Handicraft & Apparel COE

Handicrafts Centre of Excellence (CoE)

The Handicrafts CoE at JECP is a transformative platform dedicated to revitalizing India’s artisanal heritage while fostering sustainable enterprise. By combining cultural preservation, skill development, and market enablement, the CoE empowers artisans to turn traditional craftsmanship into thriving economic opportunities.

Through collaborative engagement, capacity building, and strategic support, the Handicrafts CoE envisions a future where heritage is preserved, livelihoods are strengthened, and craftsmanship becomes a source of pride and prosperity.

MSMEs Incubated

Handicraft Enterprises Incubated

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Total Revenue Generated

Jobs Supported / Enhanced

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% of Enterprises with Revenue Growth

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Average Revenue Growth

Objectives of the Handicrafts Centre of Excellence – Purvanchal

1. Preserve Heritage Through Responsible Design

Promote design as a bridge between tradition and innovation – honoring the cultural grammar of crafts while adapting them to modern needs. Engage artisans in design thinking that supports sustainable, context-driven evolution of their skills and products.

2. Rebuild Holistic Craft Identities

Restore the role of artisans as designers, scientists, and entrepreneurs by reviving integrated craft knowledge systems. Through education, exposure, and enterprise support, reposition crafts as expressions of pride rather than labor struggle.

3. Shift Perception and Celebrate Craftsmanship

Lead a change in how crafts are perceived – moving beyond commercial value to cultural significance. Facilitate awareness through storytelling, branding, policy advocacy, and collaborative platforms that promote the dignity and creativity of artisans.

4. Strengthen Distribution for Equity and Scale

Enhance transparent, efficient distribution systems to ensure fair market access and economic growth. Encourage delegation, job creation, and knowledge-sharing among artisans, empowering them to scale sustainably in a competitive landscape.

5. Foster Regional Impact and Cultural Revival

Mobilize efforts across 10 districts to uplift diverse crafts like Bhakira brass, Black Pottery, and Jute. Enable heritage preservation and economic development through incubation, partnerships, workshops, and targeted programs that drive long-term artisan prosperity.

Focus Areas

1. Design Innovation & Material Research

Fusing traditional artistry with modern design, promoting responsible, innovative, and globally competitive products.

2. Cultural Awareness & Perception Building

Redefining handicrafts from sustenance to prosperity and pride through stakeholder engagement and narrative building.

3. Distribution & Market Enablement

Strengthening supply chains and market access, enabling artisans to reach national and international markets and convert creativity into economic growth.

4. Art Heritage & Culture Building

Capturing and joining the global zeitgeist, this pillar celebrates traditional crafts while connecting them with contemporary relevance, ensuring artisans’ work is recognized, appreciated, and sustained.

Our Team

Our Programs

Project Samavesh

Conceptualized in collaboration with Hand for Handmade, Project Samavesh aimed to integrate sustainability while supporting enterprises across three craft value chains - Terracotta, Moonj and Banana Fiber.

By exploring artisans’ lifestyles, culture, festivals and rituals, we developed a unique design identity for enterprises, leading to innovation in design, materials, and processes.

Innovation Pilots

Innovations in Material

Encouraging research into alternative materials, we ensure that the handicrafts produced by the artisans are not only beautiful and market ready but also aligned with sustainable production practices, contributing to environmental and social responsibility.

Terracotta is non-biodegradable, as the baking process makes it lose its ability to naturally degrade. We are fostering innovation in material by use of hybrid materials, i.e combining finely crushed recycled clay with fresh clay in different ratios. These hybrids open new creative possibilities, blending durability, functionality, and artistry to meet the demands of contemporary design.

Innovation in Design

Our aim is to modernize handicrafts while preserving cultural heritage. In Moonj crafts, artisans deeply connect with "Muniya," traditionally used for storing grains, wedding clothes, and ritual items. Honouring its significance, they have re-imagined it as Teen Manzila Muniya - a storage unit with wooden legs in various sizes for organizing. This approach has inspired a new product line, including Petika, a storage unit for clothes that assembles as cabin luggage. By blending tradition with innovation, artisans create functional, aesthetic pieces suited for modern lifestyles, interiors, and global markets while retaining their cultural essence.

Innovation in Process

Banana fiber is abundant in Kushinagar, with the potential to employ 600 women in handicrafts. While still in its early stages, process optimization is improving efficiency without compromising quality. Artisans are adopting eco-friendly retting over machine decortication, reducing energy use. Natural dyes like turmeric, beetroot, and chili leaves, along with coconut and mustard oils, enhance fiber softness and durability.

They craft handmade yarns, crochet products, and devotional items like sumirans, padukas, aasans, and kanha ka palna, linking their work to Lord Vishnu. Improved techniques in extraction, dyeing, weaving, and finishing ensure sustainable and scalable craftsmanship.

Supported Udyamis

S No	Enterprise	Founder	Description of the Business	Sector	Cohort	Cohort (Information)	CoE Support
1	Anshima Terrakriti	Kalyani Kirti Singh	Anshima Terrakriti works with local artisans from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh to create handcrafted terracotta products like jewellery, decorative, cookware and serve ware.	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
2	Atrangi Kalakari	Deepika Singh	Terracotta Jewellery & Paintings	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
3	Jagriti SHG: Banana Fibre	Nibha Devi/ Shobha Devi	Banana fiber handicraft and home decor products	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
4	Loving Knots	Vibha Gupta	Macreme Handicraft Products	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
5	Matri Shakti Moonj Craft	Kiran Sharma	Moonj Craft Products which are in high demand in Metro cities and export market	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
6	MK Manufacturing	Santosh Kumar	Manufacturer of gents garments	Handicrafts & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
7	Priya Terracotta Art Gallery	Jitendra Prajapati	Terracotta Home decor of different types	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
8	R.K Fashion Garments	Rajkumar Chaurasia	Manufacturing of Apparel and marketing in the regional market	Handicrafts & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
9	Ritika Kritika Creation	Sunita Maurya	Banana Fiber Jewellery & Jute Bags	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
10	Saraswati Prerna SHG: Banana Fibre	Rani Mishra	Banana fiber handicraft and home decor products	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
11	Shiv Shakti Enterprises (SHG)	Sangeeta & Santosh Mishra	Woven Jute Bag Manufacturing	Handicrafts & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
12	Siddhnath Bag	Bhola Prasad Kushwaha	Manufacturing & Marketing of Bags in Kushinagar	Handicrafts & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
13	Siddhnath Traders	Ajit Kumar	Manufacturing and supply school dress and public uniforms	Handicrafts & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
14	Sudhiraji Sikki Art	Radha Kumari	Home decor products	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
15	Sui Dhaga	Bandana Singh	Crochet Jewellery	Handicrafts & Apparels	Green Incubation	Green Enterprise Cohort 1.0	Handicraft and Apparel CoE
16	AmbeyTerra	Ambika Prakash	AmbeyTerra deals in various types of decorative items, pots, and earthenware made from terracotta clay.	Handicrafts and Appraels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 2.0	Handicraft CoE
17	Anubhav Textile	Anubhav Mishra	Manufacturer of Shirts, Jackets and other garments.	Handicraft & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 2.0	Handicraft CoE
18	Avenue 72	Madhur Lata	Avenue 72 is a boutique specialized in handmade, sustainable and premium products. they offer a wide range of terracotta art, Madhubani paintings and various handmade products (Karela chips, Kadha, Chokalates). focus is on luxurious yet affordable gifts that are eco-friendly and promote traditional crafts. promote sustainability while offering unique and artistic products that everyone can treasure.	Handicraft & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 2.0	Handicraft CoE
19	Gorakhpur Terracotta and training Center	Anil Kumar Prajapati	To connect young artists from Gorakhpur and nearby districts, familiarize them with this technique, and encourage their active participation to help them create opportunities for self-employment.	Handicraft & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 2.0	Handicraft CoE
20	Indra Prashikshan Sansthan	Sarita Singh	Indra Prashikshan Sansthan is a dedicated organization working with local women and girls to promote handicrafts and economic empowerment. Specializing in macramé-based home décor and personal-use products, the organization not only produces high-quality handcrafted items but also provides training to women and girls, equipping them with valuable skills. By combining artistry with skill development, Indra Prashikshan Sansthan fosters creativity, self-reliance, and community growth.	Handicraft & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 2.0	Handicraft CoE
21	Radhika art Gallery	Radhika Khetan	Make Printing, Sketches, hand Painted Home Decor items, resin a rt products .	Handicraft & Appraels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 2.0	Handicraft CoE
22	Sangeeta Purvanchal Silai Ghar	Bandana Mishra	SPSG runs her bag manufacturing business from home, working alongside 15 other women. What began as a passion project—creating beautiful bags from waste—evolved into a larger venture when she connected with Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Recognizing the value of her skills, she started using industrial cloth waste to manufacture and sell her bags, turning her creativity into a sustainable business.	Handicraft & Apparels	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 2.0	Handicraft CoE
23	shiwam workshop	Mahaveer Prajapati	manufacturing of Kullhad, and lassi glass other soil's made products	Manufacturing	General Incubation	General Incubation Cohort 2.0	Handicraft CoE

Abhivyakti

Under Abhivyakti (Design thinking and adaptive leadership workshop) with a total of 60 artisans and leaders from the 3 value chains of Moonj, Banana Fibre, and Terracotta, in Deoria, Kushinagar and Gorakhpur respectively we experienced and enabled a space for artistic and human expression. Through exploration of various mediums like colouring, body movement, storytelling and more we unfolded cultural influences in design and product development.

The assessment of these workshops outlined the necessary steps for associated enterprises to scale in appropriate direction, including an indicative growth plan in the context of design development for all enterprises.