History Of
The Meghalayan Age: The Store
Meghalaya is home to three major tribes: the Khasis, The Jaintias and The Garos. The people of the state have always lived closely with nature which is why a majority of the tribal folk work with their hands. They grow their own food, make their own crafts, weave their own clothes, etc. However, the state’s artisans, farmers, weavers, craftsmen, etc find it increasingly difficult to offer their wares for sale at a price befitting the craftsmanship put into the product. Land based livelihoods have also become unsustainable and as such tribal folk engaged in the crafts have started abandoning their trades and are forced to look at alternative means for supplementing their livelihoods. Due to this and a myriad of other reasons, the Government of Meghalaya started the Meghalayan Age Ltd, a state-owned company that would focus on showcasing the richness of Meghalaya’s art, culture, and music through initiatives run by the project. The Meghalayan Age would provide a platform for the artisans of the state, to uplift their craft and allow for cross-cultural understanding for the age in which we live in.
As part of this initiative to provide encouragement and support to the artisans of the state, The Meghalayan Age:The Store was inaugurated on 9th December 2021. The Store serves as an outlet for all things Meghalaya at the capital in New Delhi. It is a one-stop market space for buyers, curators, and art enthusiasts, and to provide platforms to showcase, encourage and retain traditions and cultures of the tribes in Meghalaya.
The Store hosts a specially curated blend of products from gifted artisans and farmers of the state who had not been able to get the real worth of their efforts and ingenuity. Hence the Store becomes a showcase of the state’s rich heritage, its arts, crafts, culture, music, literature and food; and that lends itself to a hospitable ambience to tourists from across the globe to visit Meghalaya.
Brand
Values
Our Vision
One of the goals of The Meghalayan Age: The Store is to promote Eco-tourism to the state and to keep it in line with the SDGs that the Government has been following. Eco-tourism creates employment opportunities in local communities, including jobs in hospitality, tour guiding, transportation, and handicraft production. The Store has led to heightened curiosity about Meghalaya and encourages patrons to visit the state. This is in line with Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth of the SDGs. The Store has also brought recognition to the work of the artisans from the State encouraging other artisans to come forward with their craft.
Eco-tourism encourages responsible consumption by promoting sustainable practices such as reducing waste, conserving water and energy, and supporting local products and services. This is followed closely by The Store as packaging the items makes use of sustainable and biodegradable materials such as cane, bamboo, paper, clay, etc. The shipment of items to The Store also follows the same concept of reducing waste generation as much as possible. The packaging materials are also made and sourced locally. This is in keeping with Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production of the SDGs.
Eco-tourism promotes partnerships and collaboration between the government, indigenous communities, NGOs, businesses, and tourists. This is in keeping with Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Another important goal of The Store is to provide recognition to the works of artisans of the state and in doing so encourage other artisans to continue the legacy of various types of traditional craft-work, textile work, produce farming, etc as there is now a platform for which their works can be encouraged. Having The Store provides legitimacy to the works of these artisans and empowers them to continue with their craft as a valid form of livelihood.
Being curated as a part of The Store expands their inventory leading to employment and training opportunities under them.
This brings about an entrepreneurial attitude for the artisans. The Store helps them break out into the market thereby providing them a self-sustaining business.
