Sikkim is blessed by nature and its scenic beauty has attracted tourists from all over the world. The COVID-19 had a disastrous impact on many and the tourist- based economy of Sikkim was no exception. As hotels closed and livelihood opportunities narrowed the standard of living of many deteriorated, many households struggled to put food on the table.

In the quest to help the distraught, and after many conversations with these women, I realized knitting/crochet, which was always been a part of our local craft, could become much more than a leisure past time. As I reached out to women around, many were happy with the opportunity and agreed to come on board. Soon we began crafting crochet bags and as a trial, we used Instagram to introduce our product line under the brand name Bayul Creation.

The positive response we received was overwhelming for a new brand dealing in hand woven crochet products with such a small workforce. It encouraged and motivated us to upscale and expand the craft of Sikkim to pan India level. As our product portfolio widened and the demand for our work rose, growth potential for our Sikkimese women in this industry became even more evident.