USIFA is pleased to share that the lead of the Women Forward International Crafts Village Uniting East and West initiative, Faisal Quraishi, has been awarded the First Prize for Himroo Weaving in Maharashtra by the Ministry of Textiles. Faisal also recently had the opportunity to be an honored guest at the National Institute of Fashion Technology’s (NIFT) Weavers’ Service Center to discuss ways the crafts village can be integrated into NIFT’s training programs. The Crafts Village and Training Center support the training of women artisans and the development of a cultural and economic hub dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional Indian crafts in Aurangabad, Maharashtra – a first-of-its-kind center in the state. To learn more about this program and ways to support the Crafts Village, please write to us at friendshipalliance@usispf.org.