Career Opportunities for Women in Crafts

What if a needle and thread could shape not just one or two women’s futures but an entire community’s ?   In Sohag, in the south of Egypt, twenty women have turned a traditional craft “Tally embroidery” into growing businesses. They have registered their trademarks and united under a shared collective mark: Tally Shandaweil.   What began as an artistic craft is now a structured, thriving business. This video offers a glimpse into the inspiring work of women entrepreneurs and artisans, brought to life with the support of intellectual property (IP).   At the heart of it all are the women and the Tally craft, a traditional embroidery they have mastered. An artform deeply tied to their heritage and identity. Its motifs tell the story of their hometown, and today, it’s also a source of income and empowerment.   Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of sharing updates on this project, which was designed to leverage trademarks and collective marks to boost recognition of Tally in Sohag and beyond. Led by our WIPO Regional and National Development Projects team and the Egyptian National Council for Women (NCW),this project stands as a powerful testimony to how IP can drive real, sustainable change for women entrepreneurs.   Thank you to everyone who helped bring this to life. #WIPO #Egypt #TraditionalKnowledge #WomenEntrepreneurs #CollectiveMark

Over 50% of #India’s artisans are #women. But only 22% of MSMEs are women-owned. That's a massive #talent-to-#ownership gap. And as someone building a brand that works with women artisans every day, I can tell you, it’s not for lack of skill, passion, or ambition. So what’s keeping women from moving from hands-on creators to business owners? Let’s break it down: 1. Ownership vs. Execution Women often power the execution; handloom weaving, embroidery, dyeing—but the ownership of the craft supply chain usually lies elsewhere. The credit, the capital, the contracts… are handled by others. 2. Financial Gatekeeping Access to capital is harder. Many women don’t have assets in their name, which limits their ability to get formal credit. Even informal support often comes with strings attached or limited autonomy. 3. Fear of Risk (and No Safety Net) Starting a #business is risky for anyone. But for women juggling unpaid domestic work, caregiving, and societal #expectations, the cost of failure is not just financial, it’s emotional and reputational. So what can really move the needle? Not theory. Not token schemes. But these three real-world steps: 👉🏾 Profit-sharing models that include the artisan When women know they don’t have to bear the full risk alone, but still get a share in success, they're more likely to step up from workers to co-owners. 👉🏾 Visibility with ownership Brands and platforms must go beyond “featuring” artisans. We must help them build personal brands, tell their stories, and connect directly with customers; not just as faces, but as founders. 👉🏾 Plug-and-play infrastructure Give women entrepreneurs ready access to logistics, quality checks, digital storefronts, and compliance support, so they can focus on the product, not just paperwork. The talent is there. The ambition is real. We just need to stop confusing support with permission. Let women own what they already build.

I recently stumbled across this case study we produced along with Meta about Pabiben Rabari, an inspiring woman from Kutch, Gujarat a few years ago. Pabiben invented Hari Jari, a new embroidery technique, revolutionising traditional crafts. This innovation was more than a creative breakthrough; it laid the foundation for a women's collective, transforming a local art form into a global brand. Today, Pabiben's products are stocked at multiple stores in Sweden and even in the museum shops in countries like the US. She currently employs 300 women, providing them with not just income but independence. Her story goes beyond preserving cultural heritage; it's about inspiring women in her community to dream big and start their own businesses. Who are some of the women you know who are moving forward and moving communities forward together? Tag them in the comments. PS : Pabiben's story was also captured as a feature film - Sui Dhaaga by Yash Raj Films.