ASHA in Sanskrit means "Hope" and Asha brought hope into what was largely a "hopeless" situation by providing a marketing outlet to the actual craftsperson. From the beginning, Asha's thrust has been the development of the craftsperson in his natural environment through various development projects designed to meet the needs and standards of overseas markets. India has always been renowned for its rich silk fabrics, woodcarvings and carpets. However, many of these products are produced in conditions of abject poverty for the craftsmen, exploited by large producers and moneylenders. Asha Handicrafts is a not-for-profit making body, based in Mumbai, India, working to promote Fair Trade and Fair Trade practices. As a member organization of the International Fair Trade Association [IFAT], Asha Handicrafts ensures that the benefits of handicraft production reach the craftspeople themselves. Asha today assists directly and indirectly over 103 producer groups and 5,000 crafts persons.