Purkal Stree Shakti

Purkal Stree Shakti is a women-led social enterprise in Dehradun and Mussoorie that has been empowering village artisans for over two decades. Founded by Mrs. Chinni Swamy, it trains and supports women in traditional crafts like appliqué, patchwork, hand embroidery, and quilting.

What began in the home of Mrs. Swamy, when she taught one woman to quilt and gifted the first piece to her granddaughter, grew through word of mouth into a community of over 170 artisans across 40 villages.

When you bring home a Purkal product, you support the women who handcraft every piece with care. Our Didis earn a dignified livelihood through steady income, fair rewards, and a nurturing workspace.

We follow a zero-waste ethos, giving every scrap a new purpose and fostering confidence, independence, and long-term stability for the artisans at the heart of our collective.

After the pandemic paused operations, the initiative was revived by former Purkal designers, now cofounders - Banee Batta, Aastha Giri, and Aiswarya Enolla Patri - who continue to build on this legacy. Today, Purkal Stree Shakti employs around 100 women, including an in-house team and artisans working from home through a micro-entrepreneurship model.

Our growth is supported by an engaged Instagram community, the organic encouragement of patrons such as Radhika Apte, Anaita Shroff Adajania, Shweta Tripathi, Mallika Dua, Alicia Souza amongst many, and partnerships with organisations like GAP, Accessorize London, Lufthansa, and Capillary.