About Hand for Handmade
Hand for Handmade is a unique initiative born during the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. What started as an informal digital network in 2020, quickly evolved into a structured non-profit organization, registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. HFH represents a powerful collective of artisans, designers, NGOs, and craft enthusiasts united by a shared goal: to support and rejuvenate India’s craft and handmade sector.
At the heart of HFH lies the mission to empower artisans by bridging the gap between traditional skills and contemporary opportunities. We work to nurture innovation, foster collaboration, and create sustainable linkages that bring the magic of handmade crafts to a wider audience.
Our Story
Hand for Handmade emerged during one of the most turbulent times in modern history. The pandemic disrupted the very foundations of the craft industry, leaving artisans grappling with a loss of income, logistical breakdowns, and stagnant inventory. In response to these challenges, HFH began as a digital platform, connecting artisans, craft patrons, and designers in a shared effort to rebuild and reimagine the craft ecosystem.
What started as a simple WhatsApp group in April 2020 soon transformed into a national movement, driven by a vision to protect and promote the handmade industry. Since then, HFH has pioneered initiatives such as Master Classes on contemporary craft practices, digital design interventions through “Design Pe Charcha,” and the creation of “HandmadeKatha,” a curated marketplace that connects artisans directly with buyers.
Through each of these efforts, HFH has become a symbol of resilience and innovation, proving that the handmade industry has the potential to adapt, evolve, and flourish in an ever-changing world.


Our Vision
Our vision is to reimagine the Indian handmade industry as a dynamic, contemporary ecosystem that carries deep meaning and relevance for today’s world while preserving the essence of its timeless traditions. We envision a future where handmade crafts are valued not just as products but as stories of heritage, artistry, and human connection.
Our Mission
Our mission is rooted in the belief that the handmade industry is an essential bridge between culture and commerce. We are committed to energizing this sector through transformative initiatives that emphasize knowledge-sharing, inspire innovation, and build strong, ethical linkages across the ecosystem.

Our Team
Meet the passionate individuals driving Hand For Handmade mission forward.

Founder & Director
Shibani is the driving force behind Baaya, a boutique atelier dedicated to rejuvenating Indian artisanal skills through contemporary design. An NID alumna, Shibani brings over 18 years of experience working with artisans and a deep understanding of interior design, making her a valuable asset to the HFH community.
Shibani Jain
Founder & Director

Director
An alumnus of IIT-K and IIM-A, Vipul is a serial tech entrepreneur and philanthropist. As Co-founder and Chairman of Kale Logistics, Vipul brings extensive business acumen to HFH, along with his passion for social ventures like the Jabarkhet Nature Reserve and Ona Organics.
Vipul Jain
Director

Director
A heritage evangelist, Chirashree is dedicated to conserving India’s handmade heritage. With vast experience in restoration and conservation, Chirashree’s work spans prestigious projects, including heritage sites and educational institutions.
Chirashree Thakkar
Director

Program Manager
Devyani has 17 years of experience in the Fashion and Toys Retail Industry (Hamleys -Reliance Brands Ltd., Pantaloons – Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd., Vero Moda, Benetton) along with rich entrepreneurial experience. Extremely passionate about sustainable, conscious living, she is now a change maker in the social sector and is creating impact at the intersection of culture, crafts and community.
Devyani Anand
Program Head
Mentors & Volunteers

Social Media Handles
Web: https://independent.academia.edu/MeghnaAjit
FB: @Beeja
Instagram: @project_beeja
social media handles:
https://independent.academia.edu/MeghnaAjit
https://www.facebook.com/Beeja-196103004013/
https://www.instagram.com/project_beeja/
Meghna Ajit, a development professional with deep roots in design, has essayed multiple roles in her stellar 19-year-long career. The alumna of National Institute of Design, an academician and the founder of Beeja — a project that holds the distinction of being both, a community development initiative and an eco-brand — enjoys a 360-degree view of the craft sector. She has worked as a designer, educator and entrepreneur, all roles that have offered her immense opportunities to convert her design thinking into practice. Her firm belief that while the market is crucial, the spotlight should strictly stay on the artisans has helped her engage closely with artisan communities, and facilitate grassroots-level innovations and sustainable practices.
Meghna Raj

Bandana Agarwal
Social Media Handles
FB: @Bandiworks
Instagram: @Bandiworks
YouTube: @Bandiworks Artist
www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOKoqiinQmTM1nkxOeS7_w
2. Social Media handles: (Links for your FB, Insta and LinkedIn page)
www.facebook.com/Bandiworks
www.instagram.com/Bandiworks
YouTube channel: Bandiworks Artist
www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOKoqiinQmTM1nkxOeS7_w
About Bandana Agarwal
The elegant world of forms, lines, colours and textures deeply interests multi-disciplinary artist and educator Bandana Agarwal. Her immersive experience with the ancient world of folk art shapes her experiential workshops, hosted under the aegis of her art studio, Bandiworks, which meld heritage arts and crafts with contemporary thinking. In a workshop at the Amazon headquarters in Seattle, she demonstrated how the arts can be tools of communication to bring together people from different countries and ethnicities. Bandiworks collaborates extensively with Madhubani artisans from Bihar to customise objects of utility and beauty, as well as curate experiences that explore the art in different settings — from the state’s traditional food to the Dashavatar rendition in Kathak and the intricate folds of Origami, among many others — provoking exciting new conversations.
Bandana Agarwal

SUNDEEP KUMAR
Social Media handles:
https://www.facebook.com/sundeep.kumar.216
www.linkedin.com/in/sundeep-kumar-3b16666
https://www.instagram.com/sundeepjee/
INTRO:
Sundeep is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in Communication and General Management. Currently, he is the Chief Executive of Craft Béton, a design-led lifestyle initiative by the Dalmia Bharat Group, where he previously led Corporate Affairs and Communication. His illustrious career includes leadership roles at Novartis Healthcare, SABMiller India, and Godfrey Phillips, alongside 22 impactful years in advertising, earning accolades such as India’s first Cannes Silver Lion and recognition from the International Advertising Association. A frequent guest lecturer at premier institutions and a published writer in esteemed journals, Sundeep combines professional excellence with a passion for travel and nature photography, having explored unique destinations like the Amazon, Namibia, and Uzbekistan. An IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, he exemplifies dedication, creativity, and thought leadership.
Sandeep Kumar

Sudakshina Sinha Banerjee
Social Media handles:
FB: www.facebook.com/sudakshina.s.banerjee
Instagram: @sudakshinasbanerjee
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudakshina/
Sudakshina Sinha Banerjee is an alumna of Baroda Art College and IIM, Bangalore and the co-founder of Studio Coppre, where she leads marketing outreach efforts.
She has coalesced her 20+ years of experience in the fields of marketing, branding and social responsibility and her passion for heritage, Indian crafts and sustainability at Studio Coppre, which she co-founded with her other partners. As a social entrepreneur, she merges her professional skills in the corporate sector with her dual passion of reviving art genres and creating social impact.
In the post-Covid world, she is passionate about providing livelihood opportunities in many more artisanal clusters by optimising teams and processes, introducing design interventions, and creating forward linkages to new markets, to sustain India’s traditional crafts.
Sudakshina Sinha Banerjee

Payal Nath
Payal Nath
Social media handles
FB: @payal.r.nath
Linked In: http://linkedin.com/in/payal-nath-kadamindia-b7825ba8
Instagram: @Payalrnath
…
INTRO
Payal Nath, Co-founder and CEO of Kadam and Kadam-Haat in Kolkata, has been instrumental in creating sustainable rural livelihoods for women through crafts since 2006. With a background in the organized footwear industry and as a design consultant to the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Commerce, she leverages her expertise to empower artisans across four Indian states, addressing ten of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals through her initiatives. Her contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Outlook Business Women of Worth Award in 2019, Amazon SMB Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020, and the Women Economic Forum’s Iconic Leader Award in 2020. Under her leadership, Kadam-Haat has become a model for social enterprises, uplifting marginalized communities and preserving traditional crafts
Payal Nath

Anuradha has worked in the development sector in India for over twenty-five years on natural resource management, capacity building and rural livelihoods. She has also worked on public diplomacy and disaster response. She has received two fellowships, the British Council-supported Chevening Scholarship to attended a course on ‘Environmental Management and Sustainable Development’ at the University of Bangor, North Wales, UK and the Fulbright Fellowship to study multi-disciplinary development planning at the Cornell University, U.S.A. A pass out from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, specializing in Urban and Rural Community Development, Anuradha is passionate about craft-based livelihoods, community institutions, sustainable and environment-friendly living.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuradha-pati-6274875/
https://www.facebook.com/anuradha.pati.39
https://anuradhapati.wordpress.com/
Anuradha

Devika Krishnan has over 30 years of experience in craft-based livelihood initiatives, working to empower artisans across India. She has been instrumental in design development, costing, pricing, and business strategy for various craft enterprises. As a Senior Lead Consultant at Goodearth Heritage Foundation, she advises on social impact initiatives. She is also the Co-Founder of Shepherdcrafts Kashmir, supporting women from the Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes. Her work with Dastkar Ranthambore and Commitment to Kashmir focuses on reviving traditional crafts and creating sustainable business models. A graduate of the National Institute of Design, she specializes in ceramic and industrial design and has helped numerous artisan clusters scale their businesses through effective pricing and market strategies.
Devika Krishnan

Shama Pawar
Shama is a visionary conservationist and social leader who has dedicated her life to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of Anegundi and Hampi. Inspired by the breathtaking beauty and historical significance of the region during her first visit in 1991, she moved to Anegundi in 1994 and founded The Kishkinda Trust in 1997. With her expertise in fine arts, architecture, and community empowerment, she has spearheaded numerous initiatives integrating heritage conservation, environmental sustainability, and rural development. From restoring traditional houses and promoting organic farming to organizing arts and cultural programs, Shama’s work has transformed Anegundi into a model for rural heritage conservation. Her contributions have earned her roles in prestigious organizations such as INTACH and Hampi Foundation, and she continues to inspire students, professionals, and communities with her unwavering commitment and boundless energy.
Shama Pawar

Sriparna Das Chakraborty
Sriparna Das Chakraborty, founder of Aamani’s Crochet in Gurugram, Haryana, seamlessly blends over 14 years of UI/UX design experience with her passion for crochet and macramé artistry. Her dedication to empowering women artisans through free training and sustainable income opportunities has garnered recognition, including being honored as a State Artisan by the Ministry of Textiles in 2022 and reaching the finals of the National Award for Handicrafts in 2024 with her crochet portrait of Maa Saraswati. Under her leadership, Aamani’s Crochet has been incubated by prestigious institutions such as NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore and IIMV FIELD at IIM Visakhapatnam, reflecting her commitment to social entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment.
Sriparna Das Chakraborty

Vanmala Jain
Vanmala Jain, a Mumbai-based ceramic designer and social entrepreneur, is an alumna of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (1975 batch). With over 45 years of experience, her creations seamlessly blend tradition and modernity, reflecting her deep-rooted passion for ceramics, which began at the age of 16 when she was introduced to Jaipur’s Blue Pottery. Vanmala founded the renowned Kuprkabi Ceramic Design Studio and Foundation, focusing on empowering women from economically weaker sections through craft and design. Her work has been showcased at prestigious venues like Jehangir Art Gallery, the Serendipity Arts Festival, and the Indian Ceramic Triennale, with a piece permanently displayed at the Museum of Small Ceramic in Croatia. As a mentor and advocate for Indian pottery, Vanmala collaborates with leading art and design institutions and actively promotes the craft through workshops, exhibitions, and initiatives like CERAFEST.
Vanmala Jain

Artisan Workshop Facilitator & Content Writer
Sonal Desai brings years of expertise, including her role as Senior Consultant at Emami Group’s Studio by Starmark and Art Consultant at Masters Collection Art Gallery, Kolkata. As Social Media Outreach Coordinator for Hand for Handmade, she crafts engaging content highlighting artisanal crafts and traditions, fostering meaningful connections with artisans and craft clusters
Sonal Desai
Awards & Recognition
Hand for Handmade was recognized with the Social Impact Award in the category of Art & Heritage by CSR Universe, Delhi.
This prestigious recognition celebrates our continued efforts to uplift traditional artisans, preserve cultural heritage, and build a thriving handmade economy.
Our Partners
Partner with us to create a stronger, more sustainable handmade ecosystem.




