About Us

For six years, Sari for Change has championed sustainable fashion, blending tradition with innovation through a people, planet, and profit approach.

Every Sari for Change garment tells a story of heritage and generosity. Donated bridal saris, passed down from grandmothers, aunts, or mothers, are lovingly upcycled into contemporary pieces, honouring the sari’s rich history and cultural significance.

By donating gently worn saris, individuals contribute to a movement that connects unemployed women in South Africa to the circular economy, creating meaningful opportunities while giving cherished garments a new life.
 
Production & Skills Development


Through the Sari for Change Foundation training programs, delivered through dedicated incubation hubs, equips women with skills to transition from unemployment to self-sufficiency. With South Africa’s unemployment rate at 34.5% and rising, Sari for Change is committed to empowering women with monetizable skills to start their own businesses or join us as independent makers, fostering an inclusive ecosystem.

 

 

 

Our Ethics & Values

Materials / Textiles


All our material are 100% recycled saris and other heritage textiles as the Khanga and Masaai Blanket.
Our Values
  • Sustainability: Transforming the fashion industry from within, with processes that prioritize people and the planet.
  • Community: Building solidarity and collective power to foster participation in the Sacred Economy.
  • Authenticity & Celebration: Creating versatile, multi-functional products that honour evolving identities and cultures, reflecting rich traditions from Kenyan, South African, Indian, Arab, and Malaysian heritage.
  • Heritage & Evolving Identity: Preserving the sari's rich history while reimagining it for contemporary use.
  • Zero-Waste Philosophy: Embracing resourcefulness by maximizing the use of every sari and repurposing offcuts into practical, beautiful items.

 

 Packaging

We follow a strict no-plastic policy. Saris with high polyester content are repurposed into bags, while production offcuts are transformed into upcycled totes. Our recycled, reusable packaging provides an entry point for trainees, allowing women new to sewing to practice stitching and earn immediate payment. These “perfectly imperfect” bags symbolize growth and empowerment as they refine their skills.

 

            

Notable Mentions

 - In 2017, we showcased at Torino Fashion Week in Italy. Curated by our Swedish client SACRED and produced in South Africa, the collection was recognized for sustainability.

- Prof. Tanusha Raniga of UJ published a white paper on the role of economic cooperatives in improving women’s livelihoods, featuring interviews with nine Sari for Change incubation participants.

- In 2019, our founder partnered with Thabang Primary School in Soweto to train unemployed mothers in sewing skills. Today, their SGB chairperson, Shadi Mogale, leads the production of Sari for Change bags and school uniforms.

- Founder Rayana Edwards received the 2020 Global Leaders Women Award from Goldman Sachs and  Fortune Magazine for her work in building economic hubs she calls the "Sacred Economy."

- In 2022, Sari for Change received a Social Innovation Award by SABF.

- In 2023, Sari for Change was invited by the ITC, one of five businesses chosen globally to present our business model.

- We guest lecture at Henley Business School, presenting our model as evidence of a gift economy in action.