Textiles have been handmade In India for thousands of years. Artists here have been transforming natural cotton, silk and wool into things of beauty using highly intricate techniques of dyeing, weaving & embroidery. Our creative inspiration comes from discovering these heirloom traditions and carefully reinterpreting them to make contemporary products for everyday life.
Across the backwaters of Kerala and the colorful palaces of Jaipur; from the Ganges riverbanks of Bengal and the misty mountaintops of Nagaland to the snow-capped Himalayas, we travel the length and breadth of India to discover awe-inspiring traditions of textile artistry. These artforms have been perfected over thousands of years! We are convinced that not only are these traditions worth preserving, but that they are still highly relevant today.
Travel virtually with us and discover the history and culture behind each of these traditions.
We are deeply invested in our artisan communities. The continued success of these small co-ops is critically important to the young employment-seeking women in the community.
We thoroughly vet all our suppliers and visit them several times a year. We pay special attention to these areas - safe working conditions, exclusion of child labor, fair wages, non-discrimination, freedom of employment, and right to an association (union). We only work with suppliers that demonstrate pride in the quality of their work, and share our views on societal and workplace behavior. We never negotiate price or payment terms with our suppliers.
We’ve been close friends for 20 years. We’ve traveled together, worked together and shared many adventures in India, where we were both born. Through Bloom & Give, we want to showcase the incredible textile artistry of India. Between us, we have three amazing daughters. Each day, we watch them develop confidence, learn new skills and become self-reliant by going to school. They validate our deep-rooted belief that education is a fundamental right for every girl - no matter where in the world she lives.
Anu is our angel on the ground in India. She coordinates the grassroots programs with our partners. She also identifies specific schools and villages that have an acute funding need and oversees these targeted programs.
Eric is the positive energy force that manifests much of the magic that happens here at Bloom & Give. He manages retailer customer relationships and runs the restaurant linen service program.