History

Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is home to many of the poorest communities in the world. The young women of Shelano, come from the various slums near the railway tracks. Each day they strive for economic survival.

In 2000 Colleen and Ian Robertson moved from New Zealand to India on a business adventure. Seeing the plight of so many around them, especially the young women without employment, yet shouldering most of the household burdens, they wanted to do something to empower them. Colleen, having been a Home Economics teacher for many years and then teaming up to run a business with her huband, had a good foundation for starting a skills training program. Beginning with classes on color, design, sewing and embroidery, the young women in their community were eager to learn and participate. The skills training was just the first step in helping them to establish their own business. Shelano grew from a small idea of helping the poor to help themselves, into the blooming business the women run on their own today.

Today

With our limited education and the difficulty of finding a good job Shelano enables us to make our own business decisions, earn our own income and so provide for ourselves and our families.

The products we make are primarily bags, which are modern in design yet blended with traditional skills. We use Indian cotton and other local materials; therefore buying Shelano products not only supports us but our local economy.

When you buy from Shelano you not only purchase a quality product you also invest in a woman’s future giving her independence and dignity.