Happy #internationalwomensday! With 78% of the workforce being women, we are so grateful to our women artisans who we work with all across India - to our talented seamstresses who manufacture our clothing line in the Bay Area - all the way to the lovely ladies in our Oakland office. Everyday we are so inspired by strength and beauty of the women around us, and we hope to continue sharing their magnificent handloom products with the world.
Since India opened its economy in the 90s, the government seems to be repeatedly caught by surprised by the need to protect the collective intellectual property of Indian culture. Years ago, I did a story about how a multi-national chemical company swooped in and patented the active ingredients of the neem tree. The neem tree is omni-present in every village in India and knowledge of it’s uses have been passed down through the ages. Considered sacred, every part of this amazing tree has a use. Most commonly, the twigs are used as a poor man’s tooth brush. My parents grew up using a neem twig to clean their teeth and gums every morning and you can still see small...
