Creative Handicrafts

What Creative Handicrafts does

Creative Handicrafts is a Mumbai-based non-profit trust founded in 1984 by Spanish missionary Sister Isabel Martin, operating as a fair trade apparel and accessories manufacturer under a cooperative model. The organization runs 13 producer cooperatives across Mumbai slums and tribal areas, employing 700+ women in full-time and part-time garment and handicraft production. Its product portfolio spans private-label apparel (women's wear, baby wear), bags, accessories, toys, and gift items, with a 2024 expansion into Fair Trade Knitwear following the closure of the Asli Food catering service. Production is anchored by electric sewing machines, GOTS-certified organic textile processing, and computer-aided pattern-making software with plotter/cutter infrastructure.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) export-oriented private label apparel manufacturing for named international fair trade brands including Monoprix, People Tree, Traidcraft, Mata Traders, Bibico, Signalethique, Altromercato, SERRV International, and Artisans du Monde, shipping to Europe, USA, Japan, and India; (2) direct-to-consumer sales through three retail shops in Mumbai (Andheri East, Bandra, Powai), a pop-up shop program at schools, businesses, and corporate offices, and corporate catering (now transitioning); and (3) subscription and one-time sponsorship programs for education (20 EUR/month) and women's sewing training (140 EUR/4-month program), supplemented by donations from foundations including the Isabel Martin Foundation (Spain) and EZA Austria.

The business holds dual certifications that materially shape market access: WFTO Fair Trade Guaranteed status (achieved 2013 as one of 10 pilot organizations, reviewed biennially) and GOTS organic certification (2014). Distribution spans global export to fair trade buyers, domestic Mumbai retail, social enterprise sponsorship, and pop-up events. The organization became self-sustaining and passed break-even around 2005, reportedly achieved 30x turnover growth over a 10-year window, and experienced a 30% revenue decline following the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of a key buyer to liquidation.

Name

Creative Handicrafts

Legal name

Creative Handicrafts

Website

https://creativehandicrafts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Creative Handicrafts is a Mumbai-based non-profit trust that manufactures fair trade apparel, bags, and gift products through 13 cooperatives employing 700+ women, exporting to international fair trade brands and operating three retail shops in Mumbai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair Trade Apparel Manufacturing

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Merchant Wholesalers (42435)

SIC

Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable / Ethical Apparel & Accessories Wholesale (CRAOADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)

Keywords

• Fair trade apparel
• Private label manufacturing
• Organic garment production
• Handicraft bags gifts
• Cooperative textile manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Private Label Apparel Manufacturing: Custom garment manufacturing for international fair trade brands and apparel companies. Products include women's wear, baby wear, and accessories. Majority of revenue from exports to Europe, USA, Japan and India.
2. Retail Shop Sales: Three retail stores in Mumbai selling clothing, jewelry, bags, toys and food directly to consumers. Domestic market presence.
3. Education Sponsorship: Donation-based program where sponsors support children's education. Sponsorship tiers: 20 Euro/month, 120 Euro/6 months, 240 Euro/year for one child.
4. Training Sponsorship: Donation-based program supporting women's sewing training. 140 Euro supports one woman through 4-month training program.
5. Asli Food Catering: Packed lunch catering service for corporate clients, now transitioning after 20 years. Provided employment for women unable to sew.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Creative Handicrafts is a fair trade non-profit manufacturer that produces private label apparel (women's wear, baby wear, accessories), bags, and gift products for international fair trade brands, with WFTO Fair Trade Guaranteed and GOTS organic certifications. It operates 13 cooperatives in Mumbai slums employing 700+ women, and supplements manufacturing with three retail shops in Mumbai, sponsorship programs, and pop-up events for domestic consumers.

Product overview

Creative Handicrafts is a fair trade social enterprise offering private label clothing manufacturing and handicraft production services. The company operates a cooperative model with 13 production cooperatives across Mumbai slums, providing employment to over 700 women. Core offerings include apparel manufacturing, bag and gift production, and retail shops. Social programs include education sponsorship, sewing training, and a credit/savings program. The product portfolio spans garments, accessories, toys, and home goods, with recent expansion into knitwear production (2024). All products carry Fair Trade Guaranteed certification and GOTS organic certification where applicable.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Label Apparel Manufacturing Fair trade certified garment manufacturing service for international brands and retailers, including design support, pattern making, sampling, and bulk production of women's wear, baby wear, and accessories under WFTO Fair Trade Guaranteed and GOTS organic certifications.
• Bag & Gift Manufacturing Production of fair trade bags, handicrafts, and gift items including accessories, toys, and home decor products for brand customers and wholesale distribution.
• Fair Trade Retail Shops Three physical retail store locations in Mumbai (Andheri East, Bandra, Powai) selling clothing, jewelry, bags, toys, and food products made by cooperative members directly to domestic consumers.
• Education Sponsorship Program Sponsorship program supporting education of children (ages 6-23) of cooperative members, covering school fees, educational materials, annual picnics, career guidance workshops, festival celebrations, and sports day. Tiered pricing: 20 Euro/month, 120 Euro/6 months, 240 Euro/year; USD conversion pricing for donors outside Europe.
• Sewing Training Sponsorship Program 4-month sewing training program for unskilled women from disadvantaged backgrounds, with free training and a Rs. 1000/month stipend. Priced at 140 Euro / US$170 per woman supported, with 300 women trained over the past 5 years.
• Pop-Up Shop Program Mobile retail service bringing fair trade products to schools, corporate offices, and community events with direct interaction between customers and cooperative women, hosted at venues including Tata Motors, TCS, HUL, L&T, Wizcraft, Narsee Monjee, Sophia College, Kalpavruksha School.
• Fair Trade Knitwear Production Knitwear garment production unit occupying space previously used by Asli Food, with 16 women producing knitwear garments under fair trade conditions, launched in 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30x turnover growth in 10 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.

• World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal body of Fair Trade Organizations. Creative Handicrafts is a Guaranteed Fair Trade member certified through WFTO's external audit system.
• WFTO AsiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional WFTO body. Creative Handicrafts recognized as Outstanding Fair Trade Organization by WFTO Asia in 2012.
• Fair Trade Forum IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian fair trade network. Creative Handicrafts registered member supporting fair trade principles in India.
• Fair Trade International (Max Havelaar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal fair trade certification body. Creative Handicrafts maintains certification standards aligned with international fair trade principles.
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational standard for organic textiles. Creative Handicrafts holds GOTS certification for organic apparel manufacturing and storage.
• BibicomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based fashion designer with own fashion line. Works with Creative Handicrafts for 2 weeks annually for pattern development and production.
• Mata TradersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based fair trade apparel brand. Long-term partnership with 10+ year collaboration. Values economic opportunity for marginalized communities.
• MonoprixflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench retail giant. Annual collection produced by Creative Handicrafts with stylist from Antik Batik. Represents major export partnership.
• People TreemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based fair trade fashion pioneer. Regular visits for product development including garment technician for pattern making.
• SETEMmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpanish fair trade federation. Sends volunteers to Creative Handicrafts for mutual learning experiences. Conducted Snapshot Project with cameras for documentation.
• AltromercatocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian fair trade organization purchasing products from Creative Handicrafts.
• SignalethiquecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench fair trade retailer buying from Creative Handicrafts.
• TraidcraftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based fair trade pioneer brand with long-standing relationship.
• SERRV InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based fair trade organization with product development team visiting Creative Handicrafts.
• Intermon OxfamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish Oxfam branch selling Creative Handicrafts products in their stores.
• Artisans du MondecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench fair trade organization producing partner video about Creative Handicrafts.
• Equosolidale (il Sandalo)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian fair trade organization producing promotional video about Creative Handicrafts.
• Earth DivasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFair trade fashion brand partnered with Creative Handicrafts.
• Hoss IntropiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFashion brand sourcing from Creative Handicrafts.
• Solidar MondeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFair trade organization partner.
• Twine Fair TrademinorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFair trade brand partner.
• El PuenteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman fair trade organization.
• Diseno Para El DesarrollominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDevelopment design organization partner.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Rapanui: UK-based sustainable fashion brand with in-house ethical manufacturing on the Isle of Wight. Comparable as a smaller, sustainability-focused apparel player, though operating as a brand rather than an Indian production cooperative.
• MUD Jeans: Dutch circular and fair trade denim brand with own production in Tunisia. Comparable as a smaller, mission-led player in ethical apparel, though operating as a brand rather than a manufacturing cooperative.

Direct peers

• Chetna Organic: Indian fair trade and organic cotton cooperative producing garments and textiles. Directly comparable as a smallholder cooperative manufacturer serving ethical apparel brands with global certification, similar in mission and customer base.
• Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills: India-based fair trade organic cotton apparel manufacturer supplying European and US ethical brands. Comparable as an Indian producer with WFTO/Fair Trade credentials producing private label garments for international buyers.
• Ethicus: Fair trade organic cotton apparel manufacturer based in India, producing garments for ethical fashion brands. Directly comparable in product category, certification profile, and export-oriented B2B model.
• Pallium India (Handloom Cooperative): Indian fair trade handloom and apparel cooperative working with artisan weavers. Comparable as a producer cooperative in India serving international fair trade buyers with ethical apparel production.
• SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association): Large Indian women's trade union and cooperative federation producing textiles and garments. Comparable as an India-based women's cooperative model employing disadvantaged women in ethical apparel manufacturing.
• Assisi Garments: India-based fair trade garment manufacturer employing disadvantaged women, producing apparel for international ethical brands. Directly comparable in mission, geography, customer base, and cooperative employment model.

Broad incumbents

• People Tree: UK-based fair trade fashion pioneer and brand (also a customer of Creative Handicrafts). Comparable as an established player in the fair trade apparel ecosystem, though operating as a brand/retailer rather than producer.
• Patagonia: Global ethical and sustainable apparel leader with deep supply chain transparency requirements. Comparable as a broader incumbent shaping ethical apparel sourcing standards that influence demand for certified producers like Creative Handicrafts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CreativeHandicrafts
• Facebookfacebook.com/CreativeHandicraftsIndia
• Xx.com/CreativeHandic1

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creative Handicrafts