♻️👩🎨 Empowering Women Through Sustainable Fashion: The ‘I Was A Sari’ Initiative
♻️👩🎨 Empowering Women Through Sustainable Fashion: The ‘I Was A Sari’ Initiative Innovative Social Enterprise In Mumbai’s Andheri suburb, the ‘I Was A Sari’ initiative employs underprivileged women to repurpose old saris into high-end fashion items. Founded in 2014 by Stefano Funari, this social enterprise sources saris from Mumbai’s Chor Bazaar and transforms them into unique products like jackets, kimonos, and jewelry. These items are exported to over 30 countries, providing employment to around 350 individuals, including 300 women. The initiative not only promotes cultural heritage and environmental sustainability but also collaborates with NGOs to offer vocational training and create zero-waste products. Fast Company Relevance to Samrat Foundation Women’s Empowerment: This model exemplifies how social enterprises can uplift underprivileged women by providing them with skills and employment opportunities. Sustainable Practices: The focus on recycling and zero-waste aligns with environmental sustainability goals, serving as an inspiration for similar initiatives. Collaborative Efforts: Partnerships with NGOs highlight the importance of collaborative approaches in achieving social impact.