EMPOWERING WOMEN: THE LADY BAMFORD FOUNDATION

This International Women’s Day we are honouring our Founder, Carole Bamford and highlighting her charitable work through The Lady Bamford Foundation (LBF).  

Together with Nila House in Jaipur, LBF works to preserve India’s heritage crafts - empowering women to use their traditional skills to gain financial independence.  

By equipping them with the skills and resources they need, economic independence has been achieved by over 6,000 women via community led initiatives, creating lasting change. 

SUPPORTING HERITAGE AND CRAFT TRADITIONS

Working with over 300 women across Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Nagaland; Nila safeguards traditional embroidery techniques such as Soof, Pakko and Kantha – skills passed down through generations as a legacy of culture and storytelling. By providing training, design intervention, and market access, we ensure that these artisans can sustain themselves while keeping these precious crafts alive.

“Every stitch has a story” says Lady Bamford of the Nila collection. “Every piece carries the heritage of the craftsperson who created it. The work we do at Nila is about more than simply producing garments and home products. It is a celebration of a community of artisans.”

Explore Bamford’s current collection with Nila, celebrating these traditional Indian craft techniques, reimagined in contemporary styles. 

THE MALIKPUR STORY: REVIVING A WEAVING LEGACY 

Malikpur, once a thriving hub of traditional weaving, has seen its craft gradually decline in recent years, forcing many artisans to seek alternative livelihoods.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, LBF became aware of the downturn and launched a project to revive the art of handweaving. 

On visiting the village of Malikpur, we found two elderly women still skilled in the art of hand spinning. In 2021, we encouraged them to train others, sowing the seeds of a revival.

Today, LBF proudly works with 120 women who have been trained in the traditional art of spinning. Through our initiative they have also developed expertise in natural dyeing, indigo cultivation, and the extraction process, helping to establish a local, self-sustaining circular economy. One where skills can be once again passed from mothers to daughters. This initiative not only restores a fading tradition but also provides economic opportunities and empowerment for the women of Malikpur, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of craft and sustainability.