiplies their vulnerabilities & pushes them further into poverty.
AfterTaste acts as a bridge between women – whom they train into skilled artisans – and consumers in order to develop a sustainable livelihood for the community. AfterTaste also believes that their community of craftswomen deserve economic opportunities in the rapidly-changing urban market; the capacity-building they provide allows their group of 40 craftswomen improve their craft, support their homes & gain the confidence to take ownership of their lives.
An integral part of this is owed to the establishment of training, monitoring & quality control that maintains a standardized approach to their products. This helps level the field for their artisans, most of whom lack access to formal education or other vocational training, allowing them to freely express their talents through craft.
While tech-friendly businesses in India are slowly finding ways to recover from COVID-19’s impact, its chilling effect on the craft industry has been devastating. Valued at Rs 26,213 crore, the Indian handicraft industry remains largely fragmented & unorganised. But the sudden rise of e-commerce in this sector has raised hopes of many.
How can you support them?
TribesforGOOD has been long associated with AfterTaste, supporting their endeavours & achievements – in 2020, TFG’s changemakers had raised funds, marketed their products, created new product lines, conducted digital literacy programs & worked on various research campaigns. This year, with the help of their new cohort of changemakers, TFG is helping AfterTaste’s artisans reach the urban population of India through online sales!
On 29th of May, TFG’s Young Changemakers are taking to the internet to educate & inform consumers about the empowering work at AfterTaste while also promoting the handicrafts that were created during the lockdown. The Shop for a Cause event has many product offerings made with renewable & eco-friendly materials; ranging from bags & accessories to clothing!
Every product is meticulously handcrafted with love, hard-work & perseverance, and every purchase you make empowers our local artisans to live a dignified livelihood & chart a better/secure life for their families. Click here to join/sign up for the live shop with TFG’s changemakers, AfterTaste’s multi-talented artisans & founders.
About AfterTaste
AfterTaste India is a social enterprise that works with women in the urban slums of Mumbai & aims to “create a livelihood opportunity for the women, which is dignified, with fair wages & flexibility for their domestic responsibilities” through art & crafts.
