SPMCIL × Dastkar
Design Upgradation Training Programme | 2024–2026
About the Project
Supported by the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), the Design Upgradation Training Programme is a two-year initiative by Dastkar to strengthen five traditional craft groups across India through design development, skill enhancement and market integration. Beginning in April 2024, the programme brought together artisan communities and professional designers to explore new product possibilities while building on existing skills, materials and craft knowledge. Through field visits, design workshops, prototyping, mentoring and production support, the intervention moved from understanding cluster-specific needs to developing contemporary, market-ready collections. With mentorship from Laila Tyabji, the programme brings together traditional knowledge and design thinking, creating opportunities for artisan groups to strengthen their enterprises and engage with evolving markets.
Crafts & Communities
The programme worked with five artisan groups, each bringing a distinct material vocabulary, regional identity and production tradition.
- Mahalaxmi SHG | Mandla, Madhya Pradesh: Date Palm Leaf craft, exploring the potential of natural fibres through lighting, lamps, containers, home décor and accessories.
- RAWHAA | Balasore, Odisha: Sabai Grass craft, developing baskets, trays, utility containers, wall pieces and lifestyle products that combine traditional grasswork with contemporary design.
- Project Trinjan | Jaitu, Punjab: Handloom weaving, building on Punjab's textile heritage through khes, runners, home linen and fabrics for contemporary apparel.
- Santa Kantha Arts and Crafts | Bolpur, West Bengal: Kantha embroidery, translating the region's rich needlework traditions into cushions, dupattas, sarees, stoles and suit sets.
- Vasundhara Gramothan Samiti | Bikaner, Rajasthan: Handloom weaving, exploring new applications for woven textiles through apparel-led collections and contemporary fabric development.
Five designers worked closely with the respective groups, supported by team Dastkar and mentorship from Laila Tyabji, creating a collaborative process rooted in the knowledge and aspirations of each artisan community.
Impact
The programme has reached over 100 direct and indirect beneficiaries, with more than 10 field visits and eight design workshops during its first year, involving approximately 40 artisans, the majority of whom were women. Across the five clusters, design interventions explored new possibilities in natural-fibre lighting and home accessories, Sabai grass baskets and utility products, handwoven textiles and home furnishings, and Kantha-embroidered apparel and lifestyle collections.
Beyond product development, the programme has strengthened the practical foundations of enterprise building through finishing, quality control, costing, documentation, labelling, tagging and production planning. The Test Market & Product Showcase at Dastkar's Nature Bazaar, New Delhi, in February 2026 created an opportunity to present the developed collections, engage with consumers and understand market response. By bringing design, production and market exposure together, the initiative has been instrumental in building the confidence and capabilities of artisan groups to take their craft enterprises forward, creating a bridge between inherited skills and future livelihood opportunities.