The Child and Social Welfare Society (CSWS) Mat Craft Cluster, with the Indian Micro Enterprises Development Foundation (IMEDF) as the nodal agency, participated in the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2026 held at the historic Kala Ghoda precinct in Mumbai from 05 to 08 February 2026. The participation was facilitated through a sponsored stall by EXIM Bank of India to promote traditional mat craft products and strengthen artisans’ livelihoods through direct market engagement.

The festival, themed “Ahead of the Curve,” attracted a diverse audience including domestic buyers, foreign visitors, designers, and institutional representatives. Over the four days, the cluster showcased a wide range of handcrafted mat products reflecting traditional skills blended with contemporary utility. The stall received an overwhelming response, resulting in total sales of INR 4,26,500 and generating significant buyer enquiries for future collaborations and bulk procurement.

Beyond sales, the event provided valuable exposure to evolving consumer preferences, design trends, and branding approaches within the urban handicrafts market. Interactions with visitors and industry stakeholders enabled artisans to better understand expectations related to quality, packaging, and product diversification.

Overall, the participation proved highly impactful in enhancing product visibility, establishing market linkages, and reinforcing confidence among artisans, with IMEDF playing a crucial facilitative and coordinating role in ensuring effective representation of the cluster.