Our Projects
Our mission is to create conscious sustainable fashion where we are taking care of our environmental cost and not passing it on to the future. For us, design is creative, problem-solving. Any problem, be it post-tsunami trauma, farmer suicides, garbage littering, weavers losing their job, Upasana looks at social issues as a space to exercise for change.
Out of these real problems were born the following projects:
Tsunamika
A living symbol of hope
Facebook : @tsunamika.alivingsymbol
YouTube: Tsunamika Ocean My Home
» Started as a trauma counselling effort for fisherwomen after the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004, today more than five million Tsunamika dolls are made and sent to over 80 countries. Tsunamika has now become a ’symbol of hope’. They are gifts of love and friendship. The raw material came from industrial waste and more than 600 women were taught to make them.
» Tsunamika runs on ’gift economy’ - it is never sold, but given. The project runs on community support where people take dolls and contribute as per their capacity. Tsunamika project has been given the ‘Award of Excellence’ by the Government of India and a special recognition by UNESCO.
SmallSteps
For a big change
Facebook : @smallstepsbags
Smallsteps is a green campaign which was launched as a solution to the environmental problem of plastic carry bags. We encourage people to avoid the usage of plastic bags by carrying their own shopping bag. Smallsteps, however, is more than just a bag. Women from more than 14 villages work to make these bags. Smallsteps believes that solutions to our problems lie in every little step we take every day.
Varanasi Weavers
Continuing the thread of tradition
Facebook: @varanasiweavers.org
Upasana began to work with weavers community in Benaras in 2006 and later went on to introduce a brand called ’Varanasi Weavers.’ This project encourages the weavers to continue what they are good in – weaving. Upasana involves itself with the community with social intervention, design, communication solutions and marketing. This project has been granted special recognition by the UNESCO. Upasana has introduced Varanasi both nationally and globally and has also brought many brands to work in support of the weavers community.
Paruthi
India’s Local Organic Brand
Facebook:@paruthiclothes
With ’Paruthi’, Upasana decided to go ’Organic’ in 2011. Upasana has been working with the Organic cotton farming community for many years and decided to launch the brand in their support. Paruthi, in Tamil, means 'Cotton’. It has taken a fashion route to sustainability and successfully launched a clothing line under 'Responsible fashion’. Uma, founder of Upasana says, “Fashion has the power to change the world. Give it a chance.”