Vystrit: Leading The Change with Ethical Design & Women Empowerment

November 4, 2024
By: Yukti Kasera
SUCCESS STORIES

Sustainable & stylish, decor products with impeccable aesthetic qualities can make the space look interesting and appealing. With a vision to create something distinctive & unique, Vystrit was established.

Founded by Saumya Kashyap, an engineer by education and an artist at heart, Vystrit is shaped by her desire to blend art with everyday living. Over the years, Saumya delved into various artistic pursuits including handcrafting designer candles, pottery, painting, and professional photography. Her diverse learning laid the foundation for her journey into handcrafted decor.

She wanted to create pieces that not only beautify spaces but also carry cultural and emotional significance. Her idea was to use sustainable materials known for their longevity, involve local artisans to bring the cultural imprint, and use mixed media to express emotions. This led to her experiment with using textile weaving on natural cane- creating truly unique pieces for contemporary homes.

Additionally, Saumya’s personal mission to empower women from grassroots communities played a crucial role in Vystrit’s foundation. Following the concept of women empowerment, she trains women artisans, most of whom were previously domestic workers, to become skilled in textile art, weaving, and other crafts. This social impact initiative is a cornerstone of Vystrit's identity, blending art, sustainability, and community development into the brand's ethos. Prashant, inspired by this mission, joined Saumya to further amplify their social and environmental impact through meaningful, art-driven designs.

Vystrit embodies a unique amalgamation of artistic expression, sustainability, and social impact. The vision of the brand is to produce sustainable decor that serves as a fusion of traditional artistry and contemporary design- transforming functional home pieces into stunning works of art. Here’s a special conversation of Building Material Reporter with Team Vystrit that reveals facts about the brand that’s worth admiring.

What inspired you both to focus on sustainable designs?

There is a growing awareness of environmental degradation, and it has led to a social consciousness that wants to create an equitable global economy while pushing for innovative, ethical options for modern living.

We have a strong motivation to improve both environmental outcomes, women empowerment, and the lives of people involved in the process. With that mission to support local communities and promote ethical production processes, working towards the health and well being of everyone involved.

Focusing on sustainability also challenges us to be unique and opens up a world of creative possibilities. There is a considerable shift in consumer demand. There was no better time than today to focus on sustainable designs.

What’s setting Vystrit different in the decor industry and what are the unique features?

Vystrit differentiates itself through its artistic focus on decor and furniture, handcrafted exclusivity, eco-conscious materials, social impact initiatives, and original designs. These factors collectively create a unique offering in the decor industry.

Detailing it out, here’s what sets us apart:

Fusion of Art and Functionality: Vystrit combines art with everyday functional items, especially furniture. This fusion creates pieces that are not just decor, but also artistic expressions. This approach appeals to those looking to incorporate high-end, distinctive art into their living spaces.
Handcrafted and Unique Designs: All products are handcrafted by artisans, and no two pieces are identical. We integrate traditional craftspersonship with modern designs, giving our pieces a timeless quality
Sustainability Focus: Vystrit is deeply committed to sustainability in interior design. It uses ethically sourced, recyclable, long-lasting materials. This aligns with the increasing demand for eco-friendly products in interior design
Empowering Women Artisans: Vystrit’s production is driven by an all-women team of artisans, all of whom come from grassroots backgrounds. The brand offers these women training and flexible working conditions, ensuring women empowerment. This focus on social responsibility is a significant part of Vystrit’s ethos, setting it apart from more conventional decor brands
Originality and Artistry: Vystrit designs, manufactures, and sells all products in-house, ensuring obsessive attention to detail and a high level of craftsmanship.
Lastly, limited edition art collections designed by founder Saumya Kashyap add an element of rarity and luxury to the brand.

Can you mention some challenges that you faced while establishing Vystrit?

Establishing Vystrit, like any entrepreneurial journey, came with several challenges. As far as we know, Vystrit is currently pioneering the commercial production of mixed textile art on natural cane, a relatively new concept in the decor industry.

This uniqueness brought two challenges together- finding artisans who could do this, and explaining this value to the customers. One of the key challenges that we faced was building a skilled team of women artisans from grassroots communities. Most of these women were previously employed as domestic workers with little to no experience in textile art or weaving. Training them in these artisanal skills took time, effort, and resources. Overcoming this hurdle was crucial for creating the brand's handcrafted, unique products.

Creating Awareness for the product and its uniqueness was another concern. This was overcome by creating an experience store in Bangalore along with large installations in office lobbies so that architects, home owners and curators could experience our products easily.

Another challenge was maintaining artistic and sustainability standards across our product lines. We brought everything in-house, having a better control over the processes and creating an organizational culture of attention to details and mindfulness- about the environmental impact of our work.

Vystrit caters to the major woman workmanship designing the decor range. Can you tell us something about this power?

Vystrit empowers women by providing training and employment opportunities to women from grassroots communities, most of whom were previously domestic workers. These women are trained in a variety of artisanal skills, such as textile art, weaving, and handcrafting, enabling them to become skilled artisans. By offering them these opportunities, Vystrit not only helps these women build their craft but also provides them with a source of financial independence and a platform for personal growth.

At Vystrit, we ensure a working environment where these women get maximum benefits. This initiative by our team plays a significant role in making women empowerment possible and transforming their lives through skill-building and sustainable livelihood.

What are your future goals?

As we look towards the future at Vystrit, our goals are centered around deepening our impact in several key areas:

Sustainability: Vystrit, as a brand, is passionate about increasing the use of eco-friendly materials in design styles. Whether it’s about using more ethically sourced materials or enhancing the recycling efforts- we are focussed in evolving our sustainable practices.
Empowering Women Artisans: Empowering women from grassroots communities- we aim to provide training and job opportunities to even more women, helping them build skills in textile art and handcrafting.
Expanding the Product Range: We see new growth opportunities by diversifying our product line and entering new markets. We promise to create more unique, handcrafted decor pieces and share them with a broader audience.
Innovation in Design: The Vystrit team is driven by the culmination of traditional craftsmanship and modern aesthetics. The team will always aim to create something innovative while staying true to our ethos of handcrafted, sustainable decor.

Any message you’d like to share with the consumers about choosing sustainable products for their homes?

Choosing sustainable home decor is a thoughtful choice that goes beyond aesthetics. It’s about embracing our responsibility towards our planet.

By choosing sustainable decor, you're also promoting ethical practices. This ensures that the decor product isn't just a distinctive and beautiful addition to your space but also a meaningful contribution to the well-being of local communities.

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