18 October 2019
Focus on rejuvenating premium quality Kosa and establishing it as an internationally sought-after sustainable fashion product and brand

18 October 2019: Hindalco Industries Limited (Hindalco) launched its first Kosa Silk Reeling Training Centre today in Gare Palma’s Kondkel village in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh. This is part of the company’s Sustainable Mining initiative through the India2022 coalition, powered by Xynteo, to empower tribal women and artisans in Raigarh district. The Centre will rejuvenate traditional handwoven premium quality Kosa silk products and work to establish Kosa as an international sustainable fashion brand.

Raigarh district is well-known for Kosa silk art production, yet traditional artisans are moving away in search of alternative occupation due to lack of market linkages and inability to realise fair prices for their craft. This initiative will unlock barriers across the Kosa silk value chain including enhancing productivity, creating innovative product designs and leveraging technology and establishing a presence in new and premium markets, significantly increasing incomes for Kosa silk reelers, weavers and traders and preserve this traditional form of Indian art.

Talking about the project’s mission Mr Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries Limited said, “We will establish a social enterprise owned by artisans to unlock the potential of tribal women and artisans to produce high-quality products for the global sustainable fashion industry. We will also revive tribal traditions and stories conserved by craftsmen to build an ethically sourced brand for Kosa silk.”

Speaking about the initiative, Ms. Subhashini Chandran, Managing Director, Xynteo India, said, “This collaborative effort from Hindalco and the India2022 coalition is transformative at many levels – it is about jobs, promoting small enterprises, preserving regional culture and traditional crafts and sustainable enterprise.”

India2022 catalysed by Xynteo, is a business-led coalition, launched in March 2017, has nine partners — Hindalco Industries Limited, an Aditya Birla Group Company; Hindustan Unilever Limited; Baker Hughes; Shell; Cyient; State Bank of India; Tata Trusts; TechnipFMC and WPP. It aims to leverage the power of collaboration to unlock a new kind of growth in India. The coalition’s work spans four areas – sustainable mining, clean energy, diagnostic healthcare and waste management. Hindalco leads the Sustainable Mining initiative under the India2022 coalition.

About Hindalco Industries Limited

Hindalco Industries Limited, is the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group. A US$18.7 billion metals powerhouse, Hindalco is the world’s largest aluminium rolling and recycling company, and a major copper player. It is also one of Asia’s largest producers of primary aluminium.

Guided by its purpose of building a greener, stronger, smarter world, Hindalco provides

innovative solutions for a sustainable planet. Its wholly-owned subsidiary Novelis Inc. is the world’s largest producer of aluminium beverage can stock and the largest recycler of used beverage cans (UBCs). Hindalco’s copper facility in India comprises a world-class copper smelter, downstream facilities, a fertiliser plant and a captive jetty. The copper smelter is among the world’s largest custom smelters at a single location. Hindalco’s global footprint spans 37 manufacturing units across 10 countries.