Mina Ben
Minaben didn’t set out to be a crocheter. She is a biochemist with an export license, and her practice began the way many good ideas do: with someone trying to solve a problem. In Minaben’s case, this was trying to fit the booties she crocheted for her toddler. What she built from the errand is a hook-and-yarn enterprise of 150 women around Rajkot, who make everything she has ever been asked for, often before she knew what it was. We’re talking dream catchers, beaded ornaments, macramé bags, bikinis, patchwork robes sewn from squares by half a dozen hands. The most famous of her pieces is a bucket hat, made with British designer Emily Levine during the COVID lockdown in her mother’s village. This hat ended up on Hailey Bieber on the cover of American Vogue. Her work has since made its journey to Milan’s L’Artigiano in Fiera, one of the world’s greatest craft fairs. Her very first time stepping out of India for L’Artigiano and she made history as Rajkot’s first ever participant.
Craft category: Crocheting
Local name: ankori-work; guthan-kaam; bharad-guthan
Technique: Basic stitches: chain, single, half double, double, triple. Ornamentation stitches: top, popcorn, Solomon, crocodile.
Material(s): Cotton, wool, silk, mohair
Objects: Hats; textile art; home decor
Signature: Toys and flowers, previously the hats
Craft status: Stable
GI tag: No
Years practising: 13
Generations: Multi-generational
---
Open to visits: Yes
Can teach workshops?: Yes
Best season to visit: October to May
Workshop space available?: Yes
Nearest town: Rajkot
Taluk/block: Bhakti Nagar
Nearest airport/ station: Rajkot/Hirasir International Airport
---
Awards:
- Awarded for Excellence in “Business Growth Plan” – Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (2022)
- Best Women Entrepreneur Award – Atmiya University, Rajkot (2023)
- Aaj Kal Women Power Award (2024)
- Women Empowerment Award – Jain Vision, Rajkot (2024)
- Outstanding Kaarigar Entrepreneur Gold Award – Kaarigar Clinic (2024)
- Guinness World Records – “Largest Display of Crocheted Scarves” (4,517 scarves donated to women cancer patients), 2024
- Honoured “for transforming traditional crochet craftsmanship into global opportunities while empowering women artisans” by the Government of India, Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts (2026)
- Honoured for remarkable contribution towards the welfare of society through women’s empowerment – Atmiya University, Rajkot (2026)
Gender: Woman
Organisation: Jyotirmay Overseas
Age band: 30–45
Organisation type: Collective
Education: Master in Biochemistry
Craft cluster: Informal group of 350 artisans led by Mina Ben
Primary trade: Textile
Community: No particular community; in her area practised mostly by Patels
Other trades: Chemical trading
Key people: Patel community
Artisan type: Enterprise
Local festivals/events: Navratri, Diwali, etc.
History: A traditional craft that passes down woman to woman. Taught by grandmothers, mothers and other women in the family, the crocheted products were traditionally made for the family's own use. After marriage, they brought textiles made by the women of their family to their new household, and the craft passes on to another generation.
Taught by: Grandmothers, mothers and sisters
Motifs/patterns and meanings: Inspired by nature
Tools used: Crochet needle; measure tape; stitch marker; sewing needle; thread
Related crafts: Beadwork; embroidery
Equipment needed: No
Other crafts engaged in: Jewellery; brooch
Youth/ apprentices: Yes, about 5-6
Loom/main tool last serviced: N/A
What makes their work different: Her ability to blend traditional motifs and designs with modern sensibilities. Well-trained artisans give better quality. The items are priced with individual time and effort put into each piece.
What's hard about it: Maintaining consistency for a singular product and training artisans to have a consistent style. The spacing of stitches (tight or loose) is a delicate task.
No. of looms/workstations: 350
No. of people working: 6 women and 1 man working full time, 350 working part time
No. of women artisans: 350
Family vs hired: Both
Pieces per month: 5,600
Lead time: 10 days
Time to make one piece: Small pieces (leaves, flowers) 5 minutes to 1 hour; flowers 1 to 3 hours; garments 2 to 5 days; designer garments 30 days or more
Price range: ₹100 to ₹20,000
Sells directly: B2B
Takes commissions: Yes
Customisation: Yes
Wholesale: Yes
Export: Yes
Middlemen: No
Haats/melas: Yes, only by Government of India invitation
Where they sell now: B2B portals, IndiaMART etc.
The Hands That Knit The Hat That Hailey Wore
Minaben didn’t set out to be a crocheter. She is a biochemist with an export license, and her practice began the way many good ideas do: with someone trying to solve a problem. In Minaben’s case, this was trying to fit the booties she crocheted for her toddler. What she built from the errand is a hook-and-yarn enterprise of 150 women around Rajkot, who make everything she has ever been asked for, often before she knew what it was. We’re talking dream catchers, beaded ornaments, macramé bags, bikinis, patchwork robes sewn from squares by half a dozen hands. The most famous of her pieces is a bucket hat, made with British designer Emily Levine during the COVID lockdown in her mother’s village. This hat ended up on Hailey Bieber on the cover of American Vogue. Her work has since made its journey to Milan’s L’Artigiano in Fiera, one of the world’s greatest craft fairs. Her very first time stepping out of India for L’Artigiano and she made history as Rajkot’s first ever participant.
Read more
.jpg)
.JPG)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
