Value Added Service Centres

KHAMIR- Craft Resource Centre’s Artisan Service Centres offer critical services and resources that artisans need to add value to their products, adhere to international quality standards, and develop a market advantage.  KHAMIR is developing value added service centres to offer all levels of Kachchh artisans’ access to raw materials, quality dyeing, fabrication, and standardized quality management systems. These services centres will be based at KHAMIR’s campus located 15km from Bhuj, Kachchh’s district capital.

Quality Assurance Laboratory

The key objective of KHAMIR’s Quality Textile Laboratory is to upgrade and benchmark the quality standards of Kachchh textile crafts.  KHAMIR intends to provide the service to artisans working in the following textile crafts: ajrakh block printing, handloom weaves, bandhani tie and dye, batik, mashroo, and embroidered textiles.

upgrades and benchmarks the quality standards of Kachchh textile crafts.

KHAMIR’s state-of-the-art Quality Textile Laboratory will:

• Test fabric, chemicals, and dyes meet accepted standards
• Inspect for quality assurance
• Audit for organic, natural, environmentally and socially friendly practices as a USP for crafts in Kachchh
• Benchmark quality standards
• Certify quality by an accredited textile agency

Its specific testing capabilities include:

• Colour fastness
• Identification and testing of dye dye quality (ie. azo free, vat, etc.)
• Chemical composition of yarn
• Effect of perspiration on textiles
• Colour composition, used to standardize for remixing
• Stain removing, washing etc.
• Water testing (ie. pH, TDs for dyeing etc.)

KHAMIR’s Quality Textile Laboratory is raising the bar

Artisans in Kachchh have been battling an image of poor quality for too long.  They lack access to information, techniques, and motivation to upgrade their production quality to meet international standards. As Kachchh artisans pursue new and niche markets, the lack of consistent quality proves to be a significant handicap.

KHAMIR’s Quality Textile Laboratory seeks to raise the bar.  Kachchh crafts can meet international standards.  Artisans can implement practices that will ensure consistent high quality production.

For more information about Kachchh craft traditions,livelihoods,challenges and opportunities, visit our Creative Industries pages or hear craft stories from local artisans.