Bringing Compassion to the Textile Industry: Anchal Project
When Colleen Clines was a graduate student studying landscape architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design, she visited India and worked with a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) that provided local sex workers with meaningful employment in the fashion and textile industry. In 2014, this grew into the Anchal Project, a non-profit clothing line dedicated to addressing the exploitation of women around the world through design, employment, creativity, and eco-friendly products.
Colleen Clines (right) founded Anchal Project in 2014. Soon after, her sister, Maggie, joined her as Creative Director
The name, Anchal [pronounced on-chal] is the edge of a sari used to provide love & comfort to loved ones, a symbol of Anchal’s mission. Out of an estimated 40 million commercial sex workers in the world, the United Nations estimates that 10 million of them are in India. 85% of Anchal artisans originally joined the commercial sex trade due to a lack of alternative options. Anchal believes that design and problem-solving can create positive social change in the world. By economically empowering these women, they believe that families, communities, and entire societies can be transformed.
Anchal uses a holistic model to address the diverse needs of each of their artisans, equipping them with resources and tools for sustainable employment, education, market access, design/skills training, and community. These programs offer alternatives to dangerous work, restoring women’s dignity, autonomy, and creativity.
"Anchal artisans are smart, talented women who are empowered through design training, health benefits, education workshops and financial security. The artisans design beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces and support themselves and their families through safe and dignified employment."
In addition to addressing the global exploitation of women, Anchal’s programs confront the environmentally destructive effects of the textile industry. The rise of “fast fashion” has resulted in practices in the global textile industry that are harmful to both people and the environment. The textile industry is the second largest polluter of the environment and is one of the most exploitative of human beings. The harsh chemicals released during the industrial dyeing process contribute to the pollution of the air and water, corrupting ecosystems and people’s access to safe drinking water. In addition, the unethical labor and wage practices abundant in the global textile industry trap people in an endless cycle of poverty.
The textile industry is the second largest polluter of the environment and is one of the most exploitative of human beings.
Anchal’s model seeks to provide innovative solutions. By using recycled materials and natural dyes, they are able to provide environmental change as well as social change. In fact, their passion for sustainability and women’s rights led them from India to the state of Kentucky where a very special project was born.
In 2014, the mayor of Louisville, Kentucky announced the “Lots of Possibility” competition which asked socially engaged citizens to imagine the possibilities for vacant lots around their city. Winners would receive one of those lots and a grant to help make their ideas a reality.
Anchal was one of the winners.
Their innovative idea was a garden of dye flowers that would rejuvenate the local eco-friendly textile industry in Louisville and provide meaningful employment for exploited women in the city. This project became known as dyeScape, a city-wide network of gardens that not only provides an unexpected pop of color in their neighborhoods, but also helps restore dignity to members of the community.
Anchal’s dyeScape program seeks to empower and educate women, revolutionize the wildly polluting textile industry, and transform communities. Since dyeScape’s beginning, they have serviced 19 women through workshop trainings and employed two survivors. Their goal is to employ 10 women by 2020.
They believe that by transforming Louisville’s vacant city lots into vibrant, colorful flower gardens, these dye sites will serve as the ground for educational workshops where community members can come together to learn about gardening, dyeing, and the environmental/human benefits of sustainable fashion practices. In addition, as a local branch of Anchal’s programs, dyeScape is addressing the sexual exploitation of women in Louisville.
From attending workshops to volunteering, the opportunities to get involved with the Anchal Project and their dyeScape program are endless. Plus, Anchal’s beautiful, handmade scarves , ponchos , and bags are the perfect way to style your Dressember dress!
Anchal products would also be the perfect way to say thank you to your Dressember supporters or to surprise your Dressember teammates as the end of the campaign nears.
Happy styling!
We are amazed at the Anchal Project and how they are continuing to use creativity and innovation to make a difference for those in their community and make a difference for artisans in India. We highly recommend checking out their full website, and seeing how you might get involved in their mission.
XO
About the Author
Torie Pfau is a tiny person with big dreams. She started her freshman year of college this year and is excited about where this new adventure will lead. She loves telling stories, trying new recipes, and exploring the world.