Our mission statement reads like this
- ethically create as much work for ourselves and as many hands as we can
- emphasis on the work of the hand- handloom fabrics, hand block print, hand stitch
- source materials as locally as possible
- make choices that are as environmentally friendly as possible- unbleached handloom fabric, natural dyes [We use AMA HERBAL GOTS certified plant based dyes], indigo and re-cycled silks saris where suitable to the design.
- where the quality of modern sewing techniques are necessary use the best quality threads, zips etc and and our modern sewing workshop.
- promote fair pay for well produced work and educate to help achieve this
- develop work informed by traditional techniques with a contemporary twist.
WORK
both as a noun and a verb is our common interest at TSP.
We want to create good, interesting, arty Work for you to wear, decorate your home or use in your own creations.
Through our work we want to create the opportunity for others to be working with us at fairly paid rates.
We believe keeping worthwhile levels of wages going to traditional crafts people also keeps traditions alive and flourishing; we build OUR WORK on our design aesthetic, our connection to the modern market and our co-workers skills, enthusiasm and experience to produce work we hope others will find desirable.
Our Work is based on traditional methods, often utilizing old motifs with a contemporary twist, tweaks coming as we work together.
- We utilize handloom where possible- handloom is produced in villages across rural regions of India- work is hand spun, hand loomed, its carbon foot print is small. Village production allows continuance of community and we believe a better quality of life than migrating to urban situations [often slum like] in search of work.
- Handloom fabrics have soul- the presence of the maker is subtly with them so different to the blank slate of mill made fabric.
- Re-cycled silk saris are a treasure of India and we use a lot in our work.
- For machine made fabric we try to find un-bleached; having one experience of fabric bleaching and the noxious chemicals used we would prefer not to go there. We pre-wash it before we use it to manage shrinkage.
- We only use block print for our pattern making rather than screenprint. We love the slight rustic quality of it and the fact that water needed is minimal compared with the clean up from screen printing
- For printing we do love indigo and natural black and red- colours that are very permanent and do plan to utilize them when suitable to our designs
- Otherwise we use good quality pigment inks- their wash fastness we can rely on.
- Dye is undertaken by a local family of dyers and we work with them to ensure the best light fastness of the cloth possible.
- For stitch we use quality Coats Anchor threads and work all samples first to time production and ensure reasonable rates of pay are awarded.
- Finish is as important as ideals-in our machine workshop we use quality machine threads, YKK zippers and quality bibs and bobs like buttons for finishing off our work.
Our Gang
Our gang has layers to it.
- It starts at The Workshop, we have a great team who have trained up, stretching themselves and learning lots of new skills to be able to handle the day to day running of the workshop production. We have engendered an ethic of self responsibility, showing initiative and be prepared to learn new things. Team mates should and do support each other in this.
- 80% women and a small group of men who are fully with us regarding equality and training up of team members. Very pleased with the atmosphere of the workshop. Indian village culture is all about pecking order and deferring everything to someone else up the top. A willingness to problem solve and be responsible are traits the gang have found within themselves and to be admired. Big steps.
- expands to The Stitching Ladies who are home-based, live within a radius of approx 25 km from us in rural villages and we see them weekly.
- Then expands all across India– we have solid on going connections to various weavers who produce our cloth.
Here are some of our Gang, we will add more photos as we remeber.
India is rather a formal place everyone gets a Sir/Madam or brother/sister/aunty attached to their name. Not only is this polite it also sorts out pecking order and caste.
Which can cause difficulties when we are all EQUAL and working together and need to be self responsible not wait, like at home for someone further up the chain to direct us.
I, Fiona am always called Madam and I have extended that to all the gang and we use Madam/Sir with everyone….all same, same maybe a little different but EQUAL in status.
Just a little thing but over the years I have seen great benefit from it and our people becoming confident to take on responsibilities and problem solving.
We work with a GREAT GANG of people.
Production
We are fully registered for export- all the licences, bangs and whistles.
Do we wholesale?
Yes Please!
We offer generous wholesale rates to registered businesses.
Please contact us for details directly.
Our work– this is what we have to use
- We utilize handloom and khadi where possible- handloom is produced in villages across rural regions of India- work is hand spun, hand loomed, its carbon foot print is small. Village production allows continuance of community and we believe a better quality of life than migrating to urban situations [often slum like] in search of work.
- Hand loom fabrics have soul- the presence of the maker is subtly with them so different to the blank slate of mill made fabric.
- Re-cycled silk saris are a treasure of India and we use a lot in our work.
- For machine made fabric we try to find un-bleached; having one experience of fabric bleaching and the noxious chemicals used we would prefer not to go there. We pre-wash it before we use it to manage shrinkage.
- We only use block print for our pattern making rather than screenprint. We love the slight rustic quality of it and the fact that water needed is minimal compared with the clean up from screen printing. We use water based, solvent free pigment inks- permanent colours with good wash fastness.
- For colour we do love indigo and natural plant based dyes. We use plant based, natural dyes using the GOTS certified AMA Herbal system
- For hand stitch we use quality Coats Anchor threads and work all samples first to time production and ensure reasonable rates of pay are awarded.
- Finish is as important as ideals-in our machine workshop we use quality machine threads, YKK zippers and quality bibs and bobs like buttons for finishing off our work.
Your work
- happy for you to work with our existing type of supplies
- you can supply your own woven fabrics for us to manufacture for you
- We supply our designs with our label in them and a simple wash label and a provenance label with the names of all involved in the production of the garment.
- We are happy to put your label in our designs and a wash label specific to your needs BUT you will need to supply those labels. We can have them made here and stored for your orders, and bill you for the cost of making if you like
- Request link to Google Drive to see more of our designs
- Our designs will appear in our shop and other clients will have them as well.
- If you want exclusive designs please talk to us– we are happy to work with you to create designs to your requirements that are then exclusively your work.