When Manav Sadhna came to us with a brief to create products that could be produced by minor girls, we were very mindful of the ethics of the context. If left unemployed by the NGO, these girls would be forced to work in situations which made them extremely vulnerable. We were therefore determined to ensure that this project provided girls with employment, but did so in a manner which did not transgress into the zone of child labour. We therefore introduced an income stream which was based on the girls earning while learning. We designed products with flexible designs to accommodate production variations. Recognizing their skill levels, we ensured they could create without strict production standards, fostering a positive learning experience. The girls co-developed products that were fun to produce and facilitated learning.

Rhizome worked on the ‘imprint’ concept where each collection was produced through two basic skills: hand printing, and basic cutting. Carefully curated to be both enjoyable and educational, the collections became great learning experiences.