Blog by Shakti.ism, a women's empowerment initiative

In the heart of Rajasthan, amidst the vibrant colours and rich cultural heritage, Jaipur stands as a beacon of artistic prowess. One of the city's most cherished traditions is the intricate art of block printing, a craft that has been passed down through generations, weaving stories onto fabric and leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of textile artistry. In this blog post, we delve into the fascinating world of block printing in Jaipur, India, exploring its history, techniques, and the artisans who breathe life into this timeless craft.

Running a social enterprise means that each day brings a different challenge. One task could involve calculating exchange rates in four different currencies. And then back to the original currency (one day last week). Other days, you might get to do administrative stuff, or play with ink

We did it! On 29th April 2020 we successfully raised £2,432 with 59 supporters in 28 days (an additional ~£600 was also raised offline) to train 10 tribal and disabled women to sew in Pondicherry, India. 

An introduction to My Choices Foundation, a Shakti.ism partner in Hyderabad that works to combat domestic abuse and sex trafficking in India.

I am delighted to announce the Basha Collection will be launching soon at Shakti.ism, particularly as our first collaboration to empower disadvantaged women outside of India. Basha is a social enterprise based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that works to empower women who are at risk and those who have survived human trafficking.

I was in India in February earlier this year, purely on a social mission. You see, I had spent the last 6+ months scouring the country looking for accountable, transparent and most importantly impactful NGOs to partner with in India, primarily those that support and empower women and girls. So when I planned my trip to India, I basically planned all my activities and meetings back-to-back to maximise my time. I was spending an entire week away from my two children, which is not an easy feat and is not an opportunity to be wasted.

An update from the founder of Shakti.ism: I returned home to London nearly a week ago, and I am still buzzing with inspiration, ideas and excitement from my recent solo trip to India, which was for my nonprofit social enterprise Shakti.ism – a women’s empowerment initiative.