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India, SilaiWali, Textile Dolls
Founded in New Delhi in 2019, Silaiwali is a Fair Trade social enterprise created by designer Iris Strill and visual journalist Bishwadeep Moitra, working in close collaboration with Afghan refugee women and tribal artisans from West Bengal. From a small beginning with ten makers, Silaiwali has grown into a community supporting over 400 women, offering dignified livelihoods rooted in craft, care, and connection.
Operating from Khirki Extension — a neighbourhood shaped by migration and resilience — Silaiwali transforms textile waste from garment factories into hand-stitched dolls, accessories, and home objects. Each piece is made through a zero-waste, circular process, where discarded cotton fabrics are sorted, cut, stitched, embroidered, and assembled entirely by hand. No two creations are ever the same.
At its heart, Silaiwali is guided by principles of dignity, sustainability, and solidarity. Fair wages, safe working conditions, and skill-building sit alongside environmental responsibility, proving that ethical production can be both beautiful and impactful. Endorsed by organisations including UNHCR and MADE51, Silaiwali’s work speaks to a belief that craft — when practised with intention — can empower communities, honour resources, and stitch new futures from what was once overlooked.
Follow the story of SilaiWali:
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