Earthen Tunes Designs

Imagine toiling under the scorching sun or trudging through muddy fields, day in and day out. For countless farmers, this is their reality. But what if a simple pair of shoes could change their lives? Three young innovators from the NID, Nakul Lathkar, Vidyadhar Bhandare, and Santosh Kocherlakota, saw this very need and took action. They spent months living alongside farmers in the harsh conditions of Maharashtra, understanding their challenges firsthand. “While working under the hot sun, or in a sloshy field, all the farmers used to walk barefoot. This not only caused deep cracks in their feet but also made them prone to fungal infections and snake bites,” says Santosh. Determined to find a solution, they tested 15 natural fibres before discovering Deccani wool, traditionally used for “magic blankets” known to adapt to weather conditions. This wool became the foundation of Earthen Tunes, a Hyderabad-based social enterprise launched in 2019 to craft sustainable, water-resistant shoes for farmers. These mud-proof, sunlight-resistant shoes are durable, antimicrobial, and require minimal maintenance. Earthen Tunes sources wool from pastoralists in the Deccan, Himachal Pradesh, and Kutch, supporting livelihoods and preserving a 1,500-year-old craft. Through partnerships with NGOs and corporates and their ‘Buy a Pair, Give a Pair’ initiative, they’ve already provided over 6,000 farmers with protective footwear. Read more about this innovative shoe that's changing the lives of farmers : https://buff.ly/3UGnlcl Earthen Tunes Designs #farmerfootwear #socialimpact #DeccaniWool #empoweringfarmers #EarthenTunes [farmer footwear, Deccani wool, community impact, empowering farmers, innovation] 

Empowering Rural Women through Sustainable Product Development-part 1 Earthen Tunes Designs in collaboration with Woxsen University recently concluded a -day workshop (17th - 24th September 2024) in Udapudi, Bagalkot, Karnataka, focusing on sustainable product development using indigenous wool. Organized by Future Greens NGO and supported by the Centre for Pastoralism, this workshop aimed at empowering rural women’s SHGs. This experience was special for our Earthen Tunes Team . While we’ve conducted SHG trainings before, this was the first time we spent significant time with SHGs in a remote part of Karnataka, where we collaborated to create unique woolen footwear, despite language barriers. SHGs Involved: -Rukmini Greens SHG -Yamuna Greens SHG -Kanaksree Women's SHG -Radhakrishna Women's SHG -Banashankari Women's SHG Activities Conducted: -Hand Carding: Learning to process raw wool. -Yarn Making: Creating strong, durable yarns. -Felt Making: Developing products like wool liners and shoes. Success Story: Overcoming caste-based taboos and initial skepticism was deeply rewarding. The community embraced the process and enjoyed making the footwear. Our families also joined, and it was fulfilling to see the interaction between them and the women in the SHGs. Even the men from the Kuruba community participated, trying on the woolen footwear for the first time. Products Developed: -From Carded Wool: Deccani wool liners for packaging and hand-felted shoes. -From Yarn: Durable yarns. -From Felt: Indoor and outdoor footwear. Impact: This workshop provided valuable skills, helping women produce marketable products and achieve financial independence. By utilizing local resources like Deccani wool, this initiative also fostered sustainable practices. The economic benefits will support not only the women but their wider communities. Dr Balu Athani IITM Incubation Cell IITM Research Park Tamaswati Ghosh Ashok Jhunjhunwala Reema Saha Woxsen University Adity Saxena, PhD Nakul Lathkar Vidyadhar Bhandare #earthentunes #Empowerment #Sustainability #SkillDevelopment #WomenEmpowerment #CommunityImpact #RuralIndia #ERS

Exciting news! 🎉 Our best-selling YAAR shoes are now just a click away on Amazon! Perfect for all your travels, from city streets to mountain peaks. Grab your pair today! 🌍👟  #YAAROnAmazon #TravelWithYaar #AdventureReady #ComfortInEveryStep #Sustainability #SustainableFashion #WoolShoes #YAARshoes #EarthenTunesDesign