Recycled accessory brand manufactured by underprivileged women launched in Chennai

CHENNAI: Goli Soda, a store that specialises in upcycled or recycled products created by Indian designers, launched ‘Linked’ – a sustainable, upcycled accessory brand –at Ashvita Bistro here on Tuesday.
Linked, founded by Shaswati, seeks to give underprivileged women an opportunity to begin life again by providing them dignified jobs. The women are taught to make attractive products such as pouches from recycled plastic bags.
“At Goli Soda, we have products from various designers – from stationery that is made out of elephant poop to bags made out of recycles rubber tyres,” says Munira Daniel, head of events and PR, Ashvita Group.“Linked is the latest brand that we have launched.”
Shaswati, founder of Linked, works with underprivileged women from Kannaginagar, a government settlement for the 2004 tsunami victims. The place is known for criminal activities and there is not much economic opportunity for the residents there. Many of the women are single mothers who are struggling to support themselves and their children.
It is estimated that 90% of these women do not have dignified jobs to sustain their family or to educate their children. About 55% of these women also have some form of disability.
Linked has adopted 30 of these women and taught them how to make upcycled accessories from discarded plastic polybags, which are collected from the area, washed and sanitised.
The initiative not only reduces the environmental hazard posed by plastic bags but also empowers women. Since these products are handmade and made out of poly bags, the texture and colour may vary with usage.