Batik Boutique trains women to become seamstresses, and then hires them to create batik items for the boutique, providing a fair and sustainable income for women living in poor, urban conditions in Kuala Lumpur. 

The sewing centre, located where the women live, has childcare, which allows the women to work without worrying about their children or travel arrangements.

When you shop at Batik Boutique, or participate in one of their craft workshops, you not only learn about a craft with a rich heritage, you also empower their women workers and enable them to help more people.

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Kuala Lumpur for more travel tips and ideas.

Watch our story on Batik Boutique to see how Batik Boutique changed the lives of women.

By visiting the centre, you not only learn more about regional art, but help the efforts to preserve and spread awareness about the local history, folklore, and support budding artists. The centre also sells crafts created by artisans from rural parts of the region, providing a platform for them to earn a sustained income. 

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Bangalore for more travel tips and ideas!

A visual feast of Indian folk and contemporary art, visit this arts campus for the museum, the buzzing market and enriching workshops.

By visiting the centre, you not only learn more about regional art, but help the efforts to preserve and spread awareness about the local history, folklore, and support budding artists. The centre also sells crafts created by artisans from rural parts of the region, providing a platform for them to earn a sustained income. 

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Bangalore for more travel tips and ideas!

By shopping Watubo products, you support the development of Sikkanese ikat as a sustainable livelihood for Watublapi residents. To date, Watubo has worked with 25 weavers, most of whom are women under the age of 50, as well as a few men. 

Supporting demand for vegetable-dyed ikat also encourages weavers to stick with dyeing processes that are safe for people and the environment, and to conserve culturally important plants such as morinda and indigo.

Supporting ikat as a sustainable profession in Watublapi would encourage their young people to stay in the village and contribute to the community. A strong ikat business also encourages other collaborations, such as working with Watublapi graduates who have left the village but whose business skills and connections to the outside world can benefit weavers. 

You can find Watubo's original creations on Noesa's website. Look out also for ikat items made with fabrics from Watublapi by Noesa. 

Noesa can be contacted for further enquiries about Watubo via WhatsApp at +62 81315556670. 

Meet Rosvita of Watubo

Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium is part of Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited. Since it was set up, over 4,500 artisans have registered with the organisation to promote their craftsmanship. The organisation has also provided over 1,200 workspaces to eligible artisans. 

When you shop at Cauvery, you support local artisans and artists in earning a sustainable income, and help preserve Karnataka’s artistic heritage. 

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Bangalore for more travel tips and ideas!

Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium is part of Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited. Since it was set up, over 4,500 artisans have registered with the organisation to promote their craftsmanship. The organisation has also provided over 1,200 workspaces to eligible artisans. 

When you shop at Cauvery, you support local artisans and artists in earning a sustainable income, and help preserve Karnataka’s artistic heritage. 

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Bangalore for more travel tips and ideas!

When you shop at DESI, you help support their efforts advocating for those living in rural areas, provide a sustainable livelihood for their handloom workers and protect the environment.

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Bangalore for more travel tips and ideas!

When you shop at DESI, you help support their efforts advocating for those living in rural areas, provide a sustainable livelihood for their handloom workers and protect the environment.

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Bangalore for more travel tips and ideas!

You help in preserving the traditional arts and crafts heritage, while also supporting efforts to save the environment.

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Mumbai for more travel tips. 

Meet Radhi, founder of ARTISANS' and discover what drives her.

You help in preserving the traditional arts and crafts heritage, while also supporting efforts to save the environment.

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Mumbai for more travel tips. 

Meet Radhi, founder of ARTISANS' and discover what drives her.

Apart from preserving artisanal craft and the heritage of the city, the store also sells items made by Stepping Stone Work Centre, which employs people with special needs.

Read our Weekend of Good guide to Penang for more travel tips and ideas!

When you buy something from Mekong Quilts, you support a community of women who have been able to earn a sustainable livelihood close to home, instead of leaving their families behind to find work.  

Consider also exploring the Mekong Delta region with Bernard via Mekong Quilts’ bamboo bicycles; proceeds go to Mekong Plus, Mekong Quilts’ parent organisation, which supports underprivileged communities with micro-financing, scholarships, and health, hygiene and agricultural education programmes. 

The Social Space supports socially-conscious businesses from all around Asia by carrying their products in their retail space. All items are chosen for their high quality, good design and social and environmental impact.

The owners also use the business as a platform to offer employment and training opportunities to people from marginalised backgrounds to help them develop self-sufficiency.  

And it promotes a low-waste lifestyle with its refillery, where you can bring your own containers to buy package-free cleaning and personal care products.

Read our Weekend of Good Singapore guide for more travel tips and ideas!