From Threads to Triumph: A Journey Stitched through Courage and Confidence
There’s a quiet strength in every stitch, a resilience woven into every seam and one artisan’s journey shows us just how powerful needle and thread can truly be. Eighteen years ago, she began crafting with a needle in hand and a heart full of determination.
"Quilt-making is my favourite,’ she shared, ’especially when I get to teach new women. It gives me confidence."
But this story isn’t just about quilting. It’s about how this craft became the thread that held a home, stitched up old wounds, and embroidered an entirely new future.
Life, for this artisan, wasn’t always neatly patterned. Her husband’s work came and went like an unpredictable monsoon, and the storm it brought often hit hardest at home. ’We used to fight a lot because of money problems’, she recalls. ‘Managing the house and educating my children has become very difficult.’ It was then that a group of women from a grassroots NGO in Rajasthan entered her village, and slowly everything began to change.
She started as a trainee, not knowing then that one day she’d be the one teaching others. ’I want people to see my growth,’ she said. ’Even though I’m uneducated, I now stand with confidence and inspire other women like me.’ From shy stitches behind a veil to proudly standing before international guests this artisan now does both with her head held high (and her needle sharp as ever!).
She describes the quilt-making process with a mix of reverence and realism. Each quilt takes nearly a month and every thread demands attention and care.’ Using old saris, she and her fellow artisans transform what once was forgotten into something strong, warm and breathtakingly beautiful. ’Most women don’t even know they have this skill,’ she says. ’But with the right training, they can make something truly special. Something people abroad are already using and loving.’
Beyond the craftsmanship, her journey is proof that freedom isn’t always found in grand gestures. Sometimes it’s in something as simple as no longer needing to wear a veil, or being able to manage one’s home with dignity and pride. ’Now, no one controls me,’ she said. ’I’ve found respect, support from my husband, and the ability to educate my children.’
There’s humour in her courage too, like when she sees women still confined to the house and thinks, ’Well, that used to be me!’ But now, she’s stitched herself into a different reality, one where she’s built a home with her own hands, quite literally.
With Shakti.ism’s support, this artisan and her community have found new ways to earn through products like Kantha pouches, bags, scarves and more. ‘I hope they keep ordering from us,’ she says.
"It means more work for women like me and more dreams coming true."
For your honesty, your laughter, your strength, and the sheer courage to share your story, thank you. We don’t take it lightly. Your work isn’t just changing your life, it’s inspiring us to rethink our own.
Support women like her by choosing handmade, ethical products that give back.
Visit Shaktiism to discover the power of what your purchase can do.
Written by Kataike Athalia Lenny