The shell is a sturdy protection for the delicate soft-bodied mollusk, but on its own emptied of its owner, it is a piece of art - beautiful, fragile, and a wonder! We use shells to create jewelry, or to make objects for decoration or even to transform other useful objects into pieces of art.

Upasana’s involvement was directed mainly towards creating a value addition for the artisans by helping them to attain better livelihood; towards the product by making it more beautiful. This effort created a different design sensibility among the shell artisans, as the Upasana team showed the community how to use the same shells aesthetically, more consciously, respecting Nature and natural resources.

Uppermost for Upasana has been the creation of a model whereby a natural resource can be used without destroying its source, to raise the overall value of the final product and the act of producing it.

Its fallout was as expected:

• Raised design sensibility
• Optimal use of a natural resource
• No depletion of the environment
• High value perception
• Wider acceptance of the product
• More orders for products
• Higher income levels
• Better time management
• A conviction among the artisans that there is more to life
• A local natural resource put on the national agenda differently
• Joy

Now, 5 shells are enough to create 3 pieces of art and immeasurable joy for all!
The community is booked with orders.