Enactus Aryabhatta, while holding the values of perseverance and resilience to its roots, aspires towards creating a sustainably better world. Through Project Palaash, it aims to stitch together a society which tackles social and environmental conundrums that sadly exist.
Project Palaash strives to move on a rail towards ending poverty. It ensures that the beneficiaries get access to basic services and improve their quality of life.
2021 was one of the planet's seven hottest years since records began with 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions contributed solely by the fashion industry. Project Palaash aims to minimise climate risk by averting pollutants from water bodies, and preventing water intoxication.
This Goal aims to restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt and reverse land degradation. Palaash contributes to this by producing natural dyes that are non-toxic and completely biodegradable.
Project Palaash protects labour rights and promotes a safe environment for all workers. We have collaborated with an NGO called STOP India Global Movement, working against oppression of children and women. We provide vocational training and financial security to our beneficiaries.
Project Palaash strives to move on a rail towards ending poverty. It essentially provides social protection to its beneficiaries by ensuring them enhanced access to basic services and mitigating the bottlenecks of a quality life.
It aims at Conserving and sustainably using marine resources for sustainable development. Project Palaash follows this by promoting alternative methods to synthetic dyeing and mitigating the use of toxic substances.
Tons of flowers are offered at different places of worship everyday. What follows is a dark story that is rarely talked about. After being swept away, the flowers are dumped into water bodies, polluting them with harmful pesticides and insecticides. Floral waste accounts for 1/3 rd of India's total solid waste.
Another unrecognized issue is of poor opportunities for Human Trafficking victims. Around 16 million women in India fall victim to human trafficking.
The Social and environmental vices of fast fashion and synthetic dyeing are a big impediment in the way of sustainability. Its Ill effects include cancer to its makers, severe water wastage, industrial water pollution, harm to marine life, high CO2 emissions and microplastic fibres discharge into water bodies.
solution
Project Palaash utilises floral waste to make organically dyed fabric and creates employment opportunities for destitute community members. Moreover, it promotes sustainable fashion through the use of 100% handloom cotton fabric which is completely vegan.
Each and every step, from procurement of flowers to packaging is coloured with eco-friendly methods. Making entrepreneurs out of our beneficiaries, we upskill them in techniques such as tie and dye, ombre, clamping and block printing on fabrics. This project treads on the glorious path of fusing creativity with environmental conscience.
business model
Our supply chain originates from two points: a) temples where wasted floral offerings are procured from, and b) handloom weaving units in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat from where we source 100% organic cotton fabric.
They converge at our production sites where the apparels are organically dyed and sustainably packaged by our beneficiaries, they are shipped off by our delivery agents.
Project Palaash has managed to be at par with the current dynamic business environment so as to further enhance its impact. Our e-commerce website facilitates a greater ease of placing orders and allows our customers to be in tune with our new ventures and product lines.
At Enactus Aryabhatta, we are constantly engaged in devising the most optimal solutions—environmentally, socially and economically. Our business model is driven by the endeavour to employ a zero waste system wherein waste generated during all stages of production is either recycled or upcycled.
We follow a multifaceted approach for creating opportunities for economic growth and uplifting the social status of many communities. Right from the procurement and transportation of floral waste to selling our final product we provide employment opportunities to deprived and backward communities.
beneficiaries
The true essence of Project Palaash is our beloved beneficiaries . Our women entrepreneurs working as beneficiaries under this project are victims of human trafficking. More than 70% of these victims are illiterate, reducing their chances of getting a job. Through our project, we aim to empower these women to become self-sufficient social entrepreneurs and be financially independent.
Another set of beneficiaries is a team of 300 artisans. The team has been involved in the creation of diverse products—all perfected by the skill of over 20 tailors working meticulously to stitch and bring the designs to life. The motto of the community is to promote sustainability with their craft, which is why all their products are made with cotton.
With an experience of more than 25 years the artisans belong to the weaver community of Vankars in Gujarat and have had generations of skilful workers. The shift in trends to fast fashion have gravely endangered this community, offsetting their sales and outreach and thus causing this traditional Indian artform to get lost in the fast fashion industry.
impact
Our project strives for an inclusive and impregnable growth through its operations.
Project Palaash has approximately salvaged 2500 kg of floral waste and produced 900 kgs of compost. 1200 dye baths have been created which has helped avert more than 10 kgs of pollutants from the water bodies.
Holistically, the project has mentored 30 community members through skill development and vocational training and imparted fundamental knowledge of running a micro business.
It has empowered women to triumph through those hurdles in life and become financially independent, thus freeing them from the heavy weights of past experiences. They have now become self-sufficient social entrepreneurs.
Problem
Project Palaash provides employment opportunities to underprivileged women and victims of human trafficking to empower them and reduce inequalities.