In this interview, I speak with Jitna Bhagani, the founder of Shakti.ism. The goal of her organization is to empower, employ, and encourage entrepreneurship in disadvantaged women in India, particularly those who are at risk of being impacted by gender-based violence and modern day slavery. By repurposing saris into tote bags, purses, and clutches, these women will learn valuable skills while providing for themselves and their families.

How did you get the idea to upcycle saris into different types of bags?

Saris (or sarees) are traditional garments worn in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and other countries. Saris are made from quite a lot of fabric, with an individual sari ranging from 4.5 to 8 meters (5 to 9 yards) in length and 60 to 120 centimetres (2 to 4 feet) in breadth. Unfortunately, it has become common to use these fabulous (and huge!) garments only once or just a few times and then discard them. This is incredibly wasteful and such a tragedy because they are absolutely beautiful! This contributes to unnecessary waste of garments that traditionally take a long time and a LOT of skilled handiwork to create, so I thought it would be good to find a way to reuse and repurpose saris as something else, like sari tote bags, pouches, and gift-wrapping cloths.

You shared on your website that your products are sewn by marginalized women in India. Who are these women and how do you recruit them?

The initial products are being lovingly sewn by women from the marginalised Narikuravar gypsy community in Pondicherry, India. This is a community that has been stigmatized and discriminated against within the Indian social system, a remnant of British Rule in India. I partner with local NGOs to identify communities in need which can benefit from training, education and/or employment by my social enterprise.

Why did you decide to focus on female empowerment through fair trade values in India as opposed to other countries?

I’m ethnically Indian and am all too familiar with the gender divide in India and Indian culture. It’s something that I grew up with and am determined to change. Close to 70% of India’s population lives in rural areas with limited to no access to basic sanitation, health services, or electricity. Lack of access to these basic services contributes to widespread poverty, unemployment, and increasing indebtedness of households. Women in India are often seen as second-class citizens compared to men, so opportunities are even more limited. Women are not often in control of their finances, family situations or even their own earnings, and marginalised women even more so. Marginalised women are also highly susceptible to gender-based violence, as there is so much stigma surrounding women’s societal and cultural roles and expectations. For example, women who end up being trafficked, raped, or divorced tend to be outcast by society, and are valued even less than women who were not impacted by similar situations. It feels right to start in India, but I truly hope to be able to expand to other countries once I have created a sustainable project in India.

I saw that you recently reached your initial crowdfunding goal! Congratulations! How do you plan to use the money?

Thank you! I still can’t believe that the campaign did so well, and I am so excited to start moving forward with my project. I will be using the funds to commission products to be sold, to sponsor sewing and tailor training, to purchase materials, etc. Overall, the funds will be used to benefit the communities I work with, and any surplus funds will be invested back into the women and their communities. For example, one initial idea is to provide compostable menstrual hygiene products and sanitary hygiene training to the women who will make the products.

You recently announced that you will be partnering with an NGO in India. What is this organization and how will you work together? What other groups or people do you hope to work with in India?

I will be partnering with Samugam Trust in Pondicherry, India. Samugam is committed to the education of the underprivileged, the economic development of the oppressed class, the empowerment of the disabled and marginalized, and the rehabilitation of Leprosy patients and the physically challenged. Ultimately, they are devoted to the development and reintegration of socially and economically ostracised people and the underprivileged children of India.

Poverty has different meanings in different countries. How does poverty “look” different in the UK versus India?

Poverty is everywhere, but here in the UK we are still quite privileged to have solid social systems and ‘free’ good quality healthcare for citizens and registered residents. Homelessness and poverty are huge issues in the UK, and even though we’re considered a high-income country, and one of the world’s leading economies, the reality is that we have a lot of social issues that need addressing. Still, the average income level is high, life expectancy is long, and poverty is minimal when you look at the population overall – we have a great quality of life and living standard in the UK compared to many other countries in the world.

In lower income countries like India, the middle class continues to grow and the economy has been booming in recent years, but much of the population still lives in extreme poverty. There’s a huge gender imbalance, and many of the subcontinent’s people don’t have access to basic human needs like sanitation, clean water, food, or regular employment. Things are improving, but 2/3 of the country still lives in poverty, earning less than $2 a day.

What has been the most difficult part of building a nonprofit organization from the ground up?

Funding is incredibly important, but it’s hard to convince people or companies to invest in your ideas when they won’t see a return. Many social enterprises run as for-profit businesses, but with a good social cause. My company is non-profit, and profits will be invested back into the communities – so essentially, you need to appeal to people on a human level to get them to invest in your cause. Additionally, I have to be careful with spending, as any funds that I spend can impact or limit the social impact I can have. The more cost-effective I am, the more funding can go back into the communities I intend to benefit. It’s tough to balance minimising cost, maximising impact and still trying to create a product that customers will want to buy. The challenge is ongoing!

What is your biggest hope for Shakti.ism?

I hope that I can do the project justice by expanding my customer base, sharing the all-important stories of the women that are empowered as a result of this project, and I truly hope to make it a sustainable ongoing project, so that we can empower and employ as many women as possible. Above all, I truly hope it makes a difference to help marginalised and disadvantaged women and girls.

What does a fair trade world look like to you?

All companies that sell consumer and corporate goods should be accountable for providing fair trade employment and working conditions. I truly believe companies should be transparent about their manufacturing and supply sourcing, and accountability should be mandatory. For example, a lot of British supermarkets print the exact farm that your fruits and vegetables come from, in whichever country they’re sourced from – we should have a similar standard for all goods (including industries like fashion/fast-fashion, where human trafficking and poor working conditions and sweatshops are all too common).

You also run she will survive, a website that promotes gender equality and support for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Can you tell me how she will survive’s mission aligns with Shakti.ism’s mission? What is the relationship between these projects?

she will survive has two primary missions; to provide support resources to every woman or girl impacted by sexual abuse or violence in every country in the world to spread awareness and to provide research-backed educational materials to reduce harmful behaviours and cultural norms which encourage gender based violence. Shakti.ism is closely aligned with part 2 of my sister site’s mission, to empower and educate women, particularly those at risk of gender-based violence. Empowering, employing and ‘lifting’ women contributes to gender-equality and helps bridge the gender gap.

What advice would you give to someone looking to found a nonprofit?

Read Start with Why by Simon Sinek, and then follow the principle that ensures your social cause is at the root of every decision you make, and stay true to that cause. Also, don’t be afraid to take risks, even if you’re trying to minimise costs. I’d also strongly recommend reading some or all of Muhammad Yunus’s books on social business and reducing poverty.

You can stay up to date on Shakti.ism by following it on Instagram and Facebook.