Скачать или смотреть From Gamchas to Glory: Weaving Dignity in Barabanki | A Story of Revival by AIACA & HCL Foundation

"Binai." A simple local word for “weave” — but for the artisan families of Sahari village in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, it now means so much more.

It stands for revival. For dignity. And for a new beginning!

For generations, the families of Sahari — both men and women — have held on to their weaving tradition, creating everyday essentials like gamchas and pochas with remarkable skill. But even as their hands moved with the rhythm of inherited artistry, their livelihoods remained stuck, controlled by middlemen, limited by poor market access, and undervalued in the modern world.

But in 2022, change began to take root...

With the support of HCL Foundation, AIACA (All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association) launched the project "Crafting a Life of Dignity for Weavers and Artisans of Uttar Pradesh." The goal? To help the weavers reclaim ownership of their craft and future — through design, capacity building, and entrepreneurship.

Here’s how the transformation unfolded:

-The Tana Bana Mahila SHG was formally registered under UPSRLM, bringing together community members — especially women — to lead collective growth.
-Hands-on training sessions empowered both men and women with improved design sensibilities, technical weaving skills, group management, and leadership.
-With guidance from professional design experts, they expanded their offerings — creating contemporary sarees, dupattas, stoles, and linen fabrics with fresh patterns and palettes.
-A Common Facility Centre (CFC) was set up, offering space and systems for stock management, finishing, packaging, and quality control.
-And “Binai” was born — a brand that not only represents the craftsmanship of the community, but also their voice, identity, and ambition.

From local looms to national platforms, Binai is now a name to know.

Their work has reached exhibitions like Poush Mela, Sanatkada, and Bharat Tex. They’ve fulfilled bulk orders from craft-based brands like RangSutra and Bon Bibi. And in just a few months, they’ve generated over ₹8.3 lakhs in direct sales — a powerful sign of what’s possible when artisans are empowered.

But numbers don’t tell the full story.

The real success lies in the pride — in how young boys are learning the family craft again, how fathers and daughters work side by side, how the community is standing taller. Binai is not just weaving fabrics. It’s weaving hope, unity, and a future where craft is celebrated, not compromised.

Come, meet the people behind the loom. Witness their story. And see how a centuries-old tradition is being reimagined — one handwoven thread at a time.

A film by: AIACA
Shot & Edited by: Varun Piraiwad
Supported by: HCL Foundation
Cluster: Sahari Village, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh
Brand: Binai by Tana Bana Mahila SHG

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