Surrounded by dry fields and thatched mud huts, Harmada in Rajasthan, is a small village right in the depths of rural western India. It is here that Ramratan lives and works with his family. Ramratan is a leather producer making accessories from camel leather entirely by hand, just as his ancestors have done for generations. In this desert region, camels have traditionally provided many of the community’s needs from food to transportation. Because agriculture is so difficult in this arid climate, the manufacture of camel leather products is a valuable source of income for the villagers.

Camel leather is very tough and strong, lending itself well to durable items such as handbags, wallets and stationery accessories. Cushion covers and home furnishings such as seats for stools and chairs, are other popular items. Working with his brothers and son in an open space in front of his house, Ramratan cuts the leather, and ‘carves’ it into traditional geometric designs, using simple hand tools. His sisters add hand-embroidered designs onto the leather with wool yarn in a variety of colors.

These decorative pieces are then hand sewn or glued together into their final form. Ramratan regularly attends exhibitions organized by the government throughout the country to promote and sell his work. Despite receiving sponsorship from the government for these trips, he rarely makes much money, as he tends to face bribery from corrupt police officials during his travels. It is no wonder, then, that Ramratan prefers to work directly with Asha Handicrafts. They give him an opportunity to produce for the export market; something he would not otherwise be able to do.

He has been working with Asha since 1992, with their orders now contributing to approximately 30% of his family’s income. When he gets larger orders, Ramratan shares the work with other leather artisans in his village, increasing his work force to a total of 13. It is not an easy life but Ramratan can at least count on a steady income from Asha’s orders and, like many others in this inhospitable land, he is willing to share whatever work he can get with other traditional artisans.