Hillary Clinton meets rural women artisans with Anita Dongre

The
non-profit organisation has been working towards the upliftment of women in
rural India for over four decades.

“It
was a privilege for me to have been a part of such a special evening with
Hillary Clinton and the women members of SEWA. The women were filled with
enthusiasm in having such a global powerhouse and woman champion amidst them
who took the time to inspire, motivate and applaud them,” Dongre said.

“She
heard all the game-changing stories of these courageous women and was
heartwarming to see her relentless support and encouragement to help these
women achieve economic empowerment and independence,” she added.

They
visited SEWA and were welcomed by Reema Nanavaty who leads the NGO. She has
been recognised across India and in the neighbouring countries as a catalyst
for various women and helps them achieve economic freedom and liberation.

Clinton has been a
strong advocate of women empowerment and has had a personal connect with the
SEWA organisation for over two decades.

Having been familiar
with Dongre, whose designs she has worn in the past, Clinton said: “I’m very
excited about someone as accomplished and successful as Anita Dongre being here
today because she has an international brand, that she has built and she will
find more ways to work with SEWA members. I think that’s another innovation
that will grow overtime.”

Dongre’s commitment
to revive the Indian crafts and empower women led her to work in close
association with these artisans on her brand Grassroot, a sustainable luxury
prAat label, and she now extends the work to her bridal couture line.

Through this, she
aims at providing employment to rural women with the comfort of their homes.

“Women
empowerment is close to my heart and we’re privileged to be associated with
SEWA and use design as a tool to achieve this goal,” said Dongre. – Agencies