In collaboration with our partner Upasana, BESTSELLER FUND is trying to save the traditions of weaving silk in a world of mass machine production. We believe in the specialisation and indigenousness of the craft of the Varanasi silk. It is a product that is as relevant and desirable today, but the product has not been updated. Our efforts are to bring creative and economic solutions to this situation and make the craft appropriate for modern times.
This has been attempted by:
• Retraining of the weavers
• Reorienting the products to more contemporary designs
• Making the silk colours robust for machine wash
• Exploring new markets
Today about 70 weavers have joined the project and 150 women are working with and earning money from the Varanasi buttons project, which is 3 villages around Varanasi.
A proud moment at the Paris Catwalk
In September 2008 the project with its many new designs was shown on the catwalk of Paris at the Ethical Fashion Show. The collection is inspired by the traditional aesthetics of the weavers. The project has now been placed on an international forum due to this exposure. The Varanasi Weavers have moved beyond their village into the global textile and fashion market.