Artisans at the Core: How Rangsutra is Preserving India’s Weaving Traditions

India’s affair with ethnic wear stretches back thousands of years, deeply entwined with the evolution of its social, spiritual, and artistic life. Even during the Indus Valley Civilisation around 2500 BCE, unstitched drapes made from homegrown cotton were the norm, laying the groundwork for garments like the sari and dhoti that still hold cultural currency today. As dynasties rose and fell, India’s regions developed distinct textile languages—whether it was the intricate Jamdani weaves from Bengal, the jewel-toned Kanjeevaram silks of Tamil Nadu, or the dotted Bandhani prints of Gujarat. These were not just clothes, but carriers of community memory, religious symbolism, and artisanal knowledge passed down over generations.

However, the tide turned with industrialisation and the global pivot towards fast fashion. Mechanised production and synthetic fabrics threatened the slow, deliberate processes that defined India’s handloom heritage. Weavers, once the pride of rural economies, were now fighting to keep their looms alive in a market that prized speed over soul.

Enter Rangsutra—a social enterprise that turns this crisis into a collective comeback. Founded by Sumita Ghose in 2006, Rangsutra partners with artisan communities, particularly rural women, to create ethically produced, design-forward clothing and home décor. Rather than treating craftspeople as labourers, Rangsutra brings them on as shareholders, giving them a stake in the company’s success and a platform to modernise traditional weaving without compromising its authenticity. Today, the organisation works with over 2,000 artisans across India, offering not just income, but dignity and design agency.

By bridging heritage and innovation, Rangsutra shows that India's ethnic wear traditions are not relics of the past, but living legacies—capable of adapting, evolving, and thriving in contemporary wardrobes.

Sustainability at the Heart of Rangsutra: Fashion with a Conscience

The brand’s approach to conscious fashion begins at the source, with the use of natural, breathable fabrics like cotton that are kinder to the planet. Their garments are dyed and embroidered by hand, avoiding the polluting processes of industrial manufacturing. But sustainability here goes beyond fabric and stitching—it’s also about building futures. By turning artisans into stakeholders and ensuring they earn fair, dignified wages, Rangsutra supports entire rural economies while preserving India’s endangered craft forms. This model encourages mindful consumption, where every purchase is an investment in both environmental preservation and social upliftment.

Crafted by Women, Woven with Power: The Soul of Rangsutra’s Artisan Communities

Rangsutra is a form of movement powered by women’s hands and voices. Across the weaver clusters of Barmer, Srinagar, Bikaner, and beyond, women have transformed threads and needles into tools of economic independence and cultural preservation. With over 2,000 artisans across nine states—80% of whom are rural women shareholders—Rangsutra’s model places women at the very core of its ecosystem. Here, weaving isn’t just labour—it’s leadership.

This deep-rooted community engagement is supported by partnerships with local panchayats and artisan leaders to build clusters that sustain more than just crafts. These hubs become spaces of mentorship, skill transfer, and ownership. Cluster Coordinator Richa Bhatia notes that setting up new clusters allows them to reach more artisans, helping crafts remain a steady source of livelihood. In these spaces, women take on meaningful roles in the production process, often drawing on skills passed down through generations. 

And what emerges from their looms and needles is not just fabric, but flair. The women of Rangsutra bring a distinct, lived-in sense of style to every piece they create, rooted in memory, ritual, and regional pride. Whether it’s the bold patchwork of Ralli, stitched from upcycled fabrics into geometric rhythms, or the floral softness of Chikankari, with its over 40 delicate stitches perfected in Uttar Pradesh, each design holds a signature feminine intuition that balances grace with resilience.

Take, for instance, the intricate Appliqué panels shaped by Barmer artisans—descendants of craftspeople who migrated post-Partition—now creating modern heirlooms by layering cut fabric into abstract stories. Or the vibrant Tie & Dye work echoing traditions as old as the Indus Valley, revived by artisans in Rajasthan and Gujarat using techniques like Bandhej and Leheriya. These styles are not static—they shift, grow, and adapt with every woman who adds her mark.

In quoting directly from the Rangsutra website, the brand underscores this uniqueness: “Each region specialises in a unique craft that local artisans have mastered over generations. These crafts are a form of language that talks about their histories, regional cultures and their identities.” And in doing so, these women do more than dress the world—they weave its future.

Slow Fashion, Strong Women

Rangsutra offers an example of how traditional textile practices can still have a place. Built around community-based work, especially by women artisans, the organisation focuses on keeping local craft traditions alive while also supporting livelihoods. The clothes made in these clusters carry stories of daily life, migration, and memory. Rather than chasing trends, this kind of fashion values time, care, and connection.