About Jawaja Leather Association
Jawaja Leather Association (JLA) is a constituent body of Artisans’ Alliance of Jawaja (AAJ). We are a self governed, democratic group of artisans from the villages surrounding Beawar city (Jawaja block) of Ajmer district in Rajasthan. Steeped in the traditional craft of leatherwork, we produce fine quality products using natural leather and natural colors.
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Quality
Leatherwork in the Beawar region has a rich history of over 300 years. Our fine leather products are imbued with this richness and strength of skill. The products are entirely handcrafted! From the processing of raw hides to finishing the final product, every process is free of machine use and is executed at the homes of our artisans. Natural materials like a lime solution, local ‘moonj’ grass, saltwater, babool bark powder, sunlight, and oil are used at various stages to process the hides.
Our Vision & Mission
Initiated in 1975 as a collaborative effort of professionals from Indian Institute of ManagementAhmedabad (IIM-A) and National Institute of Design (NID)- Ahmedabad, our primary goal at JLA was to create self-reliant livelihood options for the artisan community, then reeling under the effects of a severe drought and abject poverty. Today, furthering the vision of our founders, we have become a medium to revitalize the traditional leather craft of the Beawar region in the following ways:
- Creation of sustainable income and livelihood opportunities for the artisan community
- Elimination of toxic and ineffective stages in the production
- Creation of a new product line that caters to market demands by marrying traditional skills with contemporary design aesthetics
Green Initiative
From the raw material stage to the final product, the crafting process is unique to the Jawaja cluster and has contributed significantly to keeping the traditional values and practices alive. It is a fine example of sustainability, seen nowhere else in India! Advocating conscious consumerism, our leather products ethically source hides of animals that have died of natural causes. Traditional vegetable tanning methods are then used to treat the hides. Vegetable bag tanning is nearly a month-long process and uses babool or Acacia bark that lends a deep, natural tone to the leather. Jawaja cluster is one of the only remaining clusters that use this method. At every step, our highly skilled artisans ensure that quality and standards are strictly maintained. Further, steps like pattern making, sewing, and stitching, are all executed with impeccable handwork and virtuosity, giving shape to timeless and durable products.
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Certification from
The products have been certified for following authentic and genuine handcrafted processes by Craftmark certification, licensed by All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA). The products use natural materials, traditional methods, and handwork, interspersed with novel design and technical inputs, which enhance their overall quality.