Dastkari Haat Samiti

What Dastkari Haat Samiti does

Dastkari Haat Samiti is a not-for-profit national association of craftspeople founded in 1986 in New Delhi by Jaya Jaitly, registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act. Its stated mission is to preserve, document, and provide livelihoods for traditional Indian craftspeople, and it operates two principal commercial surfaces: an annual membership programme (Rs. 4,000 per annum for 2026-27) and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform at dastkarihaat.com that retails handcrafted textiles, home goods, jewellery and artefacts at price points spanning roughly Rs. 200 to Rs. 75,000.

The organisation's core product surfaces include the conceptual blueprint for Dilli Haat (conceived in 1994 as a marketplace model later replicated in 30 Indian cities), 112+ craft bazaars held across the country, a series of 22 state-level Craft Maps of India, and a curated digital archive of 52 craft traditions co-published with Google Arts & Culture in 2020, incorporating 2,000+ photographs. It has also structured cross-border craft-exchange programmes with more than ten countries between 2004 and 2016 and, most recently in 2023, designed and executed the 'Shilp Deergha' craft installation at the New Parliament of India. Funding flows referenced in connection with its programmes include the Ministry of Textiles, Delhi Tourism, NDMC, UNDP, UNESCO and the World Bank.

Operationally, Dastkari Haat Samiti runs a small core team of 1-10 employees and exists primarily as a facilitator rather than a manufacturer. Its network touches roughly 75,000 craftspeople, most of whom reach consumers via Dilli Haat and partner bazaars, with a smaller subset transacting through the Society's own D2C storefront. Revenue mechanics are therefore a blend of low-volume e-commerce sales, membership dues, project-based grants from government and multilateral bodies, and royalty/publishing income from craft books such as 'Handmade in India' and 'Craft Atlas of India'.

Name

Dastkari Haat Samiti

Legal name

Dastkari Haat Samiti

Website

https://dastkarihaat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dastkari Haat Samiti is a not-for-profit national association of craftspeople founded in 1986 in New Delhi that designs craft marketplaces such as Dilli Haat, runs 112+ artisan bazaars, and sells handcrafted Indian arts through dastkarihaat.com, serving 75,000+ craftspeople.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handicrafts and Artisan Marketplace

NAICS

Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (459130), Piece Goods, Notions, and Other Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers (424310)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Textile & Fiber Arts Classes (Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Dyeing) (THAJAKAB), Notions & Sewing Accessories Retail (Thread, Needles, Zippers, Buttons) (CRALADAG)

Keywords

• Indian handicrafts marketplace
• Traditional artisan support
• Handloom textiles retail
• Folk art promotion
• Craft bazaar operations

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted Indian crafts including sarees, traditional art (Gond, Godna, Kalighat, Pattachitra), home décor, toys & games, crafts maps, publications, and gamchha textiles through their e-commerce platform and physical marketplaces.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of ₹4,000 valid from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027 for craftspeople to join the national association, offering benefits including training, promotional programmes, design assistance, and access to bazars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dastkari Haat Samiti operates a not-for-profit craft marketplace that markets and sells handcrafted Indian textiles, folk art, home décor, traditional games, craft maps and publications produced by Indian artisans across the country. It runs the Dilli Haat physical craft bazaar in New Delhi where artisans rotate on a fortnight basis for direct sales, and an e-commerce storefront (dastkarihaat.com) selling the same product categories to consumers globally. The organization also offers annual artisan memberships providing training, design assistance, and access to its promotional programmes and bazaars.

Product overview

Dastkari Haat Samiti is a not-for-profit national association of craftspeople established in 1986 that operates primarily as an e-commerce marketplace and crafts promotion organization. The company offers a diverse portfolio of traditional Indian handicrafts and handlooms including: handloom sarees and textiles (cotton sarees, Gamchha, dupattas), traditional folk art paintings (Gond, Godna, Kalighat, Pattachitra, Warli, Madhubani), home decor items (carved wooden products, papier mache birds, wall hangings), board games (Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Chopad), craft publications and books (Crafts Atlas of India, The Little Indian Gamchha Book, Inspirations for Graphic Design from India), and craft maps documenting Indian state traditions. The organization also operates the Dilli Haat craft bazaar as a physical marketplace platform. Products are primarily handmade using traditional techniques and natural materials, supporting artisans across India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handloom Gamchha – West Bengal Weave Traditional handloom gamchha from West Bengal, handwoven by local artisans, sized 80x180 cm, sold as a multipurpose textile for daily use.
• Handloom Cotton Sarees (Various Designs) Handloom cotton sarees from West Bengal in various checked and striped patterns including Twilight Blue, Midnight Multicolor, Autumn Glow, Ocean Blue, Sunset Check, Berry Check, and Multicolor variants, priced across the saree collection.
• Rabindranath Tagore Kantha Embroidered Handloom Saree Handloom saree from Phulia, West Bengal featuring Tagore sketches woven by Ramanand Basak with kantha embroidery by Khamabati Karmakar, incorporating embroidered lines from Tagore's poems.
• Gond Folk Art Paintings Traditional Gond paintings from Madhya Pradesh featuring signature dots and small strokes depicting animal and tree forms within animistic belief systems, by artists including Dilip Shyam and Shambhavsingh Shyam.
• Godna Art Paintings from Bihar Godna tribal paintings from Bihar following the ancient tattooing style of the Paswan community, featuring cow dung-based backgrounds and black outlined drawings depicting nature motifs.
• Kalighat Paintings from West Bengal Traditional Kalighat religious and folk paintings from West Bengal, originally from the Kalighat Kali Temple area, depicting Hindu deities and everyday life scenes by artists including BapiChitrakar and RadhaChitrakar.
• Home Decor Collection Handcrafted Indian home decor items including Pattachitra papier mache birds, carved wooden boxes with inlay work, wood cutout wall hangings, tea light holders, clocks, and photo frames, priced between Rs. 750 and Rs. 75,000.
• Handcrafted Board Games (Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Chopad) Traditional handcrafted Indian board games including Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and Chopad with folk-inspired artwork, priced from Rs. 1,650 to Rs. 3,900.
• Craft Maps of India Set of 22 crafts and textile maps documenting handicrafts and handloom traditions across Indian states, developed by Dastkari Haat Samiti for educational and reference purposes.
• The Little Indian Gamchha Book Coffee table book documenting the Gamchha textile in Indian culture with 60 pages of photographs compiled by Jaya Jaitly, hardcover with pasted Gamchha fabric cover.
• Inspirations for Graphic Design from India Publication by Jaya Jaitly and Dimple Bahl exploring Indian craft design elements for graphic design professionals.
• Crafts Atlas of India Comprehensive atlas documenting Indian craft traditions by Jaya Jaitly.
• Imagining Gandhi Through Craft Collection Tribute collection featuring Mahatma Gandhi depicted through various Indian textile and craft forms produced by Dastkari Haat Samiti craftspeople.
• Dilli Haat Craft Bazaar (Physical Marketplace) Innovative marketing infrastructure conceived by Dastkari Haat Samiti in 1994 and operated jointly with Delhi Tourism, the Ministry of Textiles, and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, enabling craftspeople to conduct direct sales through temporary stalls at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi, with participants rotating on a fortnightly basis.
• Craftspeople Membership (2026-27 Annual Membership) Annual membership program for craftspeople and institutions engaged in arts, crafts, textiles, or related fields, priced at ₹4,000 per year valid from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, offering benefits including training, promotional programmes, design assistance, and access to craft bazaars.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Google Arts & CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership with Google Arts & Culture to create the largest-ever digital exhibition of Indian crafts — 52 traditions, 2000+ photographs documenting artisan communities. Images from the project have been used by the Museum of Natural History, New York, and Museum of Art & Photography, Bangalore.
• Studio LotusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Interior design collaboration for corporate office in Gurugram using 14+ craft skills.
• India-Myanmar Craft ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Cross-border craft and skill exchange connecting Indian artisans with Myanmar makers.
• India-Nepal Craft Exchange (Neighborly Nepal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Cross-border craft exchange connecting Indian artisans with Nepali makers.
• UNDP IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Collaboration on UN Day 2007 to create craft interpretations of the UN Millennium Development Goals. Also collaborated for International Year of Natural Fibres 2009 (Grass to Gold project).
• India-Sri Lanka Craft Exchange (Elephant Tales)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Cross-border skill exchange with Sri Lanka, later influencing the creation of Colombo Pola by Crafts Council of Sri Lanka and UNESCO.
• Crafts Council of Sri Lanka and UNESCOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Drew on Samiti's expertise to model Colombo Pola on the Dilli Haat concept.
• India-South Africa Craft Exchange (Afri-Khadi)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Cross-border craft and design workshop connecting Indian artisans with South African makers.
• India-Pakistan Craft Exchange (Dostkari)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Cross-border skill exchange connecting Indian artisans with Pakistani makers, fostering cultural exchange through crafts.
• India-Vietnam Craft Exchange (Lotus Links)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Cross-border skill exchange connecting Indian artisans with Vietnamese makers.
• Delhi Tourism (Government of Delhi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Joint establishment of Dilli Haat in 1994, a crafts marketplace that has enabled over 75,000 small crafts producers to conduct direct sales.
• Ministry of Textiles (Government of India)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Joint establishment of Dilli Haat, administered by the Office of the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts and Handlooms.
• New Delhi Municipal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Joint establishment of Dilli Haat craft marketplace.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Sahapedia: Indian nonprofit knowledge platform documenting and preserving Indian arts, culture, and heritage through digital content. Comparable to Dastkari Haat Samiti on heritage-preservation mission and content/IP strategy (Google Arts & Culture partnership, craft maps), though Sahapedia is content-only with no product commerce.

Emerging players

• Gaatha: Indian nonprofit handicraft e-commerce platform supporting artisans with research-backed storytelling and fair pricing. Comparable to Dastkari Haat Samiti on nonprofit structure, artisan-welfare mission, and product category (handloom textiles, traditional Indian crafts).
• Novica: Online marketplace connecting global consumers with artisan-made products from around the world, including significant Indian artisan collections. Comparable to Dastkari Haat Samiti on cross-border DTC model, product category (handcrafts, textiles, art), and artisan supply chain.
• Amala Earth: India-focused e-commerce platform for sustainable, ethically sourced products including handcrafted goods from Indian artisans. Comparable to Dastkari Haat Samiti on product category (handcrafts, textiles), ethically-sourced positioning, and Indian artisan supply chain.

Regional players

• The Crafts Museum (Delhi): Government-run museum in New Delhi showcasing Indian handicrafts and textiles with a similar mission of craft preservation and artisan visibility. Comparable to Dastkari Haat Samiti on cultural-heritage mandate, geographic focus (Delhi), and role in promoting traditional crafts.

Direct peers

• Crafts Council of India: National nonprofit craft organization working for the welfare of Indian artisans and promotion of traditional crafts. Most directly comparable organization to Dastkari Haat Samiti on mission (artisan welfare, market access, training), geographic focus (India-wide), and product category.
• Jaypore: Online and offline retailer of Indian handcrafted apparel, jewelry, and home décor sourced from artisans and craftspeople. Directly comparable product mix (handloom sarees, traditional art, gifts) and customer base to Dastkari Haat Samiti, with a more commercially scaled e-commerce operation.
• iTokri: Indian e-commerce platform specializing in handcrafted goods from artisans across India, including textiles, art, and home décor. Directly comparable to Dastkari Haat Samiti's e-commerce storefront in product assortment, target customer, and artisan-sourcing model — though iTokri is a for-profit digital-first operator.

Broad incumbents

• Fabindia: India's largest retail chain for handcrafted textiles, apparel, and home goods sourced from artisan communities. Comparable to Dastkari Haat Samiti on product category (handloom sarees, home décor, crafts) and artisan supply chain, though Fabindia is a large for-profit retailer with national store footprint rather than a nonprofit federation.
• Etsy: Global online marketplace for handmade goods, vintage items, and craft supplies. Comparable to Dastkari Haat Samiti on product category (handcrafted textiles, art, home décor) and artisan-to-consumer marketplace model, though Etsy is a global public company with vastly greater scale and a technology platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dastkarihaatsamiti
• Instagraminstagram.com/dastkarihaatsamiti
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dastkari-haat---india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dastkari Haat Samiti