When she was volunteering in Gujarat after the 2001 earthquake that devastated parts of the state, Mumbai-based Neha Gandhi was exposed to the Kutch region. She saw the various styles of handicrafts it boasted of, and thus began her journey with social responsibility. Her efforts formally translated into Matsya in 2010. “Matsya is focussed on bridging the gap between the rural craftspeople and the urban global traveller,” she explains.

While Matsya retails and markets products made by rural artisans across India through its website and supplies to select stores across the country, its handcrafted and customised crafts tours are extremely popular. They are tailored to individual preferences and provide travellers the opportunity to interact with craftspeople in the villages. “The tours can be specialised to include textiles, pottery or any particular craft the visitor wants to experience,” Gandhi says. These tours can range from three to five days or more, and engage the audience with rural communities, their lifestyle and crafts.”