Saheli Women is an ethical fashion social enterprise founded by Madhu Vaishnav in Rajasthan, whose mission is to teach women a trade & traditional skills, financially empower them, and advocate for them. A committed project run by women for women.

Marie, Louise Misha’s founder, and Claire, executive director, were won over not only by the talent of the women who work there, but also by the strength of a project in which every woman receives a fair wage, chooses her working hours and accesses health and education programs. 

At the heart of the beauty of this co-capsule, these pieces, these skills, these details, there are smiles, encounters, songs, the scent of flowers and chai tea. There are women. 

After obtaining permission from her family to work, even though her marriage contract forbade it, Madhu Vaishnav worked as a teacher, English student, translator, then social worker with women and children in the slums around Jodhpur. Eager to obtain a degree in social work, she then moved to the United States to study at the University of California, Berkeley. It was on her return that she decided to set up her own organization in Bhikamkor, the rural village of her husband's family, inspired by the desire of the village women to provide for their families with little means. 

The beginnings of Saheli Women: Madhu and 4 other women, $100 and a small 10-square-meter premises. When Madhu realized that every woman in the village had a sewing machine (as a wedding dowry), she had the idea of orienting her business towards fashion and textile know-how. It's an idea that will help her realize her dream: to enable women to achieve financial independence!

"100% of Saheli women's children now go to school (and thanks to their mothers, not their fathers!) These women are investing in their children's happiness."

Madhu Vaishnav

"A woman knows that the preciousness of a garment reflects her own preciousness and way of thinking. So it's not just a question of appearance. Hence the importance of producing less but better, consuming less but better."

Louise Misha & Saheli Women share a passion for craftsmanship, its preservation and transmission. Hand embroidery, handloom, natural dyeing: three exceptional skills that are showcased in this capsule and give rise to precious, infinitely unique pieces. No two pieces are alike! Their irregularities celebrate the beauty of imperfections and the poetry of the hand.

"When Marie arrived with her project, I was glad that she was interested in all our skills. Especially the handloom because it was the very beginning for us. We hadn't even finished the training course, so she decided to put her trust in us all the same! I'm really grateful to her for that. I think Louise Misha really understood our mission."

To teach the women of Saheli Women the various sewing techniques and skills that make up the soul of each of their creations, Madhu has recruited several trainers. What a challenge for these women to meet the precision required by this apprenticeship! Madhu has great admiration for their daily perseverance. These women, who often can't read, write or count, manage to master a whole world of numbers, measures and sizes.

"I never knew that one day I'd be able to really make fabric. I'm so amazed to see the tiny thread become a finished garment!"

Anita, weaving manager

It's on this big, impressive machine that a woman threads each thread into the machine's needles, in accordance with the required design. The preparation takes around two weeks! Then, for a single dress for example, weaving on the machine (activated by hand and foot) and sewing take around 6-7 working days.

A stencil made from the desired design is placed on the fabric and covered with indigo, thus printing the outline of the design onto the fabric. The women then embroider the design by hand from this outline. One Louise Misha x Saheli Women embroidery takes around 2-3 days to complete. 

"For natural dyeing however, we improvised, we interpreted this skill in our own way by playing with flowers, making several attempts. There were quite a few failed attempts, but it's a very playful, experimental and creative learning experience!"

Marigolds & roses bought at the market are spread over the fabric with a unique blend of rare and precious natural powders to set the colors. The fabric is folded and boiled for a while, then opened and shaken: its unique, poetic pattern is revealed in a shower of petals! Each fabric takes 4-5 hours to make. 

On each piece of the collection is a label with the portrait of the woman who made the garment, from A to Z, because each woman masters all the know-how and can therefore make her piece from scratch. 

"I believe in the importance of female leadership because women think differently. They are above all motivated by joy, laughter, music, flowers: a woman leader offers a lot of happiness to the people around her."

Beyond the clothes, we fully embrace Madhu's vision and commitment to female leadership. We were touched by her powerful, sincere words, and by the corporate culture she has succeeded in establishing: every woman can choose her own working hours and vacations, can bring her children, breastfeed when she wants... A framework that enables them to reconcile work and family life, to emancipate themselves and become leaders, on their own scale. A framework that echoes the Louise Misha adventure, driven by the desire to celebrate women, to encourage their talent, courage, audacity, freedom and creativity.

The fashion imagined by Saheli Women shows a strong connection to the earth and a great respect for the environment. Madhu explains that 50% of the fabrics used come from reused saris and that no plastic packaging is used. This commitment is also reflected in this collaboration, with some pieces made from upcycled fabrics and all delivered in an upcycled fabric pouch.