A Joyful Reunion

MARKETPLACE'S ARTISAN DAY COMES ALIVE ONCE AGAIN

Each spring, the talented women who create the hand-embroidered clothing in our catalog look forward to Artisan Day, a gathering of MarketPlace's twelve women-run cooperatives. After a hiatus due to COVID, Artisan Day returned in all its splendor this past May. Over 200 women, dressed in colorful sarees and with flowers in their hair, greeted each other with huge smiles and filled the room with energy. The highlight of the day was when each cooperative took the stage to perform its own choreographed dance, honoring the group's values and identity.

Witnessing all this, I was reminded how far MarketPlace has come in the four decades since its launch in the slums of Mumbai. The artisan cooperatives have become far more than workplaces: today they are a source of friendship and support--safe places where women can be themselves, celebrate accomplishments, and increase self-confidence. The positive energy of Artisan Day reminds me of what MarketPlace is all about: providing women with dignity, not charity.