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

At our partner centre in Rajasthan, one artisan’s journey speaks to the quiet resilience and radiant passion that fuels her every creation. “I have always been a creative person,” she shares. Her roots in painting and crochet laid the foundation, but it was stepping into the world of textile printing that brought her creative spirit to life in new untapped ways.

In the heart of a busy workshop, one artisan has spent the last fifteen years transforming plain fabric into vibrant stories. Armed with her trusty Pantone cards and a set of newly inked printing blocks, she delights in experimenting with fresh hues.    

Screen printing is a centuries-old technique used to transfer designs onto fabrics using a stencil and ink. A fine mesh screen is used to hold the screen in place, and ink is pushed through the open areas of the design using a tool called a squeegee.

Each colour in the design requires a separate screen, making the process both technical and artistic. It’s especially prized for its bold, vibrant results and the ability to reproduce detailed patterns by hand.

Behind every Shakti.ism piece lies the story of an artisan whose hands have helped reshape tradition and in doing so, reshaped her own life. For seven years, this incredible artisan woman  has brought intricate block‐printing to vibrant life, defying expectations in a craft once reserved for men.

At the heart of every Shakti.ism creation lies a story of resilience, love, and unbreakable hope. One artisan in Bangladesh who has dedicated more than a decade to her craft reminds us that each piece we carry into our homes is far more than fabric and thread. It’s the product of hands shaped by hardship, hearts filled with determination, and spirits uplifted by community.

In an age where sustainability is more than a buzzword, consumers are increasingly drawn to eco-friendly products. Yet, lurking behind the green façade of many brands is a disheartening truth: greenwashing. This practice, where companies falsely promote themselves as environmentally or socially responsible, not only misleads well-meaning customers but also perpetuates exploitation in the supply chain.

So how do you, as a conscious consumer, ensure your purchases truly make a difference? By choosing small businesses like Shakti.ism, where transparency and ethical practices are embedded into every step of the process.

SAREETONIN is a saree donation drive that was coordinated by Six Yards Plus. It was started as part of Daan Utsav 2021, and is now a regular feature at Six Yards Plus. The sarees were donated to either go to Goonj for direct donation and further use, or to Shaktiism for upcycling.

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

This month, we’re lucky to have what I hope is the first of many guest posts by incredible change-makers that are tackling social problems with creative business solutions. First up is my inspiring friend Michelle, who is a co-founder of The Harvest Fund, a US-based nonprofit organisation that helps entrepreneurially-minded, small-scale Zambian female farmers access agricultural innovations and microfinance.

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.