We are a nation that is not bound by geography, language or culture. We are unified by passion, creativity and talent. The Artisan Nation is for-profit rather than a charity. This is so we can enable our members to be profitable themselves. Click here for some frequently asked questions, or here to get in touch.
Growing Stronger
There has never been a more challenging time in the world to survive than now. Improving nutrition and health at the grass-roots level is essential. Life is more than just survival. We need to do everything we can to ensure the artisans and their families have strong immune systems.
We focus on strategies that enable women to take control of their bodies and their futures. We work with women in villages to develop innovative ways of providing them with basic nutritional and medical support. From providing the fabric for artisans to craft their own masks to partnering with local food suppliers and ensuring fresh food is delivered to their doors, as well as ensuring clean drinking water is available within a reasonable walking distance; we lay the foundations for our artisans to grow and flourish. Our priorities are to:
- Distribute face masks
- Enable access to clean drinking water
- Provide fresh, healthy food
Click here for more detail on how we do this, and why it matters.
Unleashing Potential
By giving our artisans access to services that grow their self-awareness and help them make their own decisions, we challenge culturally-entrenched ways of behaving and thinking.
When improvement in physical conditions are accompanied by longer-term investment in mental health and wellbeing, we know that aspirations are enhanced and dreams become reality. We provide services and medical resources to our artisans to sustain their ongoing personal development. Thus enabling them to take charge of their own life and greatly contributing to unleashing their potential. Our priorities are to:
- Engage a dietitian
- Provide access to psychologists
- Employ dedicated physical movement leaders
- Implement annual blood tests
Click here for more detail on how we do this, and why it matters.
Attaining Work
We nurture a critical mass of talented, dedicated women (most who have only had 1 or 2 years of formal education) and ensure they all have regular, reliable work and income. The physical and psychological security this gives is unmeasurable.
Women come to work in their own village and feel proud to be part of such a strong sisterhood. As their self -confidence grows, they learn to have a voice (in many aspects of their lives) and negotiate both within their own personal lives as well as at work.
Our emphasis is on building independence and creating certainty for the artisans themselves, their children and their families. Our workplaces focus on strong peer support networks to ensure independent thinking and confidence. We empower women to make their own decisions and to be in charge of their lives. Our priorities are to:
- Provide regular work
- Ensure individual smartphone use and proficiency
- Enhance financial literacy
Click here for more detail on how we do this, and why it matters.
Get Involved
If you can support the empowerment of female creators from developing nations, please help us get to the $9500 goal to assist just one village and directly benefit 175 lives. If you can provide more support then see the packages lower down the page.
Every dollar you donate will be directly helping female creators in developing nations. The more you can help, the more lives will be empowered.
If you are able to support this mission via one of the packages below, the following benefits come as standard to the artisans and will be enabled due to your support:
- Materials for face masks provided to all artisans for self-assembly.
- Blood tests for vitamins and minerals, with supplements provided for deficiencies.
- Connect with local fresh food suppliers and work with local dieticians to ensure each family is delivered adequate and balanced fresh food for the month.
- Annual eye tests for glasses plus purchase where needed.
- Provide a yoga teacher or physiotherapist to visit once a week for movement classes.
- Financial mentoring, literacy and access to a psychologist
- Artisan supporters are authorised to display their affiliation with The Artisan Nation.
Artisan Cheer Squad
By becoming part of the Artisan Cheer Squad you will be:
- Fully supporting the equivalent of 1 village (25 artisan workers and family that live under their roof) for 1 month.
- Directly benefitting 175 lives every month.
- Receiving 10 garments or items per month (across any range).
- Getting the ability to chat with one of the artisans about their life on a monthly basis for 1 hour.
- Reducing freight costs by 20%.
- Benefitting from annual PR.
- Named on The Artisan Nation website.
Click here to contact us and discuss being part of the Artisan Cheer Squad.
Artisan Participator
By becoming an Artisan Participator you will be:
- Fully supporting the equivalent of 3 villages (75 artisan workers and family that live under their roof) for 1 month.
- Directly benefitting 525 lives every month.
- Receiving 27 garments or items per month (across any range).
- Getting monthly engagement with clever, fresh minds from another culture, with specific reference to problem-solving and decision-making.
- Enabling washing machines to be provided to artisans.
- Reducing freight costs by 50%.
- Benefitting from quarterly PR.
- Getting your logo placed on The Artisan Nation website.
- Enabling the provision of smartphones to the artisan to share one between two.
Click here to contact us and discuss being an Artisan Participator.
Artisan Champion
In addition to the standard benefits, by becoming part of the Artisan Champion you will be enabling the following:
- Fully supporting the equivalent of 9 villages (255 artisan workers and family that live under their roof) for 1 month.
- Directly benefitting 1,575 lives every month.
- Receiving 70 garments or items per month (across any range).
- Getting monthly engagement with clever, fresh minds from another culture with specific reference to problem-solving and decision-making.
- Enabling washing Machines provided to artisans.
- Getting free freight.
- Benefitting from invaluable PR.
- Featured on The Artisan Nation website.
- Enabling the provision of smartphones to every artisan to use as they wish as they build their confidence and connection with other artisans.
Click here to contact us and discuss being an Artisan Champion.
Your Own Documentary
Imagine your own custom made documentary. Imagine Netflix, but instead of paying a viewing subscription, you are paying to keep women alive. You will watch the results unfold, month by month as you enable them to have an identity and have their voices heard. Click here to see your journey (and how we share our journey) if you choose to become engaged with us.
Hear Our Story
More Press Coverage
Read the Thrive Global coverage by clicking here.
Read the Authority Magazine piece by clicking here.
Read about The Artisan Nation Empowering Female Creators From Developing Nations on One World Herald by clicking here.
Read the Kreative Circle interview with Danielle by clicking here.
Read the feature in New You by clicking here.
The Artisan Nation was born from a realisation that women in rural villages in India (who have had little or no formal education), are just as smart as you and I, and because they don’t have an opportunity at their front door, are stuck in a subservient, malnourished, non-educated cycle. Using both their hands and their minds, combined with the support of The Artisan Nation, these ladies have a wonderful opportunity in front of them which entails breaking all of the above cycles through secure, regular work.
We also realise that fashion supply chains are changing. More and more consumers around the world want to know how the products they are purchasing impact the people who made them. They care about how they spend their money. The Artisan Nation ensures all these women and their families are well fed, well paid and, just as importantly, no longer remain anonymous. They will have a voice, for themselves, for their families, and for the world.
Nearly all of the households that the artisans come from either has no internet or no smartphones, making it almost impossible for these ladies to access work. This is where The Artisan steps in. Our on-the-ground, hands-on approach builds the bridge between the consumer and the maker.
A local Indian paper wrote, “since Covid arrived…it is a barren hellscape for artisans and they are left with a bleak future…We cannot generate business for craftspeople and the industry will need to depend on government policies.” The Artisan will not be waiting for government support to reset the compass for the lives of these ladies. We are here. Now.
We will be the largest, strongest community of women in the world. We comprise of makers, supporters and wearers. Please move into our new nation. We warmly welcome you.
Member Organisations
The following organisations are members of The Artisan Nation, providing their beautiful creativity that is enabled by your support. All units produce are meticulously custom-made. There is no machinery used by artisans in any village.
KOCO Handkits
Specialises in: Handknitting
Engages women from villages in: Southern India
Best used for: Sweaters – although the Koco artisans are handknitting experts and can handknit anything. Koco will help source the yarn.
Number of villages operating in: 5
Origins: Started because of the need to produce handknitted garments to a high, consistent standard. Quickly pivoted to empowering women to speak up and to find their voice
Website: https://koco.global/
The Cluny Sisters
Specialises in: Satin Stitch embroidery
Engages women from villages in: Southern India
Best used for: Table cloths, napkins, placemats and embroidery motifs required for cotton or linen clothing. These ladies do meticulous satin stitch motifs on any cotton or linen surface.
Number of villages operating in: 1
Origins: Started because the Cluny nuns from France wanted to occupy orphaned or girls with disadvantaged backgrounds, during the day. They sold the products they made to pay them and turned it into a business.
Karma Kutir
Specialises in: Kantha Embroidery
Engages women from villages in: Northern India
Best used for: Kantha embroidery is essentially running stitch. Running stitch can be expressed by repeated patterns, tell a story, outline or fill in any pictures or logos.
Number of villages operating in: 5
Origins: Started by a woman who was the president of the Indian Council for Child Welfare and the Minster of State for Social Welfare. She wanted to give more opportunities to women.
Website: http://www.karmakutir.in/
We are also honoured to include our latest member: Mother Crafts
Mother Crafts specialise in crocheting and engaging women from 5 villages in Southern India. The creations are primarily resort wear or for open work. The process used is faster than handknitting and uses lots of yarn. Thin cotton is great for resort wear, thick yarn is best for bags. This unit does not stock yarn. They can follow patterns and will make any requested item. The founder’s mother started working in Auroville at the age of 12 and was taught how to crochet. The money from this was used to raise the children. In 1990, the founder started her own crochet company so that she could support her own family.
A Final Word
Hi, I’m Danielle,
I care deeply about the empowerment of women, especially in developing nations. From my travels across the world and working alongside some of the most beautiful, smart and talented women, I feel extremely passionate about enabling them to have a voice.
I created The Artisan Nation after first setting up KOCO which operates as a hand-knitting production business that produces garments for the top brands in the world as well as smaller boutique brands.
KOCO is naturally a member of The Artisan Nation and I’m constantly on the lookout for new member projects and organisations to enable more women to be empowered in developing nations.
I’d love to discuss this more with you. Drop me a line by clicking here!