TRIFED launches premium tribal brand ‘RISA – Timeless Tribal’, opens flagship store in Delhi

New Delhi: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, has launched 'RISA – Timeless Tribal,' a dedicated premium brand for tribal textiles, embroideries and handicrafts, and inaugurated its first exclusive retail store in New Delhi.

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The RISA Store has been inaugurated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' Secretary Ranjana Chopra (IAS) in the presence of TRIFED MD M. Rajamurugan (IPS), Fashion Design Council of India's (FDCI) Chairman Sunil Sethi, noted fashion designer Anju Modi, representatives of design institutions, artisans, industry stakeholders, other renowned fashion designers and officials of the Ministry and TRIFED.

The initiative aims to create a distinct brand identity for tribal products, strengthen market linkages for artisans, facilitate design development and product diversification, and promote tribal heritage in premium domestic and international markets. The launch aligns with the government's vision of Viksit Bharat by supporting inclusive growth through the economic empowerment of tribal communities.

Speaking at the event, Ranjana Chopra highlighted the need to preserve and promote India's tribal heritage through sustainable livelihood interventions and improved market access. She noted that tribal textiles and handicrafts reflect the rich cultural traditions and artistic excellence of indigenous communities and require continued institutional support for wider recognition.

TRIFED Managing Director M. Rajamurugan said the RISA initiative seeks to create a comprehensive ecosystem covering design development, skill enhancement, product innovation, packaging improvement and market promotion, while generating greater livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans.

In the first phase, the initiative will focus on seven tribal textile and embroidery traditions, including Eri Silk and Muga Silk from Assam, Santal Cotton from Jharkhand, Changpa Pashmina from Ladakh, Kotpad Cotton and Dongria Embroidery from Odisha, and Toda Embroidery from Tamil Nadu.

To support product development and contemporary design interventions, leading fashion designers including Anju Modi, Manish Tripathi, Gaurav Jai Gupta, Abu Jani, Sandeep Khosla and Sameera Dalvi have been associated with the project.

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The programme is being implemented through the National Design Centre, while the National Institute of Design Haryana has been tasked with developing premium and sustainable packaging solutions for RISA-branded products.

The first phase will also promote selected tribal handicrafts such as Longpi Pottery of Manipur, Turtuk Brass Cutlery of Ladakh and Dokhra Art of Chhattisgarh. The initiative is expected to enhance income opportunities for artisans, particularly women, while preserving traditional crafts and expanding the visibility of tribal products in domestic and global markets.

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