Sistra contributor
Madhu Vaishnav
Social entrepreneur, community development practitioner and founder
Jodhpur, India
Madhu Vaishnav is the founder of Saheli Women, a social enterprise working with women across rural Rajasthan through craft, livelihoods and education.
Saheli began in Bhikamkor in 2015 with five women, a small investment and a few sewing machines. Today, more than 100 artisans are part of its network.
But income is only one part of the story. Madhu’s work also looks at what women need in order to participate fully in working life, from education and financial literacy to childcare, transportation and health support.
Profile
Her story
Madhu founded Saheli Women after recognizing that many women in Bhikamkor already had valuable textile and craft skills, but few ways to turn those skills into independent income.
The first group was small: five women working from their homes with sewing machines and a modest investment. As more women became involved, Saheli grew into a textile social enterprise working with artisans from communities across rural Rajasthan.
Their work draws on techniques including handloom weaving, embroidery, eco-printing and natural dyeing, combining traditional knowledge with contemporary production.
Saheli also addresses some of the less visible barriers that can make earning an income difficult. Its work includes education, financial literacy, health support, childcare and transportation, giving women more practical support to participate in work alongside family and community life.
Education has become another part of the model. Saheli has welcomed visitors and students to learn about sustainable fashion, craft and artisan livelihoods, creating another way for the knowledge held within the community to be shared.
Madhu holds a degree in sustainable development and has served on the Advisory Committee of the UN Conscious Fashion & Lifestyle Network.
“When you empower one woman, you empower an entire community.”
“I have seen in the centre ladies talking to our international clients through their clothes, not with words. It is sharing feelings with each other.”
Looking ahead
What she’s building toward
Madhu wants to see the Saheli model reach more women across rural Rajasthan, without losing the community relationships that shaped it. The focus is on creating more routes into livelihood, education and craft while continuing to respond to what women in each community actually need.
Follow the thread
Meet more of the women behind the work.
