Way back in 2010 when we had completed our initial tailoring training, the women trainees asked us - “You have taught us a skill, but how do we earn an income from this?” In the inner city slums where we work, there are no large apparel factories to absorb large numbers of tailors. Women earn an income through tailoring either by doing home based orders - stitching of salwars, petticoats etc for a nearby tailoring shop or for wholesale shops. They could also take up customised stitching orders from women living around them.

We started production of small items such as bags, patchwork cushion covers and bedspreads etc to provide livelihoods to the women who learnt tailoring with us. The project got a boost in 2017, when we started a semi industrial type production center in Tolichowki with support of Bashir and Sarwar Babukhan Trust and the Telangana State Minorities Welfare Department. We started production of garments under the brand name Kritikala in 2018 and today over 60 women earn income through the production and sale of bags, accessories, home linen products and garments by Kriti.

Kriti has two production centers in the Tolichowki area for garment and bag production. The hand embroidery work to embellish the products is usually done by artisans who work from home. We also make newspaper bags which are suitable for gifting, or for garment shop owners to use as carry bags for their customers. We have recently included the lac bangles made by artisans in old city (under Project Pehchaan) on our Kritikala online store.

The products made by Kriti are available for wholesale and retail purchase. Please go to the products section on the website to find out more. We have taken up and successfully completed many large orders for bags for corporate events, uniforms for schools and more.