A joint research study led by Dr. Rambabu Muppidi, Faculty at the School of Leather Lifestyle and Product Design (LLPD), FDDI Hyderabad, has been published in the SCOPUS-indexed OEIL Research Journal (ISSN: 0029-862X), a journal recognized in the Arts and Humanities: Visual Arts and Performing Arts category.
The paper, titled “Empowering Women through Craft: Design Development of Jute and Leather Multi-Utility Bags,” appears in Volume 23, Issue 11, November 2025, and focuses on sustainable craft-based product development in collaboration with the Nava Women Empowerment Centre, Bhadradri Kothagudem District, Telangana available at https://oeilresearch.com/volume-23-issue-11-2025/
Co-authored by Dr. Murali V. Kesaboina (Woxsen University), Dr. Yogesh Babu Thunga (ERU-USA & ERC-India), Mr. Mattagunja Anirudh (Student, FDDI Hyderabad), and Mrs. Kalapala Vanaja (Elate International School), the research was conducted under the Combined Term Project – Design for Society (CTP-6).
The team worked with more than 20 women participants and visited skill training centers in Adilabad and Bhadrachalam, using manual pattern design, 3D product modeling, and CAD-based visualization to develop innovative eco-friendly jute and leather multi-utility bag designs. The study highlights how sustainable craft practices can empower women artisans through skill enhancement and income-generating design opportunities.
