Anju
Jeewan Jyoti graduate
Hand block printing & finishing
“Jeewan Jyoti gave me more than a skill. It gave me the confidence to start again.”
Our Impact
A quiet revolution, one village at a time
AKAI Label exists because of the women of Velhe. This is where they began, what they have built, and who is behind the prints in your home.
The Origin
From a foundation initiative to a label
2014
Jeewan Jyoti begins
Founded by Ms. Jyoti Agarwal, Trustee of the STL Foundation, to uplift rural women in Velhe through skilling and craft revival.
2016
The first printing table
A block-printing unit opens in Velhe so trained women can earn from craft close to home instead of migrating for work.
2019
Aari & embroidery wing
Hand embroidery and aari work join the curriculum, opening higher-value work to graduates of the programme.
2022
AKAI Label launches
Shweta Agarwal launches AKAI Label as the product brand of Jeewan Jyoti, taking artisan work to homes across India.
By the numbers
Skill, income and standing
0+
Women Trained
0+
Families With New Income
0
Villages Reached
0
Established
Artisan Spotlights
The hands behind the print
Sunita
Master printer, AKAI atelier
Screen printing & colour mixing
“I learnt printing here and now I train other women in my village. My daughters watch me work.”
From our customers
“My cushion covers arrived wrapped in a handwritten note. You can feel the hands behind the print.”
Meera R.Customer, BengaluruWhat we stand for
Five pillars
Craftsmanship
Living traditions kept alive through meticulous detail and respect for raw materials.
Women Empowerment
Sustainable routes for rural women to financial independence and standing.
Sustainability
Natural fibres, responsible processes and designs built to outlast a season.
Heritage
India's craft traditions carried forward, not preserved behind glass.
Authenticity
Every piece tells an honest story of the hands and the village it came from.