On September 25th, 22 students from Class XI of The Orchid School embarked on an educational visit to Banjaras – Natural Fabrics of India, in Aundh. Led by founder Ms. Neeta Deshpande, the visit offered a firsthand look into the world of entrepreneurship, with a focus on handcrafted textiles and social responsibility.
Ms. Deshpande shared the story of starting Banjaras in 1992 and the challenges she faced as a woman entrepreneur. The students learned about various business concepts such as Average Transaction Size (ATS), Value for Money (VFM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Unique Selling Point (USP), and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and the “4 Ps” of marketing including business models like Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Customer (B2C) and learned about Geographical Indication Tags (GI Tags), which protect the authenticity of regional products. They also explored traditional fabric techniques, including Kalamkari, Phulkari, and Kantha, gaining insight into the regional diversity and craftsmanship behind the products along with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
A highlight of the visit was the emphasis on innovation and social impact, as Banjaras supports rural artisans, especially women, across 15 Indian states. The students left inspired by Ms. Deshpande’s entrepreneurial journey and the lessons of resilience, creativity, and staying true to one’s values in business.
