AVAL

Our Story

Handmade Products Shaped With Love

AVAL, meaning ‘she’ or ‘her’ in Tamil, is a brand made by women for the benefit of women. It is a social enterprise that has come into life with the support of Auroville Village Action Group. The brand aims to empower marginalised women from varied backgrounds through skill development in tailoring and crocheting to enhance their quality of life. The profit earned from these products supports development initiatives for women in the Auroville bioregion. Each product is hand-made, shaped with love and devotion to the cause of self-reliance and self-empowerment. At AVAL, rural women meet contemporary urban designers ranging from Bombay to France to make products in an enabling atmosphere for the conscious consumersB who aspire for beauty both inside and out.

Aims and Objectives

Empower Female Artisans

To empower female artisans from the bioregion of Auroville through capacity building, skill and entrepreneurial training and sustainable livelihood.

Bridge the Gap

To bridge the gap between rural traditional crafts and urban trends.

Reflect the Culturally Rich

To reflect the culturally rich fabric tradition of India through fashion.

Uniqueness of AVAL

Flexible Timing and Work conditions

Flexible timing and work conditions to suit women coming from conservative households with a heavy load of domestic chores.

Transparent Platform

Transparent platform where the members of the enterprise are both the leaders and the decision makers.

Development Initiatives

Uses the profit earned to support development initiatives for women.

Reflect India's rich fabric tradition

Our passion for local fabrics takes us to different places in India, and we use fabrics like Kanchi Cotton, Kalamkari, Ikat and hand block printed cotton from Jaipur.

We promote fabrics made of natural fibers like cotton, flax, silk and bamboo. Elderly women winding bobbins in their verandas, wives tying up warp on wooden frames while their husbands wove the wefts into the fabric, AVAL remembers the roots of this traditional textile culture.

Our Gallery

AVAL is a very safe place for women. In my family, I was initially not allowed to go out for work. After joining the women's club mentored by AVAG, I gained the confidence to speak up for my needs which allowed me to join AVAL. Now I am one of the sample makers and I train the newcomers. Isn't it nice? In our area, women are allowed to participate in sports and cultural activities up to a particular age. After joining AVAL, we realized that there is no age limit to fulfilling our desires. Now we all express our talents and skills without hesitation. Furthermore, I value the need-based support and empowerment training offered by AVAL.

- Chandraleka, Sample maker & Trainer, AVAL

I learned to tailor here at AVAL and now I am one of the best tailors. After the death of my alcoholic husband, the income I earn here mostly goes to support the education of my children. As a single woman, I was given an interest-free loan from AVAG to purchase a sewing machine so I could work from home and funds for my daughter's education. I pray to the Almighty for the further development of AVAL so they can continue to support more women like me.

- Vimala, Sample Maker, AVAL

AVAG and AVAL are the places that made me understand myself better. I do not just stitch here; it is a place for continual learning. Outside of work I was able to train and participate in the Tamil Nadu state-level athletic meet where I took home some prizes. I never imagined I would be able to do this and I have no words to express my happiness. I am married with grown-up children and now I participate in dance, singing, sports and anything else I desire. AVAL is a great place!

- Ambika, Tailor, AVAL

To me, AVAL means "Achievement, Value, Admiration, and Love". We achieve by knowing the unknown. The work we all do here is valuable to all. In my life, my family admires my personal development which has occurred through my work, and there is mutual between us all at AVAL.

- SelvaKumari, Tailor, AVAL

AVAL contributed a lot to my development and I feel proud to be a part of AVAL. This place played a key role in bringing out my skills and helping me get to know the world around me a bit better. I would say that this place lit the lamp in my life gIving me courage and the confidence to use my voice to speak up.

- Kalaiselvi, Quality Control, AVAL