Tripty Boutique House is a socially responsible enterprise in Bangladesh that specialises in handmade, one-of-a-kind Kantha products made from recycled and new saris. About 200 trained women work several hours a day on stitching the most beautiful, layered blankets that have become so popular in the West during the recent decades. 

Tripty Boutique is a subsidiary of the non-governmental organisation Meherpur Centre for Development and Peace, founded by Tripty Kona Biswas and John Biswas.

Tripty’s Story

Over many years, Tripty visited families in villages around Meherpur. She realised that the majority of men in these villages did not have solid jobs, were often landless and could not support their families properly. As she came to know the women better she was convinced that by finding them a way to earn an income, not only would their position within the family be strengthened, but that also the whole family’s standard of living would be improved.

So Tripty set out to train women in an art that, albeit local and traditional, had been lost to many of these women: Kantha quilting. Today, there are around 200 trained women producing Kantha products for Tripty Boutique. Tripty works hard to find markets for these products, both locally and internationally. 

Our Aims

• Empowering Women. The women of Meherpur, a province in Eastern Bangladesh, face countless challenges in life that are hard to fathom for those living in developed western countries. They are exposed to gender inequality, domestic violence, child marriage, illiteracy, unemployment as well as trafficking. 

• Providing an Income. Training women in traditional handicraft opens a door to many, enabling them to generate an income for themselves and their families. A woman who works in a dignified job earning a wage has a much better standing in society. The women who work for Tripty Boutique combine their stitching work in the village with household tasks and looking after their children. They receive a living wage that provides them with a basic but decent standard of living, and this cash injection into the local economy further strengthens the women’s purchasing power and position in both the family and community.

• Fair Trading. The price a customer pays for a Tripty Boutique product is fair and reflects the value of these women’s work and time, contributing to a better life for their families. Tripty Boutique is a member of the Ecota Forum for Fair Trade, the national network of Fair Trade organizations in Bangladesh. By purchasing a Tripty Boutique product, you directly support a woman in need and her family.

• Sustainability. Our products are mostly made of recycled saris, which would otherwise be discarded. This means that we give these fabrics a second life by recycling them into blankets, as customary in the Kantha quilting tradition.