Bihart Revives Bihar’s Crafts, Challenges Stereotypes

Why this is here: Bihart employs a network of eighteen artisans and twelve weavers, providing them with stable income and opportunities to learn new techniques alongside traditional Bihari artforms.

Sumati Jalan launched Bihart in Patna, India, to challenge stereotypes about her state and revive traditional crafts. After noticing people dismissed her Bihari identity, Jalan started a zero-waste clothing brand in 2018. Bihart creates contemporary designs using age-old techniques like sujani, manjusha, and extra weft weaving, many of which are endangered.

The brand currently generates roughly 1.5 lakh rupees in monthly sales with stores in Goa, Bengaluru, Delhi, Udaipur, and Rishikesh. Most customers come from larger cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai. Jalan works with a team of fifteen full-time employees, plus eighteen artisans and twelve weavers, though upskilling them to create new patterns presents ongoing challenges.

Artisan Ruby Devi reports increased income and stable work through Bihart, earning up to 1,200 rupees per meter of sujani work. Jalan continues to balance Bihart with her work teaching business skills to international clients, and plans to launch a new collection inspired by the state flower.