KHAMIR

KHAMIR (Centre for Kachchh Heritage, Arts, Music, Information and Resources) works to strengthen and promote the rich and diverse artisanal traditions of the Kachchh region in Gujarat. The name KHAMIR stands for Kachchh Heritage, Arts, Music, Information and Resources. In the local Kachchhi language, khamir signifies intrinsic pride, while in Hindi it means to ferment, a metaphor that reflects the continuous exchange of ideas, creativity, and collaboration that defines the organisation’s work.

KHAMIR was initiated as a joint effort of the Nehru Foundation for Development and Kachchh Nav Nirman Abhiyan (KNNA). It was formally registered in 2005 as a Society and Public Charitable Trust. Over the years, it has emerged as a nationally recognised institution working at the intersection of crafts, culture, livelihoods, and sustainable development.

Vision and Approach

KHAMIR envisions a vibrant and sustainable Indian craft sector in which artisans, their knowledge systems, and their cultural expressions are valued, respected, and economically viable. It believes that crafts are not merely products, but living traditions rooted in community, ecology, identity, and intergenerational knowledge.

Its approach emphasises dignity of labour, democratic participation, and long-term engagement with artisan communities. KHAMIR seeks to strengthen both cultural continuity and economic resilience by combining traditional skills with contemporary design, market understanding, and sustainable practices.

Areas of Work

KHAMIR works across the spectrum of traditional and contemporary crafts, cultural heritage, and allied creative practices, with a strong focus on the Kachchh region. Its programmes include craft revival and documentation, skill development and training, design and product development, livelihood support, and promotion of environmentally responsible production processes.

It also works to strengthen artisan institutions, cooperatives, and producer groups, enabling artisans to engage more effectively with markets while retaining control over their craft traditions.

A Platform for Collaboration and Exchange

One of KHAMIR’s defining features is its role as a shared, inclusive space where artisans, designers, researchers, students, buyers, and cultural practitioners come together. It functions as a platform for dialogue, experimentation, and collaboration, fostering mutual learning across disciplines and generations.

KHAMIR actively works to shift consumer perceptions and increase appreciation for handmade, locally rooted crafts by highlighting their cultural, social, and ecological value.

Crafts, Culture and Sustainable Livelihoods

By linking heritage conservation with livelihood generation, KHAMIR demonstrates how cultural preservation can contribute to sustainable local economies. Its work supports artisans in strengthening income security while preserving traditional knowledge systems that are closely tied to local environments and natural resources.

KHAMIR’s programmes contribute not only to artisan livelihoods, but also to cultural continuity, community pride, and regional identity.