Blog Overview & Introduction to Shrujan

Blog Overview

TWO ORGANIZATIONS / BUSINESSES ARE DETAILED IN THIS BLOG:

1. Srujan

2. Qasab / Khamir Crafts Resource Center

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Both of these organizations are similar in many respects.

The first one detailed here in this blog is

Srujan.

This concludes the Blog Overview.

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Introduction to Srujan

Shrujan is a non-profit organization that makes high-end, high quality textiles. It is perhaps the most successful organization in Kutch, in terms of being able to mobilize the varied weaving styles of the tribes in the area under one roof, in such a manner that their productions can be presented & sold to the outside world in a viable manner.

The styles come from traditional Kutchi tribal embroidery, and the goods are embroidered by the tribal workers. The patterns & designs are drawn in the Srujan workshops. See the section of this blog entitled "Workshop & Design Area" for more details.

Shrujan has a website: http://www.shrujan.org/docs/about.htm It does not have many product photos uploaded, but it does have some interesting information about Shrujan.

From a purely business logistics perspective, Shrujan and Qasab (after Srujan, Qasab is the other organization detailed in this blog) are probably the best established organizations in Kutch, for making any kind of export orders -- bulk quantity or otherwise. For Kutchi tribal embroidery, they are the best such business from Kutch (that I know of) where the quality can be trusted, and the product line is well-enough established that one knows what to expect. The goods are priced as higher-end items, but the quality is great, they come from a well established (non-profit) organization, the brand is respected & known throughout India, and it can be known that a good percentage of the profits will go to the workers.

The goods, to me, are certainly Westernized versions of traditional Kutchi embroidered goods. That said, I am sure there is a market for these in the USA.

For an order of $1,000, a 10% discount is given on the total order cost. For an order of $2200 (100,000 INR / 1 lahk rupees), a discount of 20% is given.

Any of these items & styles can be remade & reordered in bulk.

Shrujan also has a smaller store right here in Vadodara, so that should make doing business with them easier.

Keep in mind that all of these items are made by hand and that it can take months to make one of the more elaborate pieces.

Shrujan Shop: Overview

These are two photos of the Shrujan main shop, which is located in Bhujodi, Kutch. It is an extremely nice shop, and the style, as well as the general lavisness & cleanliness of everything inside it, contrasts remarkably with the area of Kutch in which it is located. Clearly, the goods here are marketed to "Western" tastes, or at least towards upper-class Indians. Almost everything here is made of silk or wool.

Shrujan Shop #11: Small Bags, Belts, Torahs, Etc.

(above & below) Small silk bags - 150 - 200 Rs. / $3.30 - $4.40

































(above) glasses cases - 225 Rs. / $4.96


















(below) Torahs & Belts.

Shrujan Shop #10: Men's Shirts

Men's Shirts Overview (above)





















(above) Men's Shirt 1800 Rs. / $39.70
(below) Men's Shirt $25.37

Shrujan Shop #9: Cushion Covers

The square silk cushion covers, 16" x 16", cost 550 - 600 Rs. / $12.13 - $13.23. The large regtangular cushion costs 1000 Rs. / $22.06.

Shrujan Shop #8: Wall Pieces.

These silk wall pieces cost approximately 600 - 1000 Rs. / $13.23 - $22.06. These wall pieces are very nice.
























This bedcover below costs 11,000 Rs. / $242.

Shrujan Shop #7: Wool Shawls w/Silk Embroidery

These are pure wool shawls with silk embroidery. The cost for the red one, pictured individually, is 1600 Rs. / $35.30.

Shrujan Shop #6: Shawls, Dupurttas, Etc.

The photo below is of a wool shawl weaved by the nomadic Rabari tribe. The cost is 1800 Rs. / $39.71.





















Below is a stack of silk scarves.






















The bottom two photos are of silk dupurtta's (long scarves worn with ladies' traditional Indian wear, such as sarree's, etc.).

Shrujan Shop #5: Bags

The three draw string bags above & left cost 450 Rs. / $9.93. The blue bag below costs 550 Rs. / $12.13. All bags are made of silk.

Shrujan Shop #4: Bags

The bags on the top rung of this rack cost 700 Rs. / $15.45.

The girl in back of bags is Swagata Das Kumar, Marketing Manager for Shrujan. She was very helpful.

Shrujan Shop #3: Dresses

The blue dress costs 10,000 Rs. / $220.















The yellow dress costs 2300 Rs. / $50. The Lite Blue satin dress costs 7000 Rs. / $154.

Shrujan Shop #2: Shirts / Tops

These silk spaghetti strap tops cost 500-900 Rs. / $11.03 - $19.85.


This shirt cost 2200 Rs. / $48.53.

Shrujan Shop #1: Choli's & Men's Traditional Vests

These silk cholis (open in back) cost 1800-2300 Rs. / $39.71 - $50.73. See more photos of Shrujan cholis here: http://www.shrujan.org/docs/products.htm
http://www.jbdcexports.com/productdetails.asp?id=566
and here.

The men's vest pictured alone costs 2500 Rs. / $55.15.

Shrujan: Workshop & Design Area

This man is drawing the designs, for the embroidery to be stitched over.






























This is a fabric that has been embroidered in a village somwhere, and is ready for the final manufacturing stage.





Here, final products are being sewn from the embroidered fabrics.

Outside Shrujan

This is a billboard for Shrujan, near the entrance to the organization's headquarters & main shop. No-one who lives in Kutch or Bhuj actually dresses like this.






































Outside the shop & offices.