BENPANI means a girl’s best friend.
For us, that idea begins not with the customer, but with the women artisans who make every piece possible.
Handcrafted products often speak of tradition, skill, and heritage. What is spoken about far less is the everyday reality of the women behind them. At BENPANI, the brand is built around those real lives, not separate from them
The meaning of BENPANI is not symbolic. It shapes how we work. Through trust, consistency, and long-term partnerships, we choose to stand beside the women who create our products, ensuring their work is seen, valued, and sustained.
Challenges Faced by Women Artisans in India
Women artisans across India face systemic challenges that have little to do with talent and everything to do with structural inequality.
The handicraft and handloom sector employs millions across the country, and women form its backbone. Over 55 per cent of India’s artisan workforce is made up of women, particularly in rural and home-based craft clusters. Despite this, the sector remains largely informal, with limited protection around wages, contracts, or continuity of work.
Income levels reflect this imbalance. In many cases, women artisans earn only 10 to 20 per cent of the final retail value of a product. Daily earnings often fall below living wage benchmarks, even though the work demands years of skill, precision, and cultural knowledge.
Several factors contribute to this gap:
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Many women are underpaid, despite long hours and specialised craftsmanship
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Their labour remains invisible, with little recognition or credit as makers
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Middlemen take a disproportionate share of margins, leaving artisans with minimal earnings
Work is often irregular. Orders arrive in bursts and disappear just as quickly. Payments are delayed or unclear. This instability affects not only income but also confidence, long-term planning, and the ability to sustain craft traditions across generations.
Why Consistent Work Matters
For women artisans, consistency is as important as fair pay.
When work is steady, artisans can plan household expenses, invest in better tools, and train younger members of their families. Predictable income allows them to continue practising their craft instead of abandoning it for temporary or unskilled labour.
A sustainable craft ecosystem depends on continuity, not one-time sourcing.
How BENPANI Works With Women Artisans
True to the meaning of its name, BENPANI aims to be reliable and present, much like a trusted friend.
The brand focuses on:
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Offering steady and repeat work, not sporadic orders
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Paying fair and transparent rates, agreed upfront
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Maintaining clear timelines and reliable payments
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Reducing dependence on exploitative intermediaries
This approach allows women artisans to work with security and dignity while maintaining consistent quality and craftsmanship.
Fair Pay Is Not a Favour
Paying artisans fairly is not charity. It is respect.
When women artisans are treated as professionals, paid on time, and trusted with consistent work, the impact is visible. Confidence grows. Quality improves. Craft traditions strengthen instead of fading.
At BENPANI, artisans are not background contributors. They are central to the brand’s identity and values.
Craft That Supports Real Lives
Every BENPANI product carries more than material value. It carries time, skill, and livelihood.
As the brand grows, its responsibility grows with it. Ethical craft is not a claim. It is a commitment rooted in how the brand chooses to work every day.
Supporting women artisans means building systems that reflect trust, consistency, and care, much like the meaning behind the name BENPANI itself.
