Sari For Change
What does your company do?
We provide training skills in garment making to unemployed women in the townships in Johannesburg, whilst using recycled textiles to create new garments. Through linking to the circular economy, we are able to supply retail chains locally with sustainable garments as per our last Pick n Pay collaboration, the first of its kind. We operate in the manufacturing and textile industry and all our garments are made from recycled saris or combines with other heritage fabric.
Through sari donations and buying in of gently worn saris, we are saving these heritage textiles from landfill and encouraging for a new consciousness in fashion consumption. We align to most of the SDGs, coining our business model, the sacred economy.
What is your biggest success?
Our business model being recognized for its Pay It Forward model by Goldman Sachs
Breaking into retail stores this year through a collaboration with Pick n Pay and supplying Big Blue stores countrywide with one of our heritage jackets design
Selected to attend COP28 to share our business story by International Trade Centre, a UN agency, one of five companies selected globally.
What has been your biggest hurdle?
Educating around sustainable and slow fashion versus fast fashion
Support and buy in from corporate and the fashion industry
logistics in sari collections
Funding for increasing the training hubs to transition them to manufacturing units
