Tega Collective Revives Lambani Embroidery

Why this is here: Tega Collective directs fifteen percent of its proceeds back to the communities they collaborate with, aiming to shift power dynamics within the fashion industry.

Niharika Elety, founder of Tega Collective, launched a sustainable fashion brand in July 2022 that partners with Adivasi communities in Bellary, Karnataka, India. Elety, a tech professional originally from Texas, began exploring sustainable fashion after moving to Hyderabad at age eleven. Tega Collective focuses on co-creating designs with indigenous artisans, currently highlighting the Lambani embroidery of the Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra NGO.

Lambani embroidery, recognized with a GI tag since 2010, uses fourteen distinct stitches and vibrant colors inspired by nature. The brand uses everyday silhouettes and natural dyes—madder root, indigo, and marigold—on fabrics like khadi and eri silk. Fifteen Lambani artisans in Bellary complete the hand embroidery after garments are semi-stitched in Bengaluru.

Tega Collective donates fifteen percent of its proceeds directly to partner communities and an additional three percent to indigenous regeneration organizations. Currently shipping to the US, UK, and India, the brand receives roughly 25 orders monthly. Elety emphasizes the importance of teamwork and community collaboration as the brand continues to grow.