THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 24, 2026

Kosala, the social enterprise of Hindalco Industries Limited, has inaugurated its flagship retail store in Greater Kailash (N Block), marking a significant expansion of its Kosa silk value-chain initiative rooted in Chhattisgarh.

The boutique was inaugurated by Padma Bhushan Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, in the presence of Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries Limited, Saurabh Khedekar, CEO – Alumina Business, Hindalco Industries Limited and Director, Kosala Foundation, along with actor Yami Gautam Dhar.

Launched in 2021, Kosala was conceived to revive and expand the indigenous Kosa silk craft of the Dewangan community. With the opening of its first flagship store, the initiative has achieved a major milestone in bringing sustainable luxury and indigenous craftsmanship to the national capital while strengthening its rural artisan ecosystem.

Speaking at the launch, Rajashree Birla said, “Kosala reflects our deep commitment to trusteeship, nurturing communities while preserving India’s rich cultural heritage. By revitalising the art of Kosa silk, we are empowering artisan families, especially women, with sustainable livelihoods and renewed pride in their craft. This store serves as a bridge between rural skill and global appreciation.”

Kosala’s grassroots impact has been both measurable and transformative. In FY25, 31 weaver families secured full-time engagement, while 130 artisans were employed across pre-loom and post-loom processes, deepening value-chain integration. Assured year-round work has led to a 63% increase in income for full-time weavers, significantly improving their livelihoods. During the year, 379 artisans were engaged and 100 newly skilled, strengthening household stability and enabling the Dewangan community to progress with renewed confidence and dignity. Since inception, Kosala has empowered more than 700 artisans, reinforcing sustainable livelihoods while preserving the indigenous Kosa silk tradition.

Saurabh Khedekar said, “Kosala is anchored in two core beliefs, reviving the indigenous legacy of Kosa silk and restoring economic dignity, recognition, and continuous skill advancement to its original custodians, the Dewangan community. This store is not merely a retail milestone; it reaffirms our long-term commitment to strengthening the artisan ecosystem and enabling weaver families to thrive with pride and purpose. We continue to prioritise the well-being of artisans and their families by extending individual life insurance coverage, expanding structured training to bring more weavers into the fold, and reimagining Kosa through a thoughtful blend of time-honoured techniques and consciously designed collections for the modern consumer.”

Capacity-building efforts include training 25 rural youth in professional natural colour dyeing; providing sewing and embroidery skills to 100 women in partnership with the International Labour Organization and the Foundation for MSME Clusters; certifying 50 Dewangan women in Kosa reeling; and offering advanced weaving training to 25 artisans through the Weavers’ Service Centre, Raigarh. In 2024, Kosala also introduced the Kosala Artisan Shilp Unnati Yojana, instituting annual recognition and incentive structures for master weavers.

Instituted as part of Hindalco’s sustainable mining initiatives in Chhattisgarh, Kosala has evolved into a scalable rural enterprise model that integrates market access, skill development and infrastructure investment. The initiative positions heritage textiles within a sustainable luxury framework while delivering measurable economic outcomes at the grassroots level.