Tara Projects

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.

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

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

• Fair trade handicrafts
• Artisan producer groups
• Social enterprise programs
• Community development
• Ethical supply chain

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, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Naya JiwancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2010Education 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTara 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

Emerging 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=22j-RWBJNQM&list=PLDA3AF6F4BDBAD065
• Facebookfacebook.com/taraprojectsindia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tara-projects

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Tara Projects