When ancient wisdom and modern vitality combine, exceptional ideas result. In a 2001 dialogue in India on the erosion of traditional cultures, Swami Dayananda Saraswati proposed to attending luminaries—the Dalai Lama and the Prime Minister of India, among others—that preserving a culture through its traditional art will also preserve its traditional ways of life. From this notion sprang Sevya.

The Beginning

Sevya, the Art of Caring, was founded in 2002 by Kovida Das and Joan Rasch. Kovida was a fashion designer in India. Joan, an acupuncturist, traveled to India for its culture and philosophy. Kovida and Joan joined forces explicitly to further the idea that the traditional cultures still alive in India’s villages would be best preserved by expanding the markets for their arts.

Sevya means “that which deserves our care and our service”, which is the perfect description for this humanitarian business. From Sevya’s bases in Boulder, Colorado, and Ahmadabad, India, Kovida and Joan are able to bring to the USA these wonderful, cruelty-free products handcrafted from sustainable materials of the highest quality.

The Heart

The heart of Sevya is caring for culture, environment and all beings. Sevya achieves its goals in a number of ways, beginning with Kovida's outstanding design sensibility. Kovida lends her design and production skills to local co-ops and collectives to help them develop unique and exquisite products within their traditional art forms that will appeal to international markets. Without such support, the artisans must flee to the cities to find work, leaving their homes and traditional ways of life and hastening the extinction of traditional art forms.

And Sevya doesn't stop there in its humanitarian approach. Under the auspices of an umbrella organization, the All India Movement for Seva, all of Sevya’s profits are reinvested in the artisans’ communities for schools, hospitals, micro-finance programs and environmental restoration.

Sevya’s commitment to caring for the environment, however, goes beyond restoration. Hand crafts, by their nature, have a smaller impact on the environment. So all of Sevya’s offerings are handcrafted of the finest natural materials harvested in a sustainable, cruelty-free and responsible manner.

We are delighted to offer several of Sevya's lovely creations. The throw and scarf are handcrafted of 100% wild ahimsa silk (shown above in the spinning process.) This peace or cruelty-free silk is from cocoons harvested in the forest only after the worm has turned into a moth and flown away. The silk is dyed with low-impact, eco-friendly color and is hand-spun and hand-loomed on pedal looms requiring great skill. Sevya artisans generally weave at home between other domestic and agricultural work, taking up to four to six weeks to produce some pieces.

The Highlights

Sevya is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and of Co-op America. Membership in the Fair Trade Federation means Sevya has committed to 1) trading partnerships that accord reciprocal benefits and mutual respect; 2) prices paid fairly to reflect the producers’ work; 3) workers that have the right to organize; 4) enforcement of national health, safety and wage laws; and 5) products that are environmentally sustainable.

We commend Kovida and Joan for their dedication and selflessness. Through uncompromising quality, inspiring design assistance and reinvestment, they are helping to preserve traditional arts and endangered cultures by creating commercial viability and economic sustainability beyond their own involvement.

We’re honored to present Sevya's lovely creations. We love the fact that gifting a Sevya handcraft will directly support the environment and a wide range of worthy cultivators, spinners and weavers. And we're proud that our Sevya Wild (Peace) Silk Scarf was featured in Ecofabulous.com's Holiday Gift Guide in their Style Maven and Style Master Sections, Nov. 10, 2008.

Gifts with style and relevance from a socially responsible small business . . .