Bethany Weaves
Bethany Weaves is a weaving unit in a leprosy colony in S. India where wonderful bags and kitchen linen are woven and stitched and then exported around the world.
Come into the Bethany Weaves workshop and see the Bag Ballet for yourself
ABOUT BETHANY WEAVES -
Bethany Weaves is a weaving unit in a leprosy colony in S. India where wonderful bags are woven and stitched and then exported around the world. Using traditional navar looms the women weave strips of brightly coloured cotton which are then stitched into bags. The unit has been functioning providing work in the colony for about 40 years. In the last decade the weavers have mostly been the daughters and daughters-in-law of the original leprosy affected colony members.
In 2017-18 MESH assisted the women to be trained to add leather trims to their bags thereby increasing and refining their range.
To see some more data about Bethany weaves and their recent achievements click here
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2015: - click here
PRODUCTS
Bethany bags have long been favourites with MESH's customers. Made from brightly coloured bands of handwoven cotton they are strong and practical. You can see a range of them on our website here
ARTISANS
This is Evangeline, one of the tailors in Bethany she says about her earnings:-
“I use my earnings to meet household costs and especially for anything my daughters might need. My husband and I don’t like taking loans from money lenders. I am a member of a women’s savings group and have been able to apply for a group loan three times. I have repaid each time and using that money along with the housing grant from the Government House Building Programme we have been able to build a new house with slightly larger rooms and an added balcony.”
and about quality and speed:-
“I am not the fastest tailor but then I make less mistakes then the very fast ones and since quality is important it means I don’t have to unpick and re-stitch as much as other people. I like sewing and enjoy the atmosphere learning new things, increasing my knowledge and skills all the time.”
Read more about Evangeline here
ABOUT BETHANY WEAVES -
Bethany Weaves is a weaving unit in a leprosy colony in S. India where wonderful bags are woven and stitched and then exported around the world. Using traditional navar looms the women weave strips of brightly coloured cotton which are then stitched into bags. The unit has been functioning providing work in the colony for about 40 years. In the last decade the weavers have mostly been the daughters and daughters-in-law of the original leprosy affected colony members.
In 2017-18 MESH assisted the women to be trained to add leather trims to their bags thereby increasing and refining their range.
To see some more data about Bethany weaves and their recent achievements click here
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2015: - click here
PRODUCTS
Bethany bags have long been favourites with MESH's customers. Made from brightly coloured bands of handwoven cotton they are strong and practical. You can see a range of them on our website here
ARTISANS
This is Evangeline, one of the tailors in Bethany she says about her earnings:-
“I use my earnings to meet household costs and especially for anything my daughters might need. My husband and I don’t like taking loans from money lenders. I am a member of a women’s savings group and have been able to apply for a group loan three times. I have repaid each time and using that money along with the housing grant from the Government House Building Programme we have been able to build a new house with slightly larger rooms and an added balcony.”
and about quality and speed:-
“I am not the fastest tailor but then I make less mistakes then the very fast ones and since quality is important it means I don’t have to unpick and re-stitch as much as other people. I like sewing and enjoy the atmosphere learning new things, increasing my knowledge and skills all the time.”
Read more about Evangeline here
