The cooperatives we source from operate on a shared-equipment model: individual weavers own their looms, but dyeing vats, warping frames, and quality inspection are managed collectively, which keeps overhead low for households that might otherwise weave in isolation.
Most of the artisans in our Bengal network are women, many of whom took up weaving as a second income alongside farm work. Cooperative membership gives them direct access to buyers like CIELON, cutting out the layers of middlemen that traditionally captured most of a weave's final sale price.
By sourcing directly, a significantly higher share of what you pay for a Silk-Khadi piece reaches the person who actually wove it — not a distributor three steps removed from the loom.
It also means quality control happens at the source. Cooperative leads inspect every swatch for consistency before it's approved for the Professional Kit or ready-to-wear line, which is part of why the texture and hand-feel stay this consistent piece to piece.