Saheli Women is an all female artisan collective based in the rural village of Bhikamkor, India. Their mission is simple but powerful: to create real opportunities for local women through slow, ethical fashion. Their work focuses on education, fair income and financial independence - all the things that allow women to support their families and build a more secure future.

Artisans at Saheli Women earn a fair wage, at least 50% higher than the average for similar work across India, and work shorter, balanced days (around 6–7 hours) so they can manage family responsibilities without losing steady employment. It’s a model designed entirely around the wellbeing of the women who are part of it.

Transparency sits at the heart of the collective. They proudly share the names and stories of the women behind each piece, and their clothing is created using local knowledge, traditional handcraft techniques and natural processes - reconnecting people to the value of handmade garments and the humanity behind them.

Their workshops are warm communal spaces where women sew, brew chai, bring their children, share meals and celebrate festivals. Saheli Women also support their wider community through a Girls’ Education Program and a Female Health Program providing essential menstrual and reproductive health services.

Today, Saheli Women has grown to more than 100 women artisans through their Skills Development Programme and collaborates with conscious brands around the world, co-creating thoughtful pieces that honour tradition and create lasting impact.

Photography by Coline Bachelier for Saheli Women