08.08.10 *FOUND

A bumpy ride in a bright yellow taxi and we tumbled out in front of a non-descript two-story building. Down an alley way and up two flights of stairs is Destiny Productions. Bright white smiles welcomed us with a bubbly Anglo-Indian “Hello!” followed by shy giggles and broken English/Bengali as the women of Destiny ushered us in to an air-conditioned (!!!) room complete with tea and biscuits. God bless India for this ritual.


Destiny Productions has several vocational centers, but this one is comprised of ten women who create primarily textile-based items and some jewelry pieces. They do not live here, this is their work place. Some of them live in shelter homes in various locations around Kolkata, some are now married, and some live in their own apartments. All of them have come out of trafficking or at-risk situations. They are now “professional seamstresses” and they are very serious about the pieces they create. Their products are sold to visitors and volunteers, through organizations such as Made By Survivors, and through licensed partnerships with other businesses.

In India and Bangladesh, a “Kantha” or quilt is made out of discarded saris. They are made of layers of old saris stitched together with a thick embroidered stitched running the length of the quilt. I love the duality of “survivors” sewing kanthas. They are creating something beautiful out of throw-away material and legend has it that these blankets will keep the those wrapped in it safe. These quilts are often a group effort, which is another beautiful metaphor.

There are several organizations which work with women to make these blankets. Two young women named Sarah Aulie and Stephanie Ball started Hand & Cloth here in Kolkata, these beautiful quilts are for sale at www.handandcloth.org. Sari Bari, also in Kolkata makes very intricate versions which sell out quickly. See www.saribari.com.

Our visit at Destiny was a rich time of conversation about what it means to grow up as women in West Bengal as well as to hear what Indians in general are saying on the issue of human trafficking (some, but not enough!). Two very smart women with very different backgrounds who work with Destiny Productions were very forthright with the difficulties of living in a society which subjugates women. While the culture is slowly changing and recognizing the worth of its women, the shift is slow and at times painfully stuck in old traditions. It was incredibly encouraging to not only to meet these future leaders of India, but also to see them working alongside the seamstresses. Mighty all around.