This enterprise is a living example of Sasha’s efforts to build entrepreneurship among rural youth. Shanti Handicrafts started over a decade back with a few local artisans led by a young artisan-entrepreneur, Dilip Das. He is a master craftsman, with a formal exposure to leather embossing. Sasha provided initial inputs and order support which enabled the small group to gradually start growing. Sasha has provided sustained inputs to design & product development, technical and skill up-gradation, quality control and, most importantly, vigorous promotion & marketing drive. This has expanded the scope of ‘Shantiniketan’ style hand-embossed leather products and created greater employment opportunities for the craftspeople.

In spite of the good work, the unit suffered from a period of low productivity and slow growth which affected its margins and cash flow. It was then that Sasha-EDF with support from one of its Fair Trade partners undertook a systematic and integrated project at Shanti Handicrafts. The project intervened in several areas of operations & systems, design & development, modernization & skill up-gradation. Sasha-EDF offered a range of services to the group from infrastructure support, improvement in planning, processing, coloring, stitching and simultaneous skill development. Sasha introduced new design concepts, contemporary color schemes and a fresh look to the existing product range. Sasha has promoted these products in the international marketplace and facilitated direct contact with foreign buyers through systematic feedback mechanisms.