If you look closely you will feel that the energy particles of inspiration are spread all around us. The rising sun, a calm lake, the sinking moon are many such countless things, places and people who are writing stories of inspiration. Today’s story is of such an inspirational woman who has changed the lives of many women artisans with thread embroidery. Pabiben Rabari , Who is the founder of Pabiben.com, gave birth to this first firm of women artisans based in Kutch, Gujarat.
Pabiben comes from Bhadroi, a village in Anjar taluka of Kutch. Her father died when she was five years old. At that time her mother was going to have a third child and at that stage she used to work as a laborer to feed her children. Pabiben did not take long to understand his mother’s struggles.
Pabiben explains – “I left school after class four because we did not have the ability to get more education than this. When I was ten years old, I started going to work with my mother at people’s homes. We were used to fill water in the houses and for that we used to get only one rupee. After some time I learned traditional embroidery from my mother. “
The Pabiben tribal community comes from Dhebaria Rabari, who are known for traditional embroidery. There is a custom in this community that girls embroider clothes and take them to their in-laws’ dowry. A garment is ready in a month or two. This meant that they would have to live in their parents’ home for 30-35 years to make clothes for dowry. To eliminate this problem, the elderly people of this community have decided that they will not use embroidery for their own sake.
In 1998, Pabiben joined the Rabari Mahila community, which was funded by an NGO. She wanted that this art should not end and the rules of the community should not be disturbed. So they Green brocade , Which is a machine application done on readymade garments like trim and ribbon. After working here for six-seven years, he started making designs on cushion covers, quilts and clothes for which he used to get Rs 300 a month.
Pabiben was married when she was 18 and it was from here that her life began to change. Some foreigners came to see their wedding. He saw the bags made by him, he liked them very much. Pabiben decided to give them this bag as a gift. The bag they carried came to be known as Pabi Bag and it later became an international hit.
Kenfolioz In a special conversation with Pabiben, she says that her husband also praises her work and encourages her to do better for the women of the village. Five years later, Pabiben took another step. He started participating in exhibitions and further enhanced his skills. She became more fearless than before and filled with confidence. After some time they started working with the women of the village and then Pabiben.com Was born His first order was Rs 70,000, which was received from Ahmedabad. Later, he also got a grant from the Gujarat government.
Today, Pabiben’s team consists of 60 women artisans and they make around 25 types of designs. His website has a turnover of Rs 20 lakhs. He was awarded the Janaki Devi Bajaj Award for Rural Entrepreneur in 2016. His made bags are seen in many Bollywood and Hollywood films. Pabiben also helps other women in her village to become self-reliant.
Pabiben is ideal for all women who want to do something different in life. He changed the lives of many Rabari women, made them self-sufficient and at the same time earning family members. His website pabiben.com has also become internationally popular. She wants Pabiben.com to reach the goal through which at least 500 women can become self-sufficient.
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