“Bodices | Honeycomb Stitch | Smocker’s Knot | Needlework | Stem Stitch | Jumpsuits | Cable Flowerette | Trellis Stitch | New-born frocks | Vandyke Stitch ”

— Our Seamstresses —

An informal forum that was created in 1984 for the interaction of wives of plantation staff.
The community of women was formed to suggest and provide direction and knowledge for economic fulfilment, by pursuing a craft and was to serve as a beacon of encouragement and self-help for the women of the plantation community.  

estd.1994

The women began stitching what came to be known as sprayer coats back in the day. The community was approached with the request to stitch laundry bags for the Taj Group of Hotels a few years later. A local seamster was engaged to guide and direct the women to achieve the expected quality and numbers.

Today 10,000 laundry bags are stitched every year. 

Our Story

Our work today …

 
 In 1994, Disha - the Seamstresses United by Srishti was founded when the need to evolve and create something more with their passion for stitching arose. Smocking is a technique of embroidery much cherished by Mrs. Ratna Krishnakumar, the Managing Trustee of Srishti Trust. During her trips to Munnar, she has  spent much time in sharing her immense personal knowledge of the techniques with the group of seamstresses. Books on smocking, from all over the world, line the workroom shelves at Disha. Frocks for new-borns to five year old girls are stitched and carefully selected smocking patterns are embroidered onto them.