It is a story of a fashion label originating from the grassroot level and making it on the big stage of a Fashion Week. This is the launch of Silai, a brand created with intense passion and a mélange of collaborations, from the Silai school women to fashion designers, NGOs and Usha's own team, working round the clock to make it happen. The past few months have seen rigorous training sessions for the shortlisted Silai school women by the fashion designer mentors, sleepless night and stiff production schedules, but what shines through it all is the grit and dedication that these women brought to the project. It was more than just being a part of a global fashion network for these women. Coming to a city like Mumbai itself was a dream come true for many of them. For years Lakme Fashion Week has led the conversation on promoting Indian handlooms and textiles. This season they decided to bring the impact of skill training and sustainable development in our country to the fore. A specially designed show to launch the Usha Silai Label and showcase the work done by the Silai school women was put together as an ode to sustainability and a success story for India's quest for skill development. The Silai label initiative has come a long way from its conception to launch and the journey has only just begun.
Kushalta Ke Kadam, an initiative by USHA Silai School and NDTV has entered its eighth season. The aim is to empower more women across rural India by teaching them sewing skills and helping them open new doors of opportunities for themselves. The initiative encourages rural women to become financially independent and entrepreneurs by taking up sewing and training others in their respective communities.
Since 2011, the USHA Silai School initiative has trained more than 12 lakh rural women through over 33,000 Silai schools, spanning over 20,751 villages across India.
The women earn Rs. 4,000 – 5,000 per month on an average, with the highest recorded monthly earning being Rs. 84,000 in a month. This earning works as a catalyst towards building their self-confidence, reducing gender inequities, and raising their stature within their families and in society at large.
Rebari girls grow up learning traditional embroidery, which along with their new found sewing skills developed at Usha Silai Schools, is helping them earn a living.
Usha Silai School has empowered many rural women to support their family and send their children to school.
The Usha Silai School, established in a small nondescript village that goes by the name of Kottai, is helping empower people from varied communities.
The all-inclusive Usha Silai School Programme covers the entire nation from hamlets tucked between hills to villages cast by the sea.
Vegetables farmers from the Mizoram hills earn very little given the topography of the area. Usha Silai Schools have played an important part in this region by skilling women to financially contribute towards their households.
Usha Silai School learner Lucy has trained seven other women in her community, helping them to become financially independent.
Women like Kaviben from the nomadic Rebari community are finally laying down their roots as they begin to gain financial independence and thereby stability through Usha Silai School.
Usha Silai School, located in the Gujarat's Bhuj village, is enabling rural women to earn as much as Rs. 2,500-4,000 each month.
Usha Silai School, in association with a Gujarat based NGO called Kala Raksha, is trying to bring about a Silai revolution in Bhuj.
Besides training other women from their community, many Usha Silai School learners have become entrepreneurs in their own right.
With sewing becoming easily accessible and lucrative, the silai schools are also helping revive traditional motifs and designs.
Since 2011, the Usha Silai School initiative has trained over 14 lakh rural women through 36,000 schools across India, with 108 partner NGOs nationwide
In Rajasthans rural villages, once limited by few opportunities, women are now leading change through strategic partnerships with grassroots organisations like Unnayan Samiti
Empowering Rural Women: How Usha Silai Schools are transforming communities and NGOs
Usha Silai Schools transform lives by providing marginalized women with skills, confidence, and independence
After losing her husband, Jyoti Rani fought all odds, learned sewing, and built a new life for her family
From immobility to independence, Sakuben Ahir's journey showcases resilience. Through Usha Silai School, she empowered herself and uplifted her community