The Khushbu Project started in 2011 as an educational program to serve migrant women and their families in an urban village within the megacity of New Delhi. What started as literacy training quickly expanded to include jewellery making, self-help savings groups, forums on social justice, and after school tutoring for children.

These activities enabled women and their children to learn new skills, develop social support, and understand basic human rights. Over the years, Khushbu has evolved into a socially responsible business that is committed to ethical and just practices that positively impact our artisans, their families, their community, and the environment.

Khushbu seeks to transform the lives of individuals and whole communities through job creation and skill development for the migrant population of India's urban villages, while creating unique, hand-made products for the socially responsible buyer.

We believe that every person is creative and capable of adding value and beauty to our world. At Khushbu, our women are trained to develop true artisanal skills, while receiving better-than-fair wages in a safe environment to create premium, block printed, hand-stitched products. 

Our Team

Victoria

Victo is the heart and soul of Khushbu. For seven years, she ran the business as a sole proprietorship. She is an invaluable member to the company and has the love and respect of each of our artisans. Though she manages the day to day tasks at our workspace, you will often find her traveling around Delhi, looking through piles of fabric and leather or making her own candles to sell!

Jennifer

Jen is the international relations director and works with our wholesale buyers. She helps the design-to-sample production process become a reality. With a background in medicine, don't be surprised to find her giving a friend stitches on her couch at any time of the day or night. In her spare time, she loves sightseeing around Delhi with her three boys in auto rickshaws.

Peter

Pete is the creative director of Khushbu and loves coming up with new ideas for products. You will find him sketching ideas for designs or shopping for raw materials in Old Delhi. When he's not at work, you can find him recording music in his home studio or wrestling with his three boys.

Ajay

Ajay is our master artisan and is skilled in every area of our product creation. Trained in block-printing and leather work, he is the one that listens to our ideas and magically brings them into reality. Ajay understands the vision to empower women at Khushbu and has trained nearly every woman that has come through our doors. We are so proud of the way he carefully and skilfully creates and teaches others to do the same.

Rani

Rani is the team member who always has something entertaining to say. She brings so much joy to our group. She is skilled in making tea towels, napkins, and totes. If she's not at Khushbu, it's likely because she's making a delicious meal for a family member or neighbor.

Poonam

Poonam and Rena are best friends and you will often find them working together, catching up on life and family business. Poonam has steady hands and an even steadier heart. She is filled with care in all that she does, whether putting the finishing touches on a toiletry bag or loving on a neighbor in need.

Neeraj

Neeraj learned to sew at Khushbu several years ago, but only recently developed a deep desire to push herself to do the more complicated work of making our leather bags and computer sleeves. She is a born encourager and loves to see other people succeed. We can't imagine Khushbu without her!

Rena

Rena has been with Khushbu for the past 8 years. She is wise and careful-always ready with a listening ear. She was one of our first women to venture into sewing our leather bags. She has a keen eye for detail and uses that gift to craft our beautiful bags perfectly.

Bhagwanti

Bhagwanti was introduced to Khushbu through an afterschool program that her children attended. She was grateful that her children were receiving tutoring, but she also desired to learn a skill to help support her family. She quickly learned how to sew and is our main tea towel maker. Bhagwanti’s son is the first of our employees’ children to attend college. We are so proud of her sacrifice to provide a better future for her kids.

Sudha

Sudha was one of the first ladies trained at Khushbu in the art of block printing. Since it is a male-dominated vocation, many women shy away from learning this technically (and physically) difficult art. But Sudha fell in love with the craft and desired to learn in order to send her children to an English medium school. She is our first full time female block printer and has paved the way for other ladies to be trained in this area.

Ranjana

Ranjana recently joined Khushbu after her neighbor Rena (see above) told her that we were looking for ladies to train. She said that this was the opportunity that she was looking for and was so excited to get to work. She has become a fast friend to all and an even faster learner!

Vikas

Vikas was hired during the first COVID lockdown and has quickly become a part of the Khushbu family. He is our supplementary block-printer and has begun to master the skill in a thoughtful and consistent way. He is always quick to serve the other artisans with chai and samosas. His easy laughter brings joy to everyone.