India’s Kutch region is famous for some fantastic art and craft traditions. Embroidery art has been passed on over generations.
Kutch is a desert region in the western part of India. Here life is a celebration with its art, crafts, folk music, dance, and people. Each community of Kutch has its style of embroidery artwork. Pabiben Rabari from Bhadroi Village, Kutch is the founder of one of the first Women Artisan enterprises - Pabiben.com, and she is a brand ambassador of the colourful Kutch district.
Pabiben says, "It has not been an easy journey. My father died when I was five-years-old. Because I was the eldest among three daughters, I helped her widowed mother to do household works.
Source: Pabiben.com
"I did fetch water for some rich people's homes for just one Rupee. I could go to school only till 4th standard. I was drawn to traditional embroidery, which I learned from my mother, grandmother and other elderly relatives. "
Pabiben belongs to a Dhebaria Rabari community. As is customary in this community, a girl has to make all household decorations, clothing and many other things with embroidery as dowry. It meant that girls had to stay back with their parents until they are older in age because they had not finished the embroidered pieces to take to their in-law’s home. The community elders banned embroidery for personal use in the late 1990s to ease the burden on the girls.
Pabiben says that in the beginning, the village girls were not happy with the decision because they could use the embroidered pieces as jewellery and display their skills.
So, she says she found a solution to create decorative embroidery following the community’s rules.
Source: Supplied Pabiben
She invented a new art form “Hari Jari” which is a machine application of ready-made elements.
Because Pabiben used this method for the first time in the Dhebaria community, this art style is known as “Pabi Jari”.
"My husband asked me for how long I am going to work for others. he said when I work for others, neither my skills nor my name getting any recognition," she says.
"My husband asked me for how long I am going to work for others. he said when I work for others, neither my skills nor my name getting any recognition."
She soon decided to start her enterprise with the help of other Rabari women in the village. Pabiben mastered her " Hari Jari" art with passion and created a shopping bag. It became an immediate hit, and was named the “Pabi Bag”!
"I went to a small exhibition at Ahmedabad, and it was my first exhibition. There I come to know about websites. Most of the artisans had their business online via sites. I decided to have one for mine. I am not an educated person, so it took longer for me to put my business online. " says Pabiben.
She decided to use her name as the name of her site so people could get connected with her quickly.
Pabiben began her business with three to four types of bags; currently, her products include different kinds of purses, clutches and bags, toilet kits, durries, files, quilts, cushion covers, chaniya-choli etc. The Pabi Bag is the most popular product across the world.
Currently, she employs over 60 women from her village, making more than 25 designs. Her website pabiben.com is well known across the world.
She says she aims to help women become confident and empowered to shape their future, and those of their families and future generations.
Source: Supplied Pabiben
Her embroidery pieces or design has been shown in many films and is famous globally.
Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma shared a heartwarming story of a woman entrepreneur Pabiben's as a part of a promotion for their latest film Sui Dhagga.
Pabiben's vision to advance entrepreneurship among women artisans has strengthened their social and economic status and presented them a platform to be capable and independent.
Pabiben was awarded the ‘Prerna Award’ in Delhi earlier this year in recognition of her efforts and innovative approach.
She is the first female entrepreneur hailing from her region to use digital technology to reduce the income gender gap.
Aspiring mompreneur Prathiti Shah
Aspiring mompreneur Prathiti Shah
