Meet the makers
Shabnam
Meet Shabnam! Shabnam worked tirelessly to perfectionize the pattern of Karel Cobra. Shabnam is 28 years old and a mother of two beautiful daughters. Like many other women in the region, Shabnam’s husband is a mining labourer. She is not enthusiastic about his job and his working conditions, but is happy that she can support the family through Saheli Women. Shabnam came to India 8 years ago to search for a safer live for her family and children. She feels like India is her country right now: “I’m not scared of going out alone. I don’t need a man to accompany me when I’m going out and my daughters can also attend school here.” “Now I want to be financially independent and support my husband.” Sustainable fashion is a way for her to fulfill her dreams.
Matli
This is Matli. Matli is one of the ladies who has been working patiently together with us to create the very first Karel & Co India Collection. As a mother of 6, Matli came to India 8 years ago along with her family in search for respect and a better livelihood. The journey from Pakistan to India was traumatising, she says, from selling all her gold for bearing the costs of travelling and documentation to getting robbed on her way. Life in India is not easy for them, but Matli was fed-up with forced labour in Pakistan and wanted to feel free and go back to where she feels she belongs (Hindustan). She was a farming Labourer before joining Saheli Women and was immense grateful for being able to join Saheli as it is more comforting for her children. Matli is now able to support her family financially and provide her children education and a better lifestyle.
Samdha
Meet Samdha! Samdha is always working with a very warm smile. She was always giving us a small hug and a smile which motivated us even when it got difficult. Samdha is often laughing together with Pathani in the corner of the Kali Beri center. Before joining Saheli, Samdha went through a painful migration from Pakistan to India and faced many challenges. From being a child labour at a mining industry to now working as an artisan at Saheli Women. Samdha was one of the very first woman to join the Kali Beri centre. She loves stitching and working with Saheli Women. Her husband also supports and encourages her to work at Saheli.
Pathani
Meet Pathani! She makes everyone - including us - laugh and feel at home at Saheli. She spreads joy, jokes, and laughter across the centre. And we found out: jokes are not bounded by borders or language. Behind this happy face there is a long story. Pathani is also a Pakistani Hindu immigrant who migrated to India at the age of 12. Before joining Saheli Women she was a farming labourer. Pathani is a mother of 4 and is happy that she doesn’t need to take her kids to the farming sites anymore. It is very helpful for her that the centers are kids friendly and she has the freedom to work at for her convenient times. “Saheli found the talent that I didn’t know I had” she says.
Razia
This is Razia. Razia is one of the six ladies working on the soft toys for Karel & Co. From the start Razia has been involved in the creation of the animals. She has put a lot of effort in the development of Karel and was always determined to get the design right. Working through steadfast and not giving up until Karel was finished. We enjoy working with Razia a lot! Razia is originally from Pakistan, and got married when she was only 3 years old. Together with her husband she migrated to India at the age of 15. Nowadays she has 4 children who all go to school. Before working at Saheli, she worked on a farm together with her children. She was happy to join Saheli Women because this allowed her children to go to school and enjoy an education. “Saheli women is like therapy to me, it keeps me distracted and happy” she says.