From the time Eddy was nothing but a kernel of an idea, a core element of our business model has been to “give back.” Part of our goal at Eddy is to help create beauty in as many shapes and forms as possible. Today, I am thrilled to introduce the Eddy Aesthetic and Maati Community Initiative to all of you.
Women in villages throughout Majuli, the world’s largest river island in Assam, India, have been weaving for centuries. Back in 2020, two organizations – Maati Community and XUTA – began working with these women and the villagers to merge the weaving tradition with innovation, to empower local communities while preserving the vibrant cultural and ecological heritage of the Brahmaputra River.
Both organizations play a significant role in this venture. With the cooperation of Maati Community, XUTA (a unique thread bank initiative) began “loaning” the women high-quality yarn and paying them for their finished products. This joint initiative not only ensures financial stability for the women and their families, but also covers health benefits, maintenance costs of looms, and offers capacity-building programs. In the last three years, this effort has made significant strides, increasing the number of women weavers significantly, as well as impacting the lives of many of the women’s family members, directly and indirectly. For more details on this, visit: Maati Community, and XUTA.
My story with Maati and, more specifically, the women weavers of the Mising community in Pathorichuck village on Majuli began in 2022, when I visited India to launch Eddy and made a meaningful stop on the island. This visit was aimed at understanding the community-driven model that the Maati Community is passionately working to build throughout Majuli, blending local traditions with sustainable development.
My interest was piqued by the women weavers of the Mising community, who are skilled artisans. They create intricate handwoven textiles that reflect their indigenous identity and beautiful craftsmanship, a skill that has been passed down for generations. In addition to using their weaving in some of Eddy's collection, we are also investing in these weavers’ futures.
We are enthusiastic about the potential for further growth and impact. With the Maati Community, we recognized the need to establish a dedicated workspace for the women weavers, who mostly work outdoors, which bring high vulnerability to shifts in the weather, especially the flooding these villages experience during the monsoon season. Having a structure where they can work without interruptions will ensure a safe and productive environment.
Eddy and the Maati Community have secured a piece of land measuring 14,400 square feet from the Village committee. We are raising $12,000 for the construction of this dream workspace for the women weavers of Pathorichuck village in Majuli. We hope that you will join us in making this dream structure a reality.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and those of the community you will impact!
A little more detail:
The construction will be done with local natural materials, such as bamboo, which is abundantly available in the region. The walls and roof will sit on a foundation of concrete, which will be raised high enough above the ground to avoid flooding.
The construction will consist of two phases and will include:
1) Common working shed with 5 looms, additional workspace, and the Yarn Bank
2) One toilet (as the village has no concrete toilet)
3) Stay facility for research people and other visitors
4) Library for children
5) Yarn Shop where people can buy the finished woven products
6) Common dining area and meeting place
The design and architecture
is being facilitated by Minal Sagare Architect I Urban Designer I Researcher, Pune, MH, India.
Floor Plans Below:
