Craftizen — About us

Who we are

Craftizen Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that champions inclusive livelihoods through the transformative power of crafts. We work with traditional artisans, women from urban, rural and tribal communities, and adults with intellectual disabilities to create opportunities that are rooted in dignity, creativity and enterprise.

By bringing together design innovation, capacity building, market access and ecosystem partnerships, we strengthen individuals, organisations and communities to build thriving livelihood ecosystems.

Today, our work is anchored in four focus areas - Petalists, Swayam Shakti, Punar Hunar and the Craftizen Innovation Challenge - each reflecting a different pathway towards our shared vision of inclusive, community-led development.

The Craftizen team together in front of a hand-painted tree mural

The Craftizen team in white t-shirts at an offsite

Our founding story

Craftizen was founded in 2014 from a simple but enduring belief: craft has the power to transform lives.

It began with a question that still guides us today: How do we make traditional crafts relevant in a world that is constantly changing, while creating meaningful livelihood opportunities for underserved communities?

Over the years, that question has taken us on an extraordinary journey. From working alongside traditional artisans to championing the abilities of adults with intellectual disabilities, from supporting women-led enterprises to exploring new possibilities through design and innovation, our work has continued to evolve.

What has remained unchanged is our belief that when craft, creativity and community come together, they have the power to create
lasting impact.

Vision

Championing abilities and harnessing the transformative power of crafts to build thriving communities.

Mission

We build inclusive livelihood ecosystems for underserved communities through craft skills, design innovation and partnerships.

Values

Inclusion with Dignity
Innovation for the Future
Community-Led Impact
Culture & Continuity
Responsibility to People & Planet

Petalists artisans with their handmade boxes

A women's craft group working together on the floor

Our Journey

2014: Imagining

Craftizen was founded with the belief that crafts could become a powerful medium for creating dignified livelihood opportunities while preserving the richness of India's craft traditions.
2015-16: Shaping

As ideas took form, we worked alongside artisan communities, partners and markets to understand what it takes to build livelihoods that are creative, relevant and sustainable.
2016-17: Refining

Like every craft that improves through practice, we began experimenting with new approaches—design innovation, capacity building and inclusive livelihood models that responded to the changing needs of communities

2017-20: Growing

New ideas flourished. From the birth of Petalists to innovations in upcycling and product development, we continued exploring how crafts could create opportunities that were both meaningful and future-ready.
2020–22: Strengthening

Every handcrafted piece is tested before it is complete. During the pandemic, we adapted, innovated and stood alongside our communities, ensuring livelihoods continued while discovering new possibilities such as Flo-Dust and work-from-home livelihood models.
2022–Today: Reimagining

Today, our journey continues as we strengthen inclusive livelihood ecosystems through Petalists, Swayam Shakti, Punar Hunar and Craftizen Innovation Challenge. While our work has grown in scale and scope, our purpose remains unchanged—to harness the transformative power of crafts to build thriving communities.