In Pins & Needle, the unit of change is the self-help group since our organization seeks to promote women autonomy. It does not confine itself with the traditional processes of solution providing; instead, it focuses on cooperation, capacity, and financial relations. Not a single aspect of the group is conducted to empower and prepare women for the necessary takeover of their lives, their homes, and their responsibilities from their menfolk.
The journey starts with giving women vocational training where they get to make almost everything by hand, such as handcrafts. Maya Daimaa, Shalini Narang, Deepika Singla, Pragyan Patnaik, Nandini, and Anusuya are among the experts who train the participants in this specific case.There are around 120 women that work with them and support them.Team of talented weavers who help members to develop skills on how to work on raw materials and convert them into fine craft products. It supports peer-helping and creates a culture of collaboration within a given group, making learners confident and creating group [team] cohesiveness.
Effective in this sense, members of the self-help group share in the production process once they have been trained. Every single craft maker is expected to produce objects that are totally unique, and embody the essence of their culture by customizing souvenirs, ornaments, holiday items, cooking pots, baskets, clothing, shoes, belts, bags, beddings etc. Self-employment removes barriers of organizational structure, and lets women work while fulfilling their family obligations.
Currently, Pins & Needle works through exhibition, melas, and other retail outlets including Modern Bazar in South Delhi. They are also promoted and featured on Instagram under the username pinsandneedles.india increasing the group audience. Proceeds from sales are directly filtered back into the group providing a fair wage to the artisans involved in the production process. Their financial position makes it possible for women to contribute directly for their households’ welfare and enables them increase their capacity in providing education, foods and other opportunities to their children.
The group thereby bring in the aspect of sustainability and recycling: incorporating locally available fabrics and other up cycled items and giving them out as quality products. However, it also helps in the mini mumization of the negative effects it has on the environment and build up the capacities of the community. Also, the products made by the women reach the homes, offices and public places making a joyful and cultural sense.
Hierarchical models are discouraged at Pins & Needle and the company adopts the culture of group decision making. Members get involved in coming up with various activities and that of organizing for activities as well. This type of democracy helps every lady feel that she is part of the group and matters to the success of the group.
The profits of this self-help group are not strictly monetary; they are numerous. Women need to feel strong and secure and empowering, as well as for forging friendships and fellowship with each other. Now empowered it hits their families and communities to dream and to strive to achieve. It is a triumph for the group who triumph for the power of its fight and inventiveness.
Each piece created by artisans of Pins & Needle is a message of the journey, the struggle, skill and the vision. Not only do people contribute beauty into their interiors by purchasing their products, but customers also get to be part of something more profound – the story behind the brand. Altogether, let appreciate the genius of women and strong unity of people.
In Pins & Needle, this has made it not only a style of functioning but a belief system that engenders sustainable improvement.