Five years ago, Ocher Studio began not as a brand, but as a belief.
A belief that if we nurtured even one artisan with care, trust, and opportunity, it could grow into something far greater than just handcrafted pieces. It could become a livelihood, a ripple effect, a quiet revolution.
And that’s exactly what happened.
What started with just one artisan has today become a vibrant family of 60+ artisans, with men and women from more than eight villages across Bastar.
Each person carries forward a unique story, a generational skill, and a quiet pride in their hands. The growth wasn’t sudden, it was slow, intentional, and deeply human. Every year, more makers joined us. Not as employees, but as collaborators. People who believed, like we did, that craft can be a way of life.
Today, around 30 artisans receive regular, ongoing work with us throughout the year. The remaining 30 join us seasonally, when larger collections or special projects are underway, ensuring their skills and time are valued, while allowing them the flexibility to work on their own terms.
But Ocher’s story doesn’t stop at the artisans.
Behind every handcrafted piece lies an invisible but essential network of support.
At Ocher, we honour every hand that contributes, not just those who create, but those who carry, polish, package, and present.
We’ve built a team of 30+ support professionals, each playing a key role in our ecosystem:
- Woodworking and polishing teams, who shape the raw into refined
- Graphic and packaging designers, who wrap each piece in visual poetry
- Photographers and social storytellers, who capture and share our journey
- Store managers, who create meaningful in-person experiences
- Logistics and delivery teams, who make sure every item reaches its home
Altogether, we are now a family of nearly 80 people, working across multiple disciplines but bound by one mission: to make craft a sustainable, evolving livelihood.
Each person plays a role in keeping this ecosystem alive, not just preserving crafts but making them relevant in a modern world, where handmade still matters.
What’s most heartening is how this journey has empowered lives beyond just the studio. Artisans who once travelled for odd jobs now find consistent work in their hometowns. Women who had never stepped outside their homes are now independent, earning, and even teaching others. Husbands and wives work side by side, blending tradition with innovation.
And none of it happened overnight.
It took five years, one artisan at a time.
Five years of listening, adapting, growing.
Five years of building not just a brand, but a community that crafts with its heart.
Today, Ocher is more than a studio.
It’s a quiet movement, handmade, homegrown, and here to stay.
