Along with Gucci’s support, the ‘I was a Sari’ digital project aims to train new expert artisans in the art of embroidery.
The new professional embroidery training program created by ‘I was a Sari’ along with the support of Gucci, debuted on an online digital portal, users can join the online training program by sending an email to support@iwasasari.com
The new course, with the evocative name “Now I Can” is structured in 2 parts and 80 sections and covers both theoretical and practical learning. The initiative stems from the long-time experience of ‘I was a Sari’, a social enterprise that has been working for years to train groups of Indian women from disadvantaged communities, offering them the opportunity to become skilled craftswomen and gain financial independence. For the first time it allows Indian women to access a sector which was traditionally reserved for men.
“Now I Can” was created with Gucci’s support through its CHIME FOR CHANGE initiative, with the aim of further enhancing the impact of the partnership between ‘I was a Sari’ and Gucci and increasing the number of women beneficiaries of the project. In fact, social enterprises, NGOs and associations will be able to offer the course free of charge to their members and promote a qualified professional training for Indian women, who can in this way enter the labour market and ensure an income, especially during this difficult time due to the pandemic.
“The idea of creating a turnkey course on the art of embroidery was born from the desire to train an increasing number of Indian women from disadvantaged social backgrounds.” Stefano Funari, Founder and Managing Director di I was a Sari, explains. “Together with Gucci we have decided to offer this new content free of charge to anyone who shares our values and is interested in creating a new generation of female artisans.”.
“Inclusion for Gucci means creating a sense of belonging, through concrete actions.” Explains Antonella Centra, EVP General Counsel, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at Gucci. “With ‘Now I Can’ craftsmanship is a tool for social emancipation and offers to disadvantaged women the opportunity to find their own place in the world of work and grow professionally. Values that are a fundamental part of our CHIME FOR CHANGE campaign and which immediately brought us closer to the ‘I was a Sari’ project.”
Founded by Stefano Funari in 2013, ‘I was a Sari’ is an Indian social enterprise selling contemporary garments and accessories through the creative reuse of pre-loved saris. Each ‘I was a Sari’ product is handcrafted by Indian artisans and guarantees them a regular source of income, which involved more than 170 artisans in 2020.
Gucci, committed to the issues of gender equality, diversity and women’s empowerment, as well as the promotion of virtuous circular economy processes, has supported the initiative since 2018 through various forms of collaboration. For example, thanks to the support of four Gucci partners, the artisans of ‘I was a Sari’ received specific training on the main traditional embroidery techniques and from this experience a new line of luxury products stamped ‘I was a Sari’ was launched.
For further information about the training program, visit https://iwasasari.com/now-i-can/
