Under brand Udaan, Sa-Ni-Sa manufactures elegant handicrafts and artifacts. Udaan
is the result of Sa-Ni-Sa’s Employment Generation Program, especially for
tribal women.
Udaan means “flight” in the Hindi language. In the true sense of the
word, Udaan is an endeavor to develop the untapped craft skills of women and provide
them with a means of earning their livelihood, thus giving them the wings and freedom
to achieve their dreams.
Tribal women are usually poorer than rural village women, but their art and craft
skills are known across the globe for their unique beauty and charm. Fully aware
of this fact, Sa-Ni-Sa has focused on training them in handicrafts rather than food
products.
The journey of Udaan has been a challenging one, since these women are most unwilling
to think about their future. We commenced our employment generation program with
training them in making Diyas. Every single aspect of the project, like arranging
for raw material, infrastructure, training, manufacturing, logistics and marketing
of the products has been a learning experience for us. The quick grasp, skill and
talent of these tribal women encouraged us to expand the product range extensively
and set up the first – ever Vocational Training Centre in Sudhagad, Maharashtra.
Today, Udaan boasts of a wide range of hand-made products such as paper bags, gift
pouches, torans, pooja and wedding garlands, door strings, envelopes, jute bags,
shoulder bags, mobile pouches, table mats, tea coasters, cushion covers, yoga and
meditation mats, jewellery, keychains, candles, decorative lanterns, room fresheners,
etc.
It gives us immense satisfaction that Udaan products are retailed at leading stores
in India including The Bombay Store and Sapna Book House, one of the largest book
houses in Asia. These products have also been received well by the corporate sector,
under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, where regular exhibitions
are held round the year. Key clients we have partnered with include Tata Interactive
Systems, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Patni Computer Systems Ltd., Accenture,
WNS Global Services Pvt. Ltd., Wipro India Ltd., ATOS Origin, NIIT, Reliance Mutual
Fund, Merck Ltd., IDBI Gilts Ltd., JSW, The Leela, etc.
Udaan’s initial success has been augmented by a recent tie-up with ace fashion
designer Kavita Modi. In collaboration with her design house, designer clothing
and accessories is the latest addition to our line of products. Kurtis, Tunics,
Purses and Handbags are designed by her and specially embellished by these tribal
and under-privileged women. The new range has been widely accepted by leading boutiques
and fashion stores in Mumbai.
Theme-based designer paper bags, envelopes, gift tags, gift boxes and trousseau
décor are also in the pipeline.
Udaan products are available, on request, at our flagship store in Mulund, Mumbai.
