Saturday 6 September, 6-7 p.m.: Online Talk: From Seed to Garment: Decolonising Ethical Fashion with Madhu Vaishnav of Saheli Women

Join Saheli Women’s founder, Madhu Vaishnav, as she guides you through what ethical fashion looks like when practiced through a holistic model that respects nature, cultural heritage and the artisan, inviting a deeper appreciation of the craft and care behind truly ethical fashion.

Saheli Women is a female-led ethical fashion social enterprise based in Rajasthan, India, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for women through textile craftsmanship. Founded in 2015 by Madhu Vaishnav with just five artisans and a $100 budget, the organisation now operates two studios employing over 150 women. Saheli Women partners with global designers to produce clothing rooted in traditional techniques while promoting ethical production and sustainability.

The Saheli Women story offers a powerful example of an inclusive, female-led social enterprise and provides inspiration and practical tools for building meaningful, equitable global partnerships with artisan communities. Through the Saheli Kapas initiative, explore the next steps the collective is taking towards building a circular fashion model that can provide transparency from seed to garment.

The talk delves into the movement to decolonise mainstream garment production, arguing that ethical fashion must be rooted in cultural preservation, not just commerce, to change the narrative so artisans are seen as not just labour, but custodians of traditional knowledge and innovators in the fashion industry. Stories of collaboration, co-designed collections, and resilience highlight how Saheli Women builds capacity and nurtures meaningful partnerships while underscoring the importance of cultural sensitivity and ethical storytelling in sharing artisan narratives.

Madhu Vaishnav, a social entrepreneur and community organiser, established Saheli Women after completing a social welfare programme at the University of California, Berkeley. Raised in a traditional Rajasthani household, she overcame significant barriers to education and work, eventually founding the Institute for Philanthropy and Humanitarian Development (IPHD) and dedicating her life to empowering women through craft.

All online talks during London Textile Month are 40 minutes long, followed by a 20-minute Q&A. A PDF with the Zoom link will be sent to you upon booking. A recording will be sent out in case you are unable to attend the live talk or would like to rewatch it.

Event Cancellation Policy
All bookings are non-refundable. However, if you let us know that you are unable to attend an event you have booked at least two weeks before the event, we will open up your place. If we find another participant, you will be offered a credit note.

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