Okhai

About Okhai

Okhai is a non-profit organisation rooted in the Okhamandal region of Gujarat, built around the mission of bringing sustainable livelihoods to traditional Indian artisans. What began as a regional initiative in coastal Gujarat has grown into one of India's largest artisan support networks, working with over 30,000 craftspeople — predominantly women — across 17 craft clusters and more than 20 states.

The name Okhai reflects its origins in the Okhamandal coastline of Gujarat, where the initiative first took shape as a response to the economic vulnerability of skilled artisans whose traditional crafts had limited market access.

The Artisan Network

At the heart of Okhai is a decentralised production model that allows artisans to work from home or from local craft centres. This approach respects the realities of rural and semi-urban life, particularly for women who balance family responsibilities alongside their craft. Through this model, artisans earn upwards of Rs 20,000 per month, providing meaningful economic independence within their own communities.

The organisation works across 17 craft clusters spanning more than 20 Indian states, creating a supply network that connects craft communities from Gujarat to West Bengal, Rajasthan to Karnataka — each contributing their own regional craft tradition to the Okhai range.

Traditional Crafts at the Core

Okhai's range draws on more than 15 traditional Indian crafts: Ajrakh block printing, Chikankari embroidery, Madhubani painting, weaving, macrame, crochet, hand embroidery, and more. Each product carries the distinct marks of the hands that made it — slight variations in pattern, texture, and colour that mass production cannot replicate.

Several of the crafts in the Okhai range are practised by communities with few other channels to national or global markets. By actively platforming these crafts, Okhai contributes to the preservation of skills genuinely at risk of being lost to industrialisation.

Products and Collections

Okhai offers a wide range of handcrafted products. In apparel, the catalogue covers kurtas and kurta sets, dresses, sarees, tops, wraps, and clothing for men and children. Beyond fashion, the platform stocks home furnishings, decor, handcrafted accessories, jewellery, gift sets, and DIY craft kits — making it one of the most complete artisan platforms operating in India today.

Products are available through the Okhai online store and multiple physical retail locations across India, giving both online and in-person access to handcrafted goods from across the country.

Zero-Waste and Circular Approach

Okhai's manufacturing follows zero-waste principles and a circular economy approach. This means designing production processes that minimise textile waste, using natural and traditional materials with a low environmental impact, and building supply chains that prioritise craft quality over industrial speed.

This positions Okhai within both the sustainable fashion and handloom and textiles movements in India — not just as a retailer but as a mission-driven organisation whose sustainability commitments are embedded in the production model itself.

Based in Gujarat, Reaching Across India

Rooted in Gujarat and operating across 20+ states, Okhai demonstrates what a sustainable, artisan-led supply chain looks like at scale. The organisation has built a model where handcraft and commerce coexist — and where supporting artisan communities is both economically viable and culturally essential.

For anyone seeking clothing, home goods, or gifts that directly benefit the craftspeople who made them, Okhai offers one of the most transparent and mission-aligned artisan platforms available in India today.