From Fashion to Social Impact
Dayal Kant Munda is a passionate fashion professional with a unique career trajectory, transitioning seamlessly from a successful fashion career to the social sector. His journey began with eight years of thriving retail experience at Future Lifestyle Fashions Ltd., Mumbai, where he honed his skills in commercial fashion retail and gained invaluable insights into market trends.
In 2020, Dayal Kant Munda redirected his focus towards social impact by joining the Youth for India Fellowship, a flagship program of the State Bank of India Foundation. During his fellowship, he empowered rural women artisans in rural Rajasthan through skill development initiatives, fostering their economic independence in partnership with the Social Work & Research Centre (Barefoot College), Tilonia.
Continuing his commitment to social empowerment, Dayal collaborated with Barefoot College post-fellowship, implementing market-driven strategies and upskilling initiatives to empower women artisans further. His notable achievements include facilitating market access for artisans, increasing sales through strategic initiatives, and empowering them with valuable skills.
Driven by his dedication to sustainability, Dayal embarked on a journey with the Tripura Bamboo Mission, where he conducted a transformative 10-day Design and Product Development Workshop under the SFURTI scheme. Through this initiative, he empowered bamboo artisans with market-driven skills, resulting in the creation of commercially viable bamboo mat-based utility products.
Currently, Dayal serves as a Rural Futures Fellow with Balipara Foundation in Assam, acquiring expertise in rewilding, regenerative agriculture, and community-based conservation practices for climate action.
Hailing from Khunti, Jharkhand, Dayal completed his Bachelor’s in Fashion Technology (Apparel Production) from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad, in 2013.
Looking towards the future, Dayal envisions merging his fashion background with social impact in innovative ways. His aspirations include developing a rural tourism model in Jharkhand that celebrates indigenous food experiences, experiential rural adventures, and nature-based learning centred around the lives of Indigenous Communities of Jharkhand. Additionally, he aims to preserve and promote indigenous arts, crafts, and culture by fostering connections between urban audiences and the rich heritage of these communities.