USHA Silai School Changes Life Of Women Through Lakme Fashion Week

Within 7 years, with 17,000 schools, spanning over 9000 Indian villages, the USHA Silai School has trained over 3.5 lakh rural women. In 2018, the garments made by the women from these schools, under the guidance of four designers were showcased at the Lakme Fashion Week. Since then their life has been transformed with the clothes now selling under the Silai Label at multi-brand outlet in Delhi.

Before starting her own sewing school in 2016, 35-year-old Sunita Devi Kumavat, worked as daily wage laborer with RIICO in Jaipur. Through her dedication, hard work and passion for stitching she earned the opportunity to produce a clothing line that was launched at the Lakme Fashion Week 2018. From making simple blouses to now venturing into making fancy palazzos, Sunita has come a long way and now teaches new things to her students.

34-year-old Santosh Kumavat, who got to know about USHA Silai School Programme in 2013, the stage of country's prestigious fashion show, Lakme Fashion Week 2018 in Mumbai. Now being a self-independent woman, Santosh responsibly manages her house. She is balancing both her career and her home.
After undergoing the seven-day training programme, Santosh learnt the basics of stitching and soon started training the ladies at a Government Center, as asked by the Government.
With her polished sewing skills, today, Santosh supports her husband Chiranji Lal in managing her family financially.

Meet Bhavika from Dholka cluster who despite being deaf and dumb is full of motivation to achieve her goals and now works for Silai Label.
Meet Raziaben Mehboobbhai Pinjara, a physically challenged woman, a homemaker, and a mother of three, who along with 31 USHA Silai School women produced a clothing line that was launched at Lakme Fashion Week 2018.
Despite being handicapped by one foot, Raziaben works on a foot paddle sewing machine and train women of her village.

While rural women are leaving no stone unturned to achieve their dreams, it is the designers who guide them at every stage.
Shaila, the designer from Dholka cluster, helping Silai woman in the production of Silai Label.
Vimal, the trainer from Usha Silai School program is teaching the Silai women at the Jaipur Cluster. He is closely working with the women to complete the production.