Karomi was founded in 2007 with a mission to revitalize the handloom sector and empower low-income artisans across Bengal. By championing traditional techniques like Jamdani, hand-block printing, and Kantha embroidery, Karomi breathed new life into these ancient crafts.
The heart of Karomi's philosophy lies in its commitment to authenticity. They eschewed mechanization in favor of the time-honored "hand-picked warp" technique, ensuring that each piece carries the soul of Bengal's artistic heritage. This dedication has transformed the lives of countless artisans, including Rinku Biswas and Akhil Basak, who have risen from humble beginnings to become leaders in their communities. Karomi isn't just about textiles; it's about preserving culture, fostering community, and honoring the timeless artistry of Bengal.
Beyond economic empowerment, Karomi has also empowered marginalized artisans, particularly women in rural areas. By providing fair wages and nurturing their creativity, the brand has instilled a sense of pride and confidence in their work. In recognition of innovation and quality in handloom weaving, Karomi received the UNESCO Award of Excellence for Handicrafts in 2012 and 2014.
Explore the many techniques represented by Karomi
Embroidered Kantha Block Printed Silk Scarves - These extraordinary scarves are entirely hand embroidered on silk by rural artisans in Bengal, India. First the cloth is hand block printed and afterward delivered to master embroiderers’ who apply their stitched magic. A single scarf approximately has a quarter of a million stitches that requires a minimum of 200 (wo)man-hours to make. Voila: silk cloth transformed into astounding objects of beauty aided by thousands of tiny stitches. Karomi Kanthas are a combination of intricate web of running stitches and bold, geometric prints, with each raised stitch adding a speck of color.
Khadi Jamdani Cotton Scarves - Travel with us to the outskirts of Kolkata as we visit Jamdani hand weavers. Labor intensive, Jamdani weaving is a symbol of identity and dignity and it’s so important to the Bengali culture that it’s been placed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Humanity list. That’s right: there’s a list created by the Indian government that recognizes- and prizes- such traditions with the hopeful goal that these techniques will not die. How great is that? These Khadi Jamdani scarves are a modern expression of Jamdani. They are handwoven in hand-spun cotton and dyed in natural dyes by artisans of Bengal. Upholding authenticity of the craft, each warp is handpicked by the artisan to bring every motif to life. Weavers work on ‘pit looms’ or looms slightly submerged in the ground, in their home workshops. Most weavers will follow a ‘cartoon’ sketch of the design. Unique variations and irregularities by each handweaver makes them unique and beautiful.
Handblock Printed Silk Scarves - Silk block printed scarves by rural artisans in Bengal, India. These whimsical pieces are designed to depict contemporary art, the intricate textures are created through unusual use of colors and ‘Print over print’ layering technique. Hand block printed on handwoven silk by skilled artisans, using wooden blocks that are hand cut by master block cutters with a focus on sustainability.
