Our Brand
Sevya is a Fair Trade company that works with artisan
cooperatives throughout India to develop contemporary
styles that showcase their traditional and eco-friendly
methods of handcraft--including hand-loom, blockprinting,
tie-dye, and embroidery.
Our collection of scarves, shawls, apparel, and jewelry
are made with the finest natural materials and each
piece is truly a work of art. Sevya is a proud member of
the Fair Trade Federation.
Using traditional craft techniques ensures that our
pieces are eco-friendly and allows our artisans to live in
their villages and maintain their culture, without having
to commute to urban areas.
Founded in 2002
Based in Charleston, SC
Our Story
Joan Rasch and Kovida Das are the co-founders of
Sevya. Kovida is a fashion designer from India who
spent years running her own fashion design academy,
and Joan is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine.
Their spiritual teacher, Swami Dayananda Saraswati,
asked them to start Sevya to help the artisan
communities in rural India. Joan & Kovida traveled for
two years throughout rural India and developed fair
trade partnerships with artisan communities in each
region. They began bringing suitcases of handicrafts to
the US and having chai tea parties with friends and
family members to sell the hand-crafted items. Their
designs sold quickly, which inspired them to open three
retail stores under the Sevya name. The business
eventually evolved into a wholesale and ecommerce
business that supports hundreds of artisans in India.
Our Designs
Our artisans are involved in every step of creating our
designs. For our hand-woven scarves for example, no
electricity is used for any stage of the production, and
different artisans are involved in each stage—from
spinning the yarn, dyeing the yarn, setting the looms,
weaving, and hand-braiding the tassels at the end of the
scarves. The artisans use centuries old techniques that
are passed on from generation to generation, and it
requires great skill, knowledge, and care.
Many of the Muslim women who do the handembroidery
for our cotton tunics are not allowed to
leave their homes. This fair trade work gives them a way
to earn and save money for themselves and their
children. It also helps the women to gain more
confidence and standing in their families and their
communities, and this ultimately creates great changes
at a grassroots level.
Contact
We are looking for Editors, Bloggers and Influencers
who are passionate about the mission behind Sevya.
How can we work together?
- Feature our Designs
- Interview our Founders
- Host a Giveaway
- Offer a Discount
Contact Us:
Joan Rasch
joan@sevya.com
www.sevya.com
Instagram: @SevyaHandmade