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Meet Kausheya, an ethically conscious brand designing handmade silk accessories. SoLo Craft Fair sits down with founder Kavita to discuss her passion for ahimsa silk and the process behind her product range.
“I’m Kavita Rao, co-founder of Kausheya. I’ve completed a post-graduate in fashion design and clothing technology in India, and worked for a designer in India and London for almost five years.”
“After becoming a mum to a wonderful daughter, I was eager to start something that I loved. Having been born in India, I was introduced not only to the regular soft shiny version of silk but also the raw, wild, ahimsa (non violent) variety. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this fabric and wanted to share its qualities with everyone else. And that’s how Kausheya was born.”
“Kausheya is a brand that designs handmade silk accessories with its roots firmly planted in the authentic and timeless traditions of silk weaving.”
“As is often the case, discussions on Kausheya began around the kitchen table. The idea was to create something beautiful, to help heal the environment, to enable equality, to empower makers, to rediscover forgotten heritage, to reduce pollution and to create a mindful, sustainable lifestyle. We were determined to create an enterprise that promotes responsible making and mindful consumption.”
“Our products are made with thought and attention given to the various aspects of design, nature and people over the lifetime of the product. Our belief is to foster the creativity of the weavers and craftsmen rather than force scaled up conformity.”
“The colours we use are from natural and non toxic resources to ensure the products are gentle on the skin and the environment. We try to use the natural colour of yarns to reduce water footprint and pollution.”
“Our Muga silk “Wild Beau” scarf is a perfect example of a natural coloured silk scarf, the use of which goes back to ancient times. The hand block printed scarves are printed with non toxic dyes by generational artisans. We hope to create products that can be enjoyed for a long time and which leave a positive, lasting impression on the consumer.”
“As with all small businesses, the pandemic has had an impact on Kausheya. We hope our brand will emerge stronger and taller with plans to grow the collection in the near future. With each Kausheya product bought, an information booklet is included that explains how we reuse and upcycle our scarves and other accessories.”
“We would be happy to take back used scarves and give them a new life. We have also started to produce masks with wild silk which are breathable and easy to care for.”
“We hope to inspire upcoming designers and manufacturers to use wild and non violent silk and help them source the material from authentic suppliers. We encourage artisans and craftsmen to use and rediscover traditional weaving techniques.”