‘Colours of India’ spreads charm in Malaysia

Colours Of India’s (COI) is a distinct collection in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur range from traditional Indian outfits to Thai

silk A-line dresses and flared skirts. What’s unique about this range of clothing and fabric bags of all sorts – from handmade laptop bags, shoulder bags, batik reusable grocery bags to yoga bags and beautiful shawls in different hues, is that these products are stitched by low-income women from the slums of Bandra in Mumbai.

Conceptualised by Malaysian entrepreneur AG Arull, the inspiration behind COI was sparked during a business trip to Mumbai in 2010. A friend had introduced him to Yogesh Karnik, a volunteer from MarketPlace: Handwork of India, a non-for-profit organisation that supports economic development for disadvantaged women in India. That’s when Arull teamed up with Karnik to introduce free programs like tailoring, language and personal development classes. The women were taught how to produce handcrafted items from recyclable goods and leftover fabric. COI’s inaugural three-month training program started in April 2013 with 23 students. Over 12 months, COI has conducted three courses and trained 135 women. Another 140 students have recently signed up for its fourth session and will complete their training this month.

COI also collaborates with local social enterprises that support the empowering of women. It works closely with Mumbai-based Kotak Education Foundation which offers vocational training for school drop-outs. At the recent International Women’s Day celebrations, COI even hosted a special gathering to recognise the achievements of its female arti¬sans. COI’s main office and training centre is located in the slums of Bandra. The women, employed based on their artisan skills and willingness to work, get paid 35 rupees an hour and, some can earn up to 5,000 rupeesa month for roughly eight-hour days. And 30 percent of profits earned from the business goes back to COI to enhance its community programs.