About
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MEET DIVYA VIGNESHWARAN...
...The founder and designer at Hastha, an ethnic brand featuring traditional yet quirky hand block prints on clothing and accessories. Through her brand, she successfully combines her love of Indian art and handicrafts with her purpose in life – generating income for neurodivergent adults. Divya works to create a sustainable income model for adults with intellectual disabilities through hand-block-printed products, thereby providing them with meaningful employment.
THE BRAND YOU LOVE…
...Began in 2015, attempting to fulfil a personal need – to create a T-shirt that would fit the Indian woman’s body, comfortably and gracefully. It also pioneered hand-block printing on T-shirts and achieved success with this single product. Hastha has since extended its hand-block-printed offerings to include unisex T-shirts, kids’ T-shirts, tops, umbrellas, veshtis (dhotis), men’s kurtas and women's blouses.
Umbrellas were included in the range following the Chennai floods, with the remarkable idea of adding vibrant colours to a backdrop of gloomy grey skies and a sea of black umbrellas. Bringing art into everyday life, Hastha strives to add a touch of colour and fun to your wardrobe – and your life!
BUILDING LIVES, BLOCK BY BLOCK
While stylish yet comfortable clothing and accessories are the brand’s focus, it is fuelled by a passionate purpose at its heart. Believing in the dignity of every human being, Hastha creates income-earning opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities, thereby training them and providing employment.
By extension, it also brings you the chance to be instrumental in their lives and well-being.
Hastha’s firm belief in inclusion has led to its association with three Chennai-based integrated centres for people with special needs, including Gurukulam.
Recognising that such individuals excel in repetitive activity, adults with special needs and autism were trained in hand block printing to further empower this community. Since 2019, Hastha has facilitated the establishment of handblock printing units at various schools for adults with autism and other special needs.
Our inclusive mentoring continues to offer these wonderful young individuals a beacon towards a beneficial future.
MISSION
Hastha is working to make all its products handblock-printed exclusively by neurodivergent adults.
TRADITION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Divya grew up surrounded by art and has always been drawn to craft and handmade clothing. Her love for local craft traditions and traditional Indian designs led her to work with artisans and people with special needs who were skilled in handblock printing. She is focused on quality, and every Hastha product aims to balance beauty, comfort and purpose.
Graphics from nature, tradition, history, and urban forms on plain, bright backgrounds make for versatile clothing.