About the Producer
“Sevya” means caring through service; caring for humanity and for the environment we live in.

Sevya is dedicated to preserving the indigenous art forms of India by supporting the artisan communities who uphold these traditions.

All Sevya products are made with the finest natural fibers and materials. The revenue earned through marketing these products is used to fund need-based development programs throughout India, under the auspices of the All India Movement for Seva (www.aimforseva.org).

Sevya works with artisans throughout India to enhance their production and marketing capacity and preserve the traditional and eco-friendly methods of handicraft production. Sevya buys handicrafts directly from the artisan communities and markets them in the U.S. and other countries.

The handicrafts marketed through Sevya represent ancient art forms, and some products take several months to produce. These traditions stem from a culture that values inner leisure. Without this inner leisure, it is not possible to create these intricate and exquisite handicrafts. Sevya works to preserve these art forms as well as the culture that creates and sustains them.

Sevya is the brainchild of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a renown teacher of Vedanta and founder of the All India Movement for Seva. Joan Rasch and Kovida Das founded Sevya four years ago in India, and spent three years traveling extensively throughout the country, coordinating with artisan groups. Kovida is a fashion designer from India, and she works directly with the artisans to develop contemporary styles while remaining true to the art form.