About Charaka Women

Charaka is a women's co-operative society situated at Bhimanakone Village on the Western Ghats of southern India. It produces beautiful, handcrafted, naturally dyed cotton handloom garments that are sold in Bangalore, Mysore, Dharwad and Shimoga under the brand name DESI. In September, we raised Rs.5,00,000 as a first round of working capital for Charaka, which was utilised completely to purchase yarn. This second loan will be utilised as working capital, to purchase the ingredients required to naturally dye the garments, and to make payments to staff. Charaka is growing at a phenomenal rate of 25 percent per year and is sustained through its own profits. What’s unique about Charaka is its focused attention on cost-effective production. Some of its natural products have become as inexpensive as chemically dyed ones.