Sevya Handmade

"Sevya”, a Sanskrit word that means "caring through service". Such a fitting name for a loving organization that was founded in 2002 by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a renowned teacher who worked throughout his life to nurture a culture of dharma and caring throughout India.

A Fair Trade organization created to care for humanity and for environment, Sevya is dedicated to preserving the indigenous art forms and cultures of India by supporting the artisan communities who uphold these traditions.

Sevya's fair trade products are produced using centuries-old craft traditions, using only the finest natural fibers and materials. The revenue earned through the wholesale and retail marketing of these products is used to fund need-based development programs throughout India, under the auspices of the All India Movement (AIM) for Seva, an NGO involved in providing value-based education to rural and tribal children across India. (www.aimforseva.org).

Sevya works with artisan cooperatives throughout India to develop contemporary styles and designs that showcase their traditional and eco-friendly methods of handcraft--including hand-loom, block-printing, tie-dye, and embroidery.

Sevya's unique collection of fair trade clothing, scarves, and jewelry bring together fair trade and fashion. Sevya supports artisan groups that have little access to marketing avenues by reviving endangered art forms and showcasing their products in the global arena. Sevya works with thousands of artisans throughout India, including weavers, block-printers, embroiderers, and jewelry makers.

These artisans are members of cooperatives and non-profit organizations and most often, the entire village is involved in some aspect of the craft--from dyeing the yarn to setting the loom, weaving and hand-tasseling. The emphasis is not on highlighting an individual artisan, as each piece represents a collective effort in which many hands and hearts have contributed to its making.

Sevya's fair trade clothing is made by women embroidery artisans in Northern India, who do the fine hand-embroidery in their homes. This gives them the freedom and flexibility to work when it is convenient for them while earning a sustainable livelihood from their craft. With the savings earned from this work, these women form their own micro-finance groups, so they can handle any financial needs without resorting to high-interest money lenders.

At One World Fair Trade, we are proud and honored to call these women our partners in business.