Tara Projects
Tara Projects is a New Delhi-based fair trade social enterprise, founded in 1966, producing handicrafts across eight craft lines through 1,000+ marginalized artisan families in Northern India, complemented by community health, education, and livelihood programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tara Projects does
Tara Projects (Trade Alternative Reform Action) is a New Delhi-headquartered fair trade social enterprise founded in 1966 by Prof. Shyam S. Sharma. It produces and sells handicrafts across eight craft lines — Jewellery, Soapstone Crafts, Zardozi/Embroidery, Glass, Wooden Crafts, Gift/Accessories, Metal Crafts, and Recycled Products — through a network of 1,000+ marginalized artisan families in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Its named producer groups include Khiwai Mahila Hastshilp (17 artisans), Adarsh Hastshilp Samooh (45 members), and TAJA-8 (35+ artisans).
The organization operates as a portfolio of community programs layered on top of the handicraft business. The Education Sponsorship Program, launched in April 2010 with Denmark-based Naya Jiwan, supports 1,000+ children via 10 non-formal learning centers plus 180 children under direct sponsorship. The Health Programs operate a Mutual Health Organization (MHO) covering 900+ members through a community-governed dispensary and have delivered free medicines to more than 10,000 persons via medical camps. The Livelihood Generation program extends microcredit to 250+ individuals and runs Self Help Groups, while the Environment Protection Programs focus on recycling, tree plantation, and rainwater harvesting.
Commercially, Tara Projects sells direct-to-consumer through its own website (taraprojects.com) under WFTO Fair Trade Standards, with no disclosed pricing model, no public revenue figures, and no equity funding. It is also a co-founder of Fair Trade Forum-India (representing 101 member organizations and 100,000+ grassroots producers) and of Asia Fair Trade Forum, giving it institutional weight in the regional Fair Trade movement but limited commercial scale relative to mainstream handicraft exporters.
Tara Projects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tara Projects
- Legal name
- Tara Projects
- Website
- https://taraprojects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tara Projects is a New Delhi-based fair trade social enterprise, founded in 1966, producing handicrafts across eight craft lines through 1,000+ marginalized artisan families in Northern India, complemented by community health, education, and livelihood programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tara Projects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fair Trade Handicrafts
- NAICS
- Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991)
- SIC
- Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960), Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven) (CRAKABAD)
Keywords
Where Tara Projects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tara Projects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Handicraft Product Sales: Tara Projects generates revenue through the production and sale of Fair Trade handicraft products across eight craft lines: Jewellery, Soapstone Crafts, Zardozi/Embroidery, Glass, Wooden Crafts, Gift/Accessories, Metal Crafts, and Recycled Products. Products are sold under Fair Trade principles ensuring dignified income for artisan producers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Tara Projects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tara Projects produces and sells fair trade handicraft products across eight craft categories—jewellery, soapstone crafts, zardozi/embroidery, glass, wooden crafts, gift/accessories, metal crafts, and recycled products—manufactured by marginalized artisan groups in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Alongside these product sales, the organization operates community development programs covering livelihood generation, education sponsorship, healthcare (including the Mutual Health Organization), and environmental protection under WFTO fair trade principles.
Product overview
Tara Projects is a fair trade social enterprise established in the early 1970s that supports marginalized artisan communities across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan in Northern India. The organization operates a portfolio of fair trade handicraft products spanning eight craft lines (Jewellery, Soapstone Crafts, Zardozi/Embroidery, Glass, Wooden Crafts, Gift/Accessories, Metal Crafts, and Recycled Products), supported by a network of artisan producer groups including Khiwai Mahila Hastshilp, Adarsh Hastshilp Samooh, and TAJA-8. Complementing its core fair trade product operations, Tara Projects offers community development programs including the Education Sponsorship Program (launched 2010), Health Programs with Mutual Health Organization (MHO), Livelihood Generation initiatives, and Environment Protection Programs—collectively serving over 1000 artisan families and 100,000+ beneficiaries through its network affiliations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fair Trade Handicraft Products
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 1000 artisan families have sustainable livelihood through Fair Trade handicraft production
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Tara Projects
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tara Projects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tara Projects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Naya JiwancoreEducation sponsorship collaboration initiated in April 2010 with Naya Jiwan, an organization from Denmark, working for school-going children from marginalized sections of society. The project supports children aged 5–15 years, preferably girls, to complete their basic education, covering slums in Delhi suburbs and villages in Uttar Pradesh.
- Asia Fair Trade Forum (AFTF)flagshipProf. Shyam S. Sharma, founder of Tara Projects, founded the Asia Fair Trade Forum (AFTF) as the first Founding Member and served on the AFTF Board in several capacities, positioning Tara at the center of Asian Fair Trade advocacy.
- Fair Trade Forum – India (FTF-I)flagshipProf. Shyam S. Sharma, founder of Tara Projects, was the Founding member of Fair Trade Forum – India (FTF-I) and served as its President for two terms. FTF-I is the national network for Fair Trade in India representing WFTO, with 101 members enabling over 100,000 grassroots producers.
- World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)flagshipTara Projects is committed to following the Fair Trade Standards developed by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). WFTO is the global representative body of over 450 members committed to 100% Fair Trade, operating in 75 countries across 5 regions. Tara is an active member promoting Fair Trade principles globally.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Tara Projects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Mayamiko: Fair trade fashion and accessories brand producing ethically made clothing, jewelry, and home goods through artisan partnerships in Malawi and India. Comparable to Tara Projects in fair trade principles, artisan-network production, and jewelry/accessories overlap, with a more digitally-native DTC focus.
Broad incumbents
- Equal Exchange: US-based fair trade cooperative producing and distributing coffee, chocolate, bananas, and other ethically sourced products. Comparable to Tara Projects in cooperative fair trade ethos and WFTO-aligned practices, though its product focus is food rather than handicrafts.
- Oxfam Fair Trade: Belgian fair trade organization (part of Oxfam) that sells handicrafts, food, and textiles from producer cooperatives across the global South through retail stores and wholesale. Comparable to Tara Projects in fair trade mission and handicraft scope, but operates at substantially larger scale with broader retail distribution.
Direct peers
- SERRV International: One of the oldest fair trade organizations in the US (founded 1949), operating as a nonprofit that imports and sells artisan handicrafts and food products from developing countries. Comparable to Tara Projects in nonprofit fair trade model, handicraft focus, and artisan-network sourcing approach.
- Ten Thousand Villages: US-headquartered nonprofit fair trade retailer sourcing handcrafted goods from artisan groups across 30+ countries. Most directly comparable to Tara Projects: both are nonprofit fair trade organizations aggregating artisan-produced handicrafts (including jewelry) and selling them through branded channels under WFTO-aligned principles.
- Asha Handicrafts: India-based fair trade organization producing and exporting artisan-made home goods, textiles, jewelry, and accessories from producer groups across India. Highly comparable to Tara Projects in geography (India), craft categories (jewelry, textiles, metal crafts), and fair trade mission.
- Mata Traders: Fair trade apparel and accessories brand producing handcrafted garments, jewelry, and home goods through artisan cooperatives in India and Nepal. Comparable to Tara Projects in India-sourced fair trade artisan production and jewelry/textile product mix, with a more design-forward US retail distribution.
- People Tree: UK-based fair trade fashion and accessories brand producing handmade garments and jewelry through artisan partnerships in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Comparable to Tara Projects in artisan-produced fair trade goods, India sourcing, and jewelry/accessories product mix, though more commercially branded.
- Cottage Industries Exposition (CIE): India-based fair trade organization producing and exporting artisan-made handicrafts (including metalware, jewelry, textiles) from producer groups across India. Comparable to Tara Projects in India geographic focus, nonprofit fair trade mission, handicraft product range, and WFTO-style producer-network model.
Regional players
- Trade Aid: New Zealand's only fair trade retailer, operating as a social enterprise selling fair trade handicrafts, food, and clothing through retail stores. Comparable to Tara Projects in fair trade social enterprise model and handicraft product mix, but operates in a different geography (NZ) with retail store distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tara Projects social profiles
Digital presenceTara Projects compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Tara Projects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tara Projects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Tara Projects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tara Projects M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tara Projects
What does Tara Projects do?
Tara Projects produces and sells fair trade handicraft products across eight craft categories—jewellery, soapstone crafts, zardozi/embroidery, glass, wooden crafts, gift/accessories, metal crafts, and recycled products—manufactured by marginalized artisan groups in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Alongside these product sales, the organization operates community development programs covering livelihood generation, education sponsorship, healthcare (including the Mutual Health Organization), and environmental protection under WFTO fair trade principles.
Is Tara Projects a public or private company?
Tara Projects is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Tara Projects founded?
Tara Projects was founded in 1966. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tara Projects based?
Tara Projects is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Tara Projects make money?
One revenue line is on record: handicraft Product Sales.
Who are Tara Projects's main competitors?
Mayamiko is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Equal Exchange and Oxfam Fair Trade. Direct peers are SERRV International, Ten Thousand Villages, Asha Handicrafts, Mata Traders, People Tree and Cottage Industries Exposition (CIE). Trade Aid is listed as a regional player.
Does Tara Projects have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tara Projects.
What industry is Tara Projects in?
Tara Projects's product category is Fair Trade Handicrafts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKABAD, Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven). Its NAICS code is 33991 and its SIC code is 3960.