The UnEmployables 3 | Page 14

Story behind '2 up 2 down' 1. Story behind '2 up 2 down' '2up 2down', was established in October 2008 by Namrata Shah. The philosophy of '2up2down' is to create unique and dis nct hand-cra ed tex les(stoles/scarves/saris/fabric by meter), that have a universal appeal with special a en on to detail in techniques of shibori (Japanese e & dyes tched and clamp ) married with hand-embroidery and block prints by employing and empowering 'only' women belonging to weaker backgrounds. 2. Why the name '2 up 2 down'? Tex les have always been both passion & inspira on. The beauty of inconsistency in weaves, uneven textures and the element of surprise make's the en re process of handcra ed tex les a beau ful experience! One such weave is '2up 2down', a beau ful weave construc on that adds sturdiness, strength and elegance to a fabric, which pre y much reflects our core values! 3. A brief about Founder(s) Namrata Shah studied tex le design at the Srish School of Art, Design and technology (2003). Her Diploma assignment took place in Bangladesh with a local NGO in the handloom industry. She had tremendous exposure and collaborated for dura on of 5 years. It was during this phase she worked with some of the most respected and accomplished tex le designers and brands! Back home in 2006, she worked with few export houses and corporate to understand the product style in a commercial sense. However, it was in 2008 she quit her very lucra ve job to start off on a whole new journey in the world of cra s and tex les under the brand '2 Up 2 Down'. 4. Need gap you are fulfilling via '2 up 2 down'? India is very rich with cra and some of the most beau ful and tradi onal cra s are fading away as there is no pla orm to promote/sustain. Many a me's cra s are confined to the cra sman and may not reach the outside world! At '2up 2down', our efforts are to sustain, innovate and bridge the gap by designing as well as promo ng it to an audience that understands and appreciates the value of the cra ! 5. Wow' moments so far? '2up 2down', has had a challenging yet rewarding journey. Some of the highlights have been1) Awarded 'Young Crea ve Entrepreneur 2010, India' by Bri sh Council 2) Sponsored visit to London 3) Featured on Young Turks _CNBC TV 18 4) Designing collec ons for Giorgio Armani 14