Ecotasar, a pioneering social enterprise focused on empowering rural women through sustainable silk yarn production, has taken a major step forward with the launch of three new yarn spinning groups in Bihar and Jharkhand. This initiative, which benefits 85 women from the Banka district (Bihar) and Dumka district (Jharkhand), marks a significant milestone in Ecotasar’s mission to empower 2,000 women by 2026. The occasion was commemorated with a virtual inauguration led by Ms. Day Kornbluth, President of West Elm (a major US home goods retailer)—Ecotasar’s long-standing partner.
Currently, Ecotasar supports 461 women in Bihar and Jharkhand and over 800 women artisans in Assam who produce hand-spun Eri silk yarn. As part of its 2025–26 expansion, Ecotasar, in collaboration with the Tribal and Rural Development Foundation (TRDF), aims to onboard an additional 700 women. This scale-up is being supported by PRADAN, a national NGO working towards women’s empowerment, through a European Union-funded grant.
The newly formed spinning groups include 35 women from three villages in Bounsi Block (Banka) and 50 women from four villages in Dumka. Each participant has received free spinning equipment and hands-on training in silk yarn production. The initiative enables women to work from home, earn a stable part-time income, and avoid the hardships of seasonal migration.
“Our mission is rooted in the belief that income opportunities must be brought to where women live—not the other way around,” said Khitish Pandya, Founder of Ecotasar. “Silk yarn production provides not only a livelihood but also a sense of dignity, autonomy, and the power to shape one’s own future. With the launch of these new groups, 85 women have taken the first step towards greater financial independence—all while staying close to their families and communities.”
He added, “We are truly grateful to Ms. Day Kornbluth and the entire West Elm team for their unwavering partnership. Since 2008, West Elm has been a valued supporter and regular buyer of sustainable textiles crafted from hand-spun yarn produced by women from some of India’s most underserved regions.”
Ecotasar’s inclusive livelihood model ensures women artisans earn between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000 per month, based on the time they commit. A guaranteed buyback of the yarn produced provides assured income and reliable market access.
Through its integrated approach—spanning training, equipment distribution, raw material support, and assured market linkages—Ecotasar continues to create dignified, self-sustained livelihood opportunities across India’s rural heartlands.
