IDS SHOP

Hand-woven Silk Scarves

(Please click here to read the story behind the scarves)

Please note that real gold and silver threads are used to make the designs on all of the scarves. Please click on a scarf to see its sizes.

COLOR	SIZES	ORDERING DETAILS
	GOLD 1.5 ft x 6 ft 3 ft x 3 ft	Please Note: All scarves are woven from raw silk and decorated with real gold and silver thread. Click here for the story behind the scarves. The cost per scarf is $30, which includes shipping and handling. To order your scarf, please send an email to prasadsameer@hotmail.com or click here. In your email, please specify the color, size, and number of scarves and please include your contact information. This is to ensure that the items are still in stock. For payment, please write your check to IDS and mail to: IDS c/o Sameer Prasad 41285 N. Point Dr. Antioch, IL 60002 Thank You!
	ROSE 2 ft x 6 ft
	Amethyst 2 ft x 6 ft
	Ruby 1.5 ft x 6 ft 3 ft x 3 ft
	Turquoise 1.5 ft x 6 ft 3 ft x 3 ft

The Story of Your Scarf

Your scarf has made a long journey all the way from rural India to your home, touching the lives of the very poor all along the way. This project was undertaken by a joint collaboration of Working Women’s Forum (Chennai) and India Development Service (Chicago) with the objective to empower poor women in rural India to increase their income, their independence, and their families’ health.

The basic raw material in your scarf is silk, which is grown by small farmers around Mysore. The silk is then processed and shipped in bulk form to Kanjipurum in Tamil Nadu. From there begins the two-step process of first separating the threads and then spooling them for the weaving. The entire production is quite labor-intensive and takes a family approximately 1 to 2 weeks to weave your scarf. You will notice in the pictures that there is no child labor involved – the trick was to increase incomes and modify the design pattern to eliminate the need for children working in the process. Earlier, some of the designs were so intricate that only small children could do the threading.

We try to ensure “fair trade.” Although it is difficult to define what is fair trade, we ensure that their compensation is above market rate. The labor rate for weaving ranges from 10 to 25 Rupees an hour (~20 cents to 50 cents an hour). Our scarves generate an estimated income of at least 60 cents an hour. Also, one of our objectives was to generate demand when orders for traditional products, such as saris, is low. The families we talked to were extremely happy about the arrangement and wanted us to source even more scarves from them. Your scarf has helped a family double its income over a two-week period, and the women entrepreneurs wanted me to thank you on their behalf.