Sixteen years ago, Sumita Ghose had a vision: to uplift rural artisans and showcase their talents to the world. But with no collateral to secure a bank loan, her dream seemed distant. Undeterred, Sumita approached the very artisans she aimed to help, offering them a stake in her dream. A thousand artisans invested ₹1000 each, and with additional contributions from her circle, RangSutra was born.

Fast forward to 2023, RangSutra stands tall, supplying handcrafted products to giants like Fabindia, IKEA, and Jaypore. More than just a company, RangSutra is a community with over 2400 artisan shareholders from diverse regions of India. These artisans are not just producers; they are decision-makers, actively participating in the supply chain. In 2022-23, the company generated a shareholder wealth of ₹1.43 crore, marking a 50% sales growth from the previous year.

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What to Know? The inception of RangSutra traces back to 2002 when Sumita, during a sabbatical, recognized the widening gap between rural artisans and urban consumers. She envisioned RangSutra as a bridge connecting these two worlds. The URMUL Trust and URMUL Dairy laid the foundation with their support and seed funding. Today, RangSutra collaborates with 3000 artisans, with over 2000 of them being shareholders.

Artisans like Dhinya Bai from Bikaner are a testament to RangSutra’s transformative impact. Once warned against “outsider traps,” Dhinya Bai now celebrates nearly three decades of embroidery work, with RangSutra ensuring consistent orders. The company’s model is a blend of centralized and decentralized supply chains, adapting to the unique needs of different regions.

In essence, RangSutra is more than a brand; it’s a movement, empowering artisans and reshaping the narrative of rural craftsmanship in India.

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