EMPLOYMENT OVER CHARITY
FASHION MANUFACTURERS LEATHER MANUFACTURERS. ETHICAL MANUFACTURERS.
BAG MANUFACTURERS
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Charity isn't sustainable. Because charity emphasises the idea that people do not have what it takes to change their own lives; that they need outward support. While charity can help, it doesn't cure the he This is false and unsustainable.
At SALADI, we believe empowerment comes from within. A change in our Artisans mindset, brings a change in their actions, which inevitably brings change in their life.
So when our community is in need, SALADI offers employment instead. To make this transition easy for those who have never worked before (or have never worked in the fashion industry before), SALADI helps train them for the job. So far, around 70% of our current artisans are trained by SALADI, and almost all of them came to work with us with close to no experience.
Recycling has become a part of our culture. Here at SALADI, we use recycled leather to manufacture our products.
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How it works is:
Big fashion houses dump their unused resources, which usually ends up in landfills. SALADI collaborates with other suppliers to recycle those discarded scraps of leather, and re-use it in the fashion industry. Hence, we eliminate new demand by diverting what would have gone to waste. Currently, recycling seems to be a necessary part of protecting fashion’s future, until we collectively come up with better ways to be environmentally sustainable.
Stories
RAKEEB ANSARI
Rakeeb was born at a time and place that didn’t know the value of education. Hence, right at the age of 13, his uncle started teaching him the family craft of tailoring. Without the knowledge to read or write, he created his own practical way of making patterns and tailoring garments. Because he lacks theoretical knowledge, he requires time and patience to create the patterns. He loves working at SALADI because he gets freedom for both. He also loves exploring his creative side here at SALADI.
Off duty, he’s truly a family man, educating his 4 children and tending to his sick wife, who frequently requires medical attention. And for his future, he believes he’s still writing his story.
LAXMI DEVI
Laxmi hails from Chamoli Jila in UttaraKhand, where even today they need to get home before it's dark, fearing for any wild animal attacks. She spent her youth in the forest. Cutting wood, exploring the rivers and trees, cutting wood again, cleaning the house, and cutting some more wood; it soon all started to become repetitive. Laxmi doesn’t like repetitive, so-much-so that she quit school without telling her parents.
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Her village didn’t need much access to the city, because it was quite self-sustainable. Everything was quite hygienic and healthy. They rarely got sick and usually had no requirements for medicines. On the other end of the spectrum, this meant lack of choice, primarily, the choice of having a career. Laxmi wasn’t given the choice to work, because “once she’s married, she’s just a housewife anyway”.
Married with 3 kids, she couldn't let them miss out on life like she did. She wanted her kids to make their own choices. She moved to Delhi - looking for a good school to educate her kids, and for a job to pay for it.
It was 5 years ago when she came to SALADI for the first time, looking for a job. 4 of those years, she’s been in SALADI’s main team. Her explorative heart is still quite alive, from fabrication to quality control, she’s constantly learning and doing a bit of everything; and now she’s even learning to stitch.
GEETA
CHAUHAN
Geeta had no intentions of working before covid, but since her husband lost his job due to COVID, Geeta and her sister stepped up to support their huge family with no previous job experiences and no skills, they walked into many companies and found their home here at SALADI.
Our founder, Suneli, hired and trained them and they have been very happy working with SALADI for a year. She has not only learned the skills that are required but with hard work and excellence, she is now part of SALADI’S core team. Geeta loves the environment where all the employees show compassion towards her at SALADI. She would love to learn more and loves the community she is part of.
REENA
Reena's most devastating time was when she lost her husband the same day she gave birth to her third daughter. Due to a certain cultural superstition, her in-laws abandoned her as well as her children to survive on the streets. Her parents also shut their door. She survived for 6 months without a penny to her name. That’s when she had her awakening; she realized, only she can do something about her situation, and not someone else! She knew she had to be independent.
Having no prior experience or skills, she began her search. She met our founder, who hired her to perform her favorite hobby for all of us - cooking. She has been with SALADI for 5 years now as our lead Chef.
Reena is committed towards leading her three daughters in the path of an independent lifestyle. She’s taking their education very seriously.
We proudly hear her say,
“Hatt nahi filaya kisi ke samne”
(Transliteration: It wasn't another person that helped my situation).