Avani, through its cooperative of artisans Earthcraft, led by Rashmi Bharti, has been growing and gathering the ingredients for a new and separate product line of natural dyes. This has led to preservation of a lot of local tree species. Research has led Rashmi to believe there is a big market for these dyes. Many experiments have resulted in a stable powder, pigment and extract products.
Towards the end of May 2014, experts Rosalie van Ruler Thaker and Patrick van Son visited Avani in the Kumaon mountains, to support Rashmi and her team in streamlining the production and supply process. They analysed supplies, transportation, production and distribution, resulting in a volume model designed to calculate the number of jobs to be created by the expected turnover. The next step is to organize funding for an automated production process.
