Sasha

Sasha was started in 1973, to provide marketing assistance to craftsperson's all over India. 25 years later the not-for-profit company is working with nearly 150 craft groups in West Bengal, Orissa, Karnataka and northeast India.

Many of these groups are cooperatives formed by craftsperson's with each group having a fantastic story of determination and courage behind it. In the late 1990s there was an increase in demand for stuffed toys and tota bells, to cope with this demand several groups were set up by women wanting to find a source of income, together these women helped each other with the training required to carry out this work.

The work process of the tota bells is divided into several stages of cutting, sewing, stuffing, decorating and assembling. The cutting, sewing and assembling is normally done centrally in one place, while the stuffing and decorating work is taken home by the craftswomen.

Each stage is handled by a different person, which makes it easier for a person with less skill to start working immediately on an easier job.