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Resources for Society, Culture and Peace: Alternative Products & Services

1. Gestures is a livelihood support and outreach initiative that was started by the non-profit organisation ‘Kriti: a development praxis and communication team’ in 1999. Their aim is to promote ethical, sustainable and socially conscious thinking buying of ‘community made’ products. (checked on 9 Oct. 2019)

2. Leap Club is a curated marketplace for ethical and earth friendly products. They list businesses that are transparent about their social, health & environmental impact of their products and share this information with consumers in an easy to understand manner, to help them understand the impact of their current consumption choices and help them find better alternatives. (checked on 10 Jan. 2020)

3. Comfort Zone, Balewadi, Pune has some stainless steel utensils which can be used for social gatherings, get-togethers, potlucks, birthday or kitty parties. They just need to be cleaned, wiped dry after use and returned. The service is provided without charge. (checked on 21 Feb. 2019)

4. Pabiben.com, a Women Artisan enterprise was started by Pabiben, a vibrant Rabari lady of Kachchh. She has become an inspiration and an idol to many in her community. Pabiben.com aspires to help women empower themselves to shape their own future, and those of their families and future generations. (checked on 7 Dec. 2018)

5. GM-free Rakhis by Gram Art Project  They have even placed desi cotton and other GM-free straight-line seeds like, cotton, jowar, tur, etc. in some of these. (checked on 1 Aug. 2016)
   

6. Safe and Natural Colours for Holi & Rangoli by Vanastree & by eCoexist. (checked on 25 Jun. 2015)

7. Paper temple (Devalaya) eco-friendly home temple that can be assembled and disassembled. [email protected] (checked on 25 Aug. 2019)

8. Amarkutir Society for Rural Development has (Shantiniketan) leather bags and other rural handicraft products in their showroom. (checked on 17 Dec. 2015)

9. Tüla offers desi-cotton garments for men and women, which are made from handloom fabric dyed in natural colours. (checked on 25 Jun. 2015)

10. Himjoli sells handicraft  products made by a cluster of NGOs in Uttarakhand. (checked on 17 Dec. 2015)

11. Upasana (Auroville) looks at social issues as a space to exercise for change. Out of these real problems were born their weaving, apparel and organic foods projects. (checked on 2 Aug. 2016)

12. Go Organic Life (Chennai-based store, selling garments, health and home-care products on-line) offers authentic and consistent, organic products. Groceries are delivered in Chennai only. (checked on 25 Jun. 2015)

13. The ANTS Crafting Traditions in Bengaluru is an ethnic lifestyle store. (checked on 17 Dec. 2015)

14. The Better India Shop aims to bring together products which are responsible, sustainable and natural under a single roof. All products are created by conscientious artisans, craftspeople, farmers, NGOs and innovators across the country. (checked on 14 Dec. 2018)

15. Arpana Services works towards imparting skills and creating business opportunities for income generation for women from marginalised communities. The women and girls trained in sewing and embroidery are all given work after training. They are from the poorer, backward sections of society, unemployed or seasonal agricultural labourers, who are usually paid only in kind. (checked on 16 Dec. 2015)

16. Organiko-Beautifying Life is a social venture involved in the production of handmade natural Donkey Milk soaps. (checked on 7 Dec. 2018)

17. Eastend Handicrafts Unit (Imphal, New Delhi) offer bags and baskets made of ‘Kauna’, a water reed. (checked on 17 Dec. 2015)

18. Shrujan – the non-profit organization respects women as gifted and highly skilled artisans and produce exquisite Kachchhi embroidery. (checked on 22 Apr. 2016)

19. KALA RAKSHA Trust aims to preserve traditional arts of the Kachchh region by making them culturally and economically viable. Trust activities are artisan driven – it provides training, and encourages community members to work together toward the goal of self sufficiency. (checked on 21 Feb. 2019)
    

20. Weaverbird based in Gujarat offers fair-traded organic cotton fabric and products obtained from open source seeds. (checked on 8 Jul. 2016)

21. Help Tourism provides purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the cultural and natural history of the environment. They have supported various communities in the region in creating and establishing quality tourism destinations with a unique local flavor. (checked on 14 Aug. 2016)

22. Rangsutra is a community owned craft company of over a thousand artisans from remote regions of India – the deserts of Rajasthan and plains of Eastern U.P and all the way to Manipur in the North East. They strive to ensure sustainable livelihoods and regular employment for rural artisans. (checked on 12 Apr. 2017)

23. Not on Map, a travel company that facilitates Socio-Cultural Exchange, provides travellers with beautiful experiences at remote locations. Hosts at their homestays extend their warm hospitality to travellers and allow a deeper impact cultural exchange that benefits both parties.