Varanasi: Kaari Naari, a youth-led social initiative founded in October 2024, is making significant strides in empowering women from textile and weaving communities through skill development, livelihood creation, and promotion of conscious consumerism.
Founded by 17-year-old Samriddhi Shah, a student of The International School Bangalore, the initiative reflects a powerful example of youth-led social entrepreneurship in India.
Operating at the intersection of traditional craft, sustainability, and economic empowerment, Kaari Naari focuses on building both producer-side capabilities and consumer awareness around ethical fashion and labour practices. The initiative is implemented in collaboration with Deva Foundation, which supports on-ground outreach and engagement.
Driving Impact Through Skill Development
As part of its core interventions, Kaari Naari launched the CraftSpoke Handbook in June 2025—a five-part instructional guide designed for trainers and participants. The handbook covers textile techniques such as block printing, stitching, and fabric reuse, along with financial literacy topics including banking access and government schemes like Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme.
To date, the initiative has:
- Conducted 15 expert-led workshops
- Trained 500+ women in textile production and finishing
- Reached 1,000+ women through vocational centres and underprivileged schools in Varanasi
- Provided training in financial literacy and negotiation skills
These efforts have enabled participants to explore employment opportunities and pursue small-scale entrepreneurial ventures.
From Skills to Sustainable Income
Kaari Naari has successfully translated training into income-generating opportunities. Women involved in the program have collectively produced 1,000 tote bags across 16 designs, generating over ₹4 lakh in revenue, which has been reinvested as seed support for continued work.
The initiative is also developing an e-commerce platform to showcase and sell products created during and after training, further strengthening market access for artisans.
Reviving Crafts, Promoting Conscious Consumption
By blending traditional textile practices with modern design sensibilities, Kaari Naari is reviving the relevance of Indian crafts in contemporary markets. At the same time, it encourages consumers to adopt more sustainable and ethical purchasing habits, moving away from fast fashion.
For more updates and product showcases, visit their official Instagram page: Instagram (@kaari_naari).
Founder’s Vision
Sharing her inspiration, Samriddhi Shah said:
“At some point in their life, women have been exposed to stitching and pick it up very quickly. I realized we could turn their strengths into opportunities for employment.”
She added that her visit to Copenhagen, Denmark, where tote bags are widely used, inspired her to position Kaari Naari tote bags as meaningful souvenirs—similar to magnets popular across Europe—with the aim of building a broader movement.
Expanding Reach and Retail Presence
Initially launched in Varanasi, the initiative is now expanding to cities including Kolkata, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, and Coimbatore. Currently, Kaari Naari products are available in 15 retail stores across Varanasi, with JDS Banaras as a key retail partner.
About Kaari Naari
Kaari Naari is a youth-led social initiative dedicated to empowering women in textile and weaving communities through skill-building, livelihood creation, and sustainable fashion practices. By fostering both artisan capabilities and consumer awareness, the initiative aims to build a more inclusive and responsible textile ecosystem in India.
