A Small Shop by the Road

Along the side of the road sits a small tailor shop, where two or three women gather each day to sew. Most often, they work on mekhala sadors and blouses, but every now and then, an order for baby frocks or bags finds its way in.

The shop has its own rhythm. In the morning, while the women finish their household chores, their adolescent children come ahead to open the shutters. A little later, the women arrive, sweep the space, and settle into their work. Sometimes, they bring their younger children along, little ones who weave in and out of the “bridge” their mothers’ legs make as the sewing machines hum steadily.

Some of our products, like our stoles, are stitched here too.

By now, we’ve come to understand that no single product is ever made by just one pair of hands. Take a stole, for instance. Cotton is first grown, then sent to a mill where it is spun into yarn. The yarn is dyed and woven into fabric, which eventually makes its way to local shops. From there, it is purchased, embroidered, and finally brought to this small tailor shop, where its edges are carefully finished.

If you pause to think about it, the stole you hold has already travelled far, through places, processes, and many hands. Its journey carries quiet traces of each of them. If only it could speak.

This little shop was set up with support from Karunar Kheti Trust, and today, it runs on its own.