Empowering through fashion

The White Rainbow Project is an NGO harnessing the power of fashion to empower the widows of India. In association with a few other NGOs from India and Chennai-based clothing store Maalgaadi, they are organising an event titled ‘Dreaming in Drapes’, on March 19.

The idea is to celebrate the brave, self-sufficient widows supported by The White Rainbow Project. One can pick up handcrafted clothing and accessories made from recycled sarees and more by the widows, see the winning designs of their annual saree design challenge, and meet Madison Acri, the winning designer.

You’ll also have the chance to check out a specially curated line of artwork based on the lives of widows, by an accomplished artist and take part in an auction!
Shahin Ansari, the co-founder of Maalgaadi, says, “We did an event with the NGO in the store last year, to promote awareness of the situation of widows. We had a very good response and post that, we decided to make this a yearly affair, so that we can keep spreading awareness.”

The White Rainbow project is headed by husband and wife team Dharan and Linda Mandrayar. Asha James from Open Home NGO, which works along with the White Rainbow Project, says, “We wanted to spread awareness of the widows’ plight and how the privileged women of the society can come forward to help these marginalised women.”

This year, fashion designer and contest winner, Madison Acri will be showcasing her winning design. There will also be 20 paintings that depict the lives of widows and the work WRP does for them. These paintings will be on sale and the proceeds will go towards the widows. One of the paintings will also be on auction. A short film of the work that they have done so far along with their progress will be screened.