Hamara

Hamara has no news yet.

We believe that there are places in the world containing immense cultural wealth, from art to traditions to stories, but with health and economic wealth that today lag far behind the richness of their cultures. And we want to close that gap through a for-profit business model that celebrates their traditions, rather than mourning their suffering. There are plenty of stores that sell "fair trade" crafts made in developing countries, but what many lack is a tangible connection to the locality and the place that produced them---trading transparency, cultural exchange, and true compassion for a feel-good product with high margins and broad appeal.

I spent last summer on a service project in the rainforests of South India, documenting and making short videos about the tremendous biodiversity and beauty there. Then I spent the following semester studying in Florence, Italy, a city that has successfully preserved its artistic and cultural treasures for centuries. I've had a long-standing interests in health and service work, and these two experiences have nurtured my obsessions with travel, beauty, and culture. Before and during my trip to India, I've developed a deep love for the language, customs, and people of that country; in Italy, I met important figures in Florence's own design and style industry who've offered support and advice to my venture.

I’d like to start with a retail and educational space in New York City, featuring sustainably sourced leather products made in or inspired by Rajasthan, India. Rajasthani craft is distinctive, but what will make the experience of my business truly unique is the opportunity to try the techniques behind them—to make authentic products with one’s own hands, rather than simply purchasing them. While they do so, they’ll have a three-dimensional experience with the individuals behind the craft: hearing their tales, listening to their music, perhaps even trying their food. They will emerge, then, with a unique product, but more importantly, with a new experience and consciousness.