About the Project

Launched in October 2024, Kaari Naari is a social initiative dedicated to expanding livelihood opportunities for women from underserved communities through textile and weaving while promoting greater awareness of ethical consumption and India's rich textile heritage. Through a multi-pronged approach combining technical skilling, financial literacy, employment pathways, and market access, Kaari Naari seeks to reduce barriers to sustainable employment within the textile sector.

To support this mission, Kaari Naari developed CraftSpoke, a practical training handbook, and launched the SheSpoke Skilling and Placement Programme, through which women receive expert-led instruction in textile production alongside financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and small business management. Workshops have since expanded beyond Varanasi to communities across India, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia, while partnerships with textile manufacturers and retailers have created sustained employment and income-generating opportunities for participating artisans.

Beyond skilling, Kaari Naari established the WeSpoke Together digital showcase platform to increase market access for handcrafted products, collaborated with educational institutions to promote ethical entrepreneurship and conscious textile consumption, and authored U.Spoke, a white paper exploring consumer behaviour, sustainable textiles, and women's economic empowerment within India's traditional textile sector.

Through these interconnected initiatives, Kaari Naari works to strengthen women's livelihoods while encouraging more conscious and sustainable engagement with India's textile ecosystem.