NEW DELHI (India): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), has launched an exclusive retail outlet under “RISA – Timeless Tribal,” a premium brand dedicated to tribal textiles, embroideries and handicrafts.
The outlet is located at the Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
The RISA Store, located at Gallery No. 2, marks a step toward creating structured market access for tribal artisans and positioning indigenous crafts in premium domestic and international markets. The project is aligned with the government’s focus on inclusive economic growth and cultural preservation of tribal heritage.
The store was inaugurated by Ranjana Chopra, Secretary in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in the presence of Sunil Sethi, Chairman, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), noted fashion designer Anju Modi, TRIFED Managing Director M. Rajamurugan, and representatives from design institutions, artisans, industry stakeholders, other renowned fashion designers and officials of the ministry and TRIFED.
Speaking at the launch of the store, Chopra highlighted the cultural and artistic value embedded in tribal textiles and handicrafts, stating that they represent long-standing traditions and knowledge systems that require sustained institutional support. She emphasised that livelihood enhancement and heritage preservation must progress together through structured interventions.
Rajamurugan said the initiative will build an integrated ecosystem covering design support, skill enhancement, innovation in products, packaging improvements, and market promotion. He noted that RISA is intended to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans while maintaining the authenticity of indigenous crafts.
As part of the first phase of implementation, seven tribal textile and embroidery traditions have been identified based on their cultural significance and market potential. These include Eri Silk and Muga Silk of Assam, Santal Cotton of Jharkhand, Changpa Pashmina of Ladakh, Kotpad Cotton and Dongria Embroidery of Odisha, and Toda Embroidery of Tamil Nadu, according to an official press release here.
Eminent fashion designers associated with the initiative to facilitate design interventions and product development include Anju Modi, Manish Tripathi, Gaurav Jai Gupta, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, and Sameera Dalvi. They will support the development of contemporary product lines while preserving the authenticity and traditional character of tribal crafts.
The initiative is being implemented through the National Design Centre (NDC), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Textiles. The project encompasses design development, creation of garment prototypes, capacity building of tribal weavers and artisans, establishment of stitching facilities, strengthening of weaving and handicraft clusters, and improvement of product presentation and packaging.
The National Institute of Design (NID), Haryana, has been engaged for the development of premium and environmentally sustainable packaging solutions for products marketed under the RISA brand.
The first phase of the initiative also includes focused promotion of selected tribal handicrafts, namely Longpi Pottery of Manipur, Turtuk Brass Cutlery of Ladakh, and Dokhra Art of Chhattisgarh, with a view to expanding their market outreach and enhancing income opportunities for artisan communities.
The RISA initiative is expected to contribute towards the economic empowerment of tribal communities, particularly women artisans, while promoting cultural preservation, sustainable production practices and greater visibility of tribal products in national and international markets.
The RISA brand was launched earlier this year to promote India’s tribal heritage through fashion and lifestyle products while creating sustainable livelihoods for tribal artisans. RISA aims to build a distinct identity for tribal products, improve market linkages, and support product diversification through design development. It also aims to strengthen income generation opportunities for tribal communities while preserving traditional knowledge systems and craft practices.
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