Small Steps, a unit of Upasana Design Studio in Auroville, is focused on engaging local communities to switch over from plastic bags to reusable cloth bags. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement more-in Upasana Design Studio in Auroville is setting up shop in Bengaluru with a line of “Evergreen Fashion”. According to Uma Prajapati, Upasana founder, the Upasana Shop n Shop at Basava by Kris is slated to open on Thursday. The collection ranges across khadi, desi cotton, Indigo (natural dye) and the festive pieces which are all about conscious and ethical luxury along with upcycled art-wear, featuring Varanasi Weavers’ s Silk. Upasana Design Studio is one of the 174 social enterprises in the industrial zone in Auroville. Initially working with organic cotton farmers, Upasana emerged independently as a brand collaborating at different levels with weavers, adapting the designs of tribal people and weavers living in the remote corners of India, making their products marketable and reaching out to the world outside. With the mantra of sustainable fashion business, Upasana, which started with an initial investment of ?2,000, now records a turnover of up to ?3 crore. Fighting disparities According to Ms. Prajapati, the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world and there was disparity within. Upasana strives to transform that space by working with farmers, weavers and tsunami victims. “I believe that there is so much power in fashion, if it can be conscious it can serve people and not exploit them,” she said. The unit looks for opportunities to engage local communities. Upasana started working with the Varanasi weavers in 2006 and later went on to introduce a brand called “Varanasi Weavers” which encouraged weavers to continue their livelihood. Post tsunami, a project that was started as trauma counselling for fisherwomen in February 2005, turned into a doll-making enterprise involving the local people. The tiny dolls called “Tsunamika,” which were marketed on a gift economy, went on to receive the Award of Excellence from the Government of India and a special recognition from Unesco. An estimated 5 million dolls have travelled to 80 countries.

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