sex trade
How One Textile Brand Is Helping Women Exit India’s Sex Trade

By Daniela Frendo

In theĀ grimy narrow alleys of Kalighat, womenĀ wearingĀ colorfulĀ dresses, their faces plastered with makeup,Ā standĀ in the doorways of tiny mud houses. Most of them had littleĀ choice but to move into thisĀ poverty-stricken area, where clean water is scarce and hygiene nonexistent. Their survival, and that of their undernourished children, relies on Kalighat’s thriving sex industry.

In India, many marginalizedĀ women turn toĀ prostitution in the absence of economic alternatives, whileĀ others are forced intoĀ the profession by their husbands.Ā One ofĀ the oldest red light districts in Kolkata, Kalighat is runĀ by a shadowy network ofĀ pimps, madams and gangsters,Ā who lureĀ women into prostitutionĀ at an early age.Ā Children are born into extreme poverty, andĀ girls oftenĀ end up following in the footsteps of their mothers.

There are around 1,000 womenĀ engaged in Kalighat’s sex industry, where prostitutesĀ typically make between $3 and $5 per hour. TheseĀ oppressive conditions of sex workersĀ in Kolkota’s red-light district was whatĀ propelled a group of four women, who visited the cityĀ in 2009, to embark on a mission toĀ help prostitutesĀ exit the trade.

There are sadly ~1,000 women in Kalighat's #sex industry. Here's how you can #help. #India Click To Tweet
sex trade
One of the co-founders, Colleen Clines, with Anchal Artisans. Photo courtesy of Anchal Project

Offering Alternatives To Exploitative Work

In March 2009, fourĀ graduate students in Architecture traveled to Kolkata for aĀ seminar on design in the developing world. The harsh realitiesĀ which theyĀ witnessedĀ in the city’s red-light areasĀ left an indelible mark on them, and in the same year, they foundedĀ Anchal ProjectĀ to addressĀ the exploitation of women in marginalized communities.

Anchal ProjectĀ was set up with the aim toĀ create careersĀ in textiles for commercial sex workers. While in India, the founders met Urmi Basu, whose small non-profit New Light Ā helps victims of sexual exploitation find alternative employment.Ā In partnership with New Light, Anchal started raising money to buy the first set of sewing machines and provide a stipendĀ for the women employed byĀ the NGO. Ā By 2013, Anchal had created 90 artisan jobs for women who had left India’s sex trade. The latest project, Designing Colorful Change, is set to employ 35 new women in natural dyeing, while offering further training for the current 100 artisans.

So how are careers in textiles empoweringĀ women in India’s marginalized communities?

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Anchal artisans. Photo courtesy of Anchal Project

Helping Women Gain Financial Independence

It is estimated that there are over 3 millionĀ sex workers in India, and the countryĀ has the third largestĀ number of people infected with HIV. Women enterĀ the sex trade due to extreme poverty, lack of education, and aĀ shortage ofĀ economic opportunities.Ā In fact,Ā 85% percent of Anchal artisans claim that they resorted to prostitution after being unable to find alternative employment. As a result,Ā Anchal has been designingĀ new textile initiatives and projects to create more job opportunities for marginalized women. So far, Anchal has employed over 150 women,Ā of whom 70% are the main breadwinners inĀ theirĀ family.

Anchal helps women from impoverished backgroundsĀ become self-sufficient by providing sustainable employment and paying them a fair-trade wage. In order to expand its positive impact beyond Kolkota, Anchal has collaboratedĀ with establishedĀ NGOs on programs that seek toĀ create jobs forĀ sexually exploited women in other parts of India. The most successful of these programs has been the Stitch x Stitch project, in whichĀ 77 women from AjmerĀ work onĀ hand-stitchedĀ products using eco-friendly fabrics.

Anchal has also had the opportunity to partner up with actress and human rights activist America Ferrera to launch a collection of beautifully embroidered scarves, while raising awareness on India’s sex trade. This initiative helped fund 15 artisans for an entire year.

While Anchal ensures that artisans earn a competitiveĀ income, it alsoĀ understands the importance ofĀ equipping women with the necessary skills and resources to help themĀ eradicateĀ gender inequality and social injustice in their communities.

Here's how one org is helping #women by providing sustainable employment. #india Click To Tweet
sex trade
Anchal artisans. Photo courtesy of Anchal Project

Providing Tools For Women To Become Change Agents

Besides helping commercial sex workers land a job in textiles, Anchal alsoĀ prepares its artisansĀ for future careers by providing the life skills needed to become independent. This includesĀ workshopsĀ in entrepreneurship, leadership, self-defense, and financial planning. Anchal’s artisans also receive free health services, counseling, and constant support from project leaders.

This holistic approach to women empowerment is helping artisansĀ take a leading role in their communities andĀ stamp out oppression.Ā Anchal is currently working with Vatsalya, an established NGO based in Ajmer, Rajastham, to provide entrepreneurial trainingĀ to sex workers in the region. These life-changing opportunities not only make it possible forĀ women to lead independent lives, but they also enableĀ them to invest in their children’s education and future.

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Traditional Weekender created by Anchal artisans. Photo courtesy of Anchal Project

HowĀ You Can HelpĀ 

Anchal is able to support its artisans with steady incomes and create more job opportunities through seed funding, donations and productĀ sales. The online shop features a collection of colorfulĀ throws, quilts, pillows, scarves and bags made fromĀ vintage cotton saris. MoneyĀ made from online purchasesĀ isĀ invested in educational workshops, healthcare benefits, and professional training for the artisans.

We’ve pickedĀ some beautiful accessories forĀ your next trip, all of which are made with care by Anchal’s talented artisans.

Want to help #women from #India leave the sex trade? Here's how you can. Click To Tweet

sex trade

Weekend bagsĀ make an ideal accessory forĀ road trips andĀ short breaks. This gorgeousĀ bag and similar onesĀ areĀ made by artisans in Ajmer using cotton saris.

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TheseĀ square scarvesĀ come in a variety of colors and are perfect for spicing up a plainĀ outfit. Each scarf features the hand-stitched name of the artisan who produced it.

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Produced by women artisans in Ajmer, this small pouchĀ is ideal for packing your toiletries and make up. Each pouchĀ comes with aĀ unique design and contains the personal touch of its maker.

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Small pillows are always usefulĀ whenĀ you’reĀ taking long journeys orĀ spending the night at theĀ airport. Anchal’sĀ artisans create pillows from overdyed cotton saris.

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This one-of-a-kind kantha throw has been traditionally handcrafted by an artisan in Ajmer usingĀ six layers of vintage sari.

Do you have more information on how people can help end the sex trade in India? Please share in the comments below!Ā 

Recommended:

How One Artisan Shop Is Working To End Sex Slavery In India (& How You Can Help) [Blog Inspiration]

Book A Homestay For Your Next Trip [Cultural Immersion]

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Daniela Frendo is a travel writer and photographer from Malta. No matter how often she travels, she keeps breaking out in cold sweats at boarding gates. She is terrified of flying, but willing to try out stomach-churning delicacies wherever she goes. Her trips arenā€™t complete without doing a bit of trekking, experiencing local culture and getting a souvenir t-shirt.She has a degree in Communications and divides her time between teaching English and writing for different publications, including her own travel blog www.grumpycamel.com.

Daniela Frendo

Daniela Frendo is a travel writer and photographer from Malta. No matter how often she travels, she keeps breaking out in cold sweats at boarding gates. She is terrified of flying, but willing to try out stomach-churning delicacies wherever she goes. Her trips arenā€™t complete without doing a bit of trekking, experiencing local culture and getting a souvenir t-shirt.She has a degree in Communications and divides her time between teaching English and writing for different publications, including her own travel blog www.grumpycamel.com.

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