ANITA THE FASHIONISTA
20-year-old Anita doesn't just clothe the women in her rural village community-- she wants them to look good! She goes by the latest trends in her village to stitch ornate and beautiful salwaar kameezes. Her skills as a tailor and attention to detail are what she believes have made her a successful business woman today.
Before Anita began her business, day to day life was a struggle. The pay from her father's television mechanic job and her mother's maid work were insufficient to cover family expenses. Even her occasional mehendi (henna) business didn't pay much. But then her mother became a part of a Self-Help Group and encouraged Anita, in 2006, to join the group and enrol in a local tailoring course. After graduating, Anita took a loan of Rs. 3,200 to buy her own sewing machine. She now makes enough money to supplement her family's income and send her sister to school. She hopes to save enough to build her own shop where she can sell pre-made Salwaar Kameez and help other women improve their situation by teaching them sewing.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
TAILORING COURSE
In Satyagyan tailoring courses, newly literate women from impoverished areas gain sewing skills, business education, and confidence. The 6-month course begins with the basics of sewing, teaching the students everything from threading a needle to the proper pedalling technique.
THE CURRICULUM
The sewing curriculum has been refined by professional tailors to create an effective educational program that teaches the women how to make the most common Indian apparel. The curriculum includes items like a kameez (a long tunic for women) or kurta (a traditional shirt for men). Satyagyan offers hand sewing and embroidery training so women can practice the trade with or without sewing machines.
Ensuring that women are able to earn a better livelihood at the completion of their training is a priority for Satyagyan. Near the end of the course, women are coached on the job application process. They learn how to write a resume, conduct themselves in an interview, and find job postings.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Women use their skills to sew clothes for their immediate family and relatives. Some women in villages also begin to take orders from community members and tailor within their homes, and others find work at local tailoring shops or start their own tailoring business.