Meet Our Makers—India

India Current Weather

73 million citizens of India live in poverty and 20% of the population lives on less than $2 per day. Imagine trying to budget for basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter for your family on this income, then try to imagine including “luxuries” like electricity, transportation, and running water in your home. Even with enormous sacrifice this is a near impossible task.

India's caste system is among the world's oldest forms of surviving social stratification. This 3000 year old system divides the population into four main categories that each hold a ranking in society. The upper castes receive special privileges and advantages while the lower castes live a life of less. Women are severely discriminated against and treated unfairly, creating a wider gap in inequality between castes. In a heavily male-dominated society, women are disempowered and considered inferior simply because of their gender.

This same inequality exists in the workforce. The already low wages women receive continues to decrease as they age. In a developing society like India, people who don’t generate economic value, like the elderly, lose their individual value. Women are not presented opportunities to earn a living for themselves starting at a young age and, consequently, their social disadvantages as they grow older only worsen.

Though there’s still much change to be had, we’ve been able to contribute to efforts that are shifting this issue.

Our goal is to provide opportunity to hardworking people to help break this cycle.

India’s GDP would rise by $5.5 billion if only an additional 1% of girls continued to secondary school. Think of the impact that would have on underserved communities, infrastructure, hunger, and quality of life. Of our partnership with 4 groups in India, 80% of our makers are women. We value them because their potential is beyond valuable. We work to create opportunity and help give them a voice in their community while building up confidence within themselves.

With opportunity comes hope. Your purchases have helped fund a water filtration system for a community of artisans, annually saving up to 1 million gallons of water by removing toxins. Filtered water protects the body from disease and leads to overall better health. Something as simple as clean water has drastically improved the lives of many and will continue to impact this community for years to come.