Artisans consistently name their greatest need as access to a marketplace, one that fosters continuous wealth generation and long-term stability.
In response, Ibu Movement, together with the Aspen Institute Artisan Alliance and Bank of America, has formed the SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier, an in-depth program designed to strengthen the handcraft economy for women.
Combining capacity building grants, collaborative design initiatives, targeted marketing, and peer-to-peer leadership training, the SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier goes beyond traditional financial assistance and training. The program empowers artisans to build sustainable and scalable businesses for a competitive market.
In 2025, the SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier launched an in-depth program with ten artisan enterprises. In 2026, a resulting collection by each group will drop through Ibu’s sales channels, expanding the artisans' skills and capabilities, and celebrating the work through targeted marketing, video, and visits to the US. Ibu is thrilled to partner with Bank of America in taking each of these trusted and proven artisan partners' initiatives to the next level of success.
ARTISAN LEADER PROFILES
QUEEN AMINA EMBROIDERY COOPERATIVE, NIGERIA
HASSANA YUSUF
Queen Amina’s social enterprise supports 50 women artisans skilled in Hausa embroidery. Their team is innovating fabric dyeing techniques, enabling Ibu to collaborate with them on multiple seasons. Their founder, Hassana Yusuf was honored as a 2023 Ibu Global Champion. Read more about Queen Amina.
loomkatha, AURANGABAD, india
ARUSHI CHOWDHURY KHANNA
Arushi Khanna has revitalized the art of Himroo weaving in Aurangabad, a craft that was on the brink of extinction. With guidance from Ibu, she has dedicated her efforts to training women in this traditional technique, which was historically dominated by men. Arushi was recognized as a 2026 Ibu Global Champion. Read more about LoomKatha.
DWARAKA PLUS, BANGALORE, INDIA
ANITA REDDY
DWARAKA Plus was founded 25 years ago with a focus on revitalizing the Kalamkari tradition of hand-painted textile design. To date, DWARAKA has trained over 700 artists, many of whom have gone on to become independent entrepreneurs. DWARAKA is broadening its reach to rural areas to involve a diverse group of women and currently works with 150 women. Anita Reddy was recognized as a 2026 Ibu Global Champion. Read more about DWARAKA.
Coming Soon
Artisaga, India
Nidhi Mantri
Artisaga collaborates with over 500 artisans specializing in handloom weaving, block printing, pottery, and copper crafts. These artisans, located across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi in India, produce contemporary products for the global market.
Studio Maeve, Kolkata, India
Megha Agarwal
Studio Maeve works with 55 talented women from various communities across India and is eager to engage them more consistently. Their skills include weaving, kantha, mirror work, block printing, and embroidery. Each piece tells a story of generations of skill, rhythm, and care passed down by master artisans. Read more about Studio Maeve.
Launching Summer 2026
Tanana, Madagascar
Lalaina Raharindimby
Tanana has established itself as a robust partner in the marketplace, offering distinctive products that enhance the home décor category. This group not only impacts artisans but also extends its influence to farmers—typically family-owned farms—that cultivate the silk worms integral to their crafts. The ripple effect of their efforts is substantial. Read more about Tanana.
Launching Summer 2026
POKUTTYA FOLK ART, UKRAINE
LESIA PONA
Pokuttya Folk Art, a small organization of 16 women artisans, specializes in traditional Ukrainian embroidery. They are considering integrating a modern embroidery machine into their production to foster accelerated growth and create more job opportunities for women. This initiative aims to provide a second level of income and a broader reach for their work. Read more about Pokuttya Folk Art.
Launching Fall 2026
Sparlé, Pakistan
SAMINA & GULMINA MAHMUD
Founder Samina Mahmud, a 2023 Ibu Global Champion, brings deep expertise in fashion design and artisan enterprise. Through her previous venture, SheWorks, she built a network of 200 skilled women artisans across rural Pakistan. Her new enterprise, Sparlé—launched with her daughter Gulmina—partners with artisans in South Punjab and is expanding into Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where indigenous crafts are at risk of disappearing, creating equitable livelihood opportunities. Read more about Samina Mahmud’s work.
Launching Holiday 2026
MIA (Mothers in Action), PERU
JENIFER DURAND
MIA (Mother’s In Action) Peru works with 250 women artisans across various communities, prioritizing sustainability and cultural authenticity. The team is dedicated to continuous innovation, ensuring their traditional crafts surpass machine-made replicas. Read more about MIA Peru.
Launching Fall 2026
KipTik, Chiapas, Mexico
Margarita Lopez & Guillermo Macias
KipTik is a social enterprise that fosters sustainable development within indigenous communities across five Mexican states. Their work elevates over 200 women who specialize in traditional crafts such as backstrap loom, pedal loom, hand embroidery, drawn thread work, and natural dyes. Read more about KipTik here and here.
Coming Soon
Fair Wages, Shared Responsibility
At Ibu, fair wages begin with partnership. We prioritize working directly with women-led enterprises, eliminating intermediaries so artisans retain greater control and value from their work. Pricing is set collaboratively, with artisans determining costs based on sampling, materials, and production time—ensuring their expertise is fully reflected.
Ibu pays for production in full, providing upfront capital that supports stable, equitable income. We then assume the responsibility and risk of bringing each collection to market, investing in photography, marketing, and the full infrastructure of our marketplace. This model allows artisans to focus on their craft while we champion their work to a global audience.
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About ibu
Global Fashion marketplace
Providing a marketplace for women's artisanal goods is our most effective tool for elevating women out of poverty and into a position of sovereignty over their lives.
ARTISAN PARTNERS
A small team in Charleston, SC, Ibu collaborates with over 100 women's groups in 40 countries,providing living wages, and because of that, also self-respect, a voice in their communities, and food for their families.
CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS
We respond to the needs of women’s artisan communities through our grants program, thereby strengthening their internal capacity to grow into self-sufficiency.