Anchal is a non-profit 501c(3) social enterprise that addresses the exploitation of women around the world by using design thinking to create employment opportunities, services and products that support empowerment. When you purchase Anchal's one-of-a-kind products, you empower women with economic stability, community, confidence and restoration of self-worth.
In Hindi, the word “anchal” refers to the edge of a sari used to provide comfort and protection to loved ones.
on-chal
Anchal provides alternative careers in textile design and production to exploited and marginalized women in India and Louisville, Kentucky.
Anchal Project is the non-profit social enterprise that creates economic opportunity for women victimized by commercial sex trafficking, domestic abuse and other exploitive practices. DyeScape is one of the two programs used to create economic opportunity. The DyeScape program is based in Louisville, Kentucky and provides career opportunities in natural dyeing and textile production. We train women to grow, harvest and dye fabric with dye plants grown through a network of urban gardens that were once vacant lots.
The concept of Anchal was born during a graduate course at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) by Colleen Clines. Maggie Clines joined her sister in 2010 after graduating from architecture school at the University of Kentucky to launch Anchal as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2010.
Anchal believes that design and interdisciplinary collaboration can become a vehicle for social change. As trained designers and experienced practitioners, we employ this skill to create unique economic solutions, develop textile compositions and effective design training curriculum.
Our design-led approach has successfully created viable economic opportunities for women, produced beautiful products and enabled a financially self-sufficient business model that has garnered the attention of the Guggenheim Museum, Anthropologie, Madewell, Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, Architectural Digest, Better Home & Gardens and more.
Anchal currently partners with Vatsalya, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in Ajmer, India, and The Center for Women & Families, the nonprofit in Louisville, KY. Both organizations see the need to provide entrepreneurial opportunities to the community. Anchal meets this need by providing seed funding, design training and access to markets. In exchange, our partners recruit women and offer a community of support, health programs, counseling and local leadership that builds trust. Together, we offer a unique program unmatched in its ability to create life-changing opportunities.
Anchal’s Stitch x Stitch program currently employs 150 artisans in Ajmer, India and has trained 400+ women to date. Our dyeScape program currently has 2 artisans employed in Louisville, Kentucky and has trained a total of 21 women since its inception in 2014. Anchal artisans are women participating in programs with our partners who have additional interest in alternative careers in textile design. These women come from a demographic with low socioeconomic status.
Yes! We provide our artisans with fair wages, skills trainings, educational workshops, and health benefits.
Anchal practices sustainability by creating handcrafted eco-friendly textiles made from recycled materials, GOTS certified organic cotton, low impact and natural dyes.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit, when you purchase a product 100% goes towards investing in Anchal's mission. In addition to women's economic stability, portions of each purchase go towards educational workshops and health benefits for our artisans, as well as program expansion.
Anchal is a revenue-generating social venture. Profits from sales go back into the organization for its sustainability and expanded programming. We also rely on private donations and grants from organizations like Dining for Women (DFW), Google Social Impact Award and Women 4 Women among others to help us grow our impact.
Colleen, Maggie and other members of the Anchal team in Louisville visit the workshop in India once a year. While there’re on the ground, they hold design workshops, prototype new products, conduct impact reporting, interview the artisans, evaluate the program and streamline production.
Purchase Anchal products, share our story and products on social media and volunteer at our Louisville studio. Find out more on our Careers page.
We want you to have a great experience, so if your question isn't answered here, don't hesitate to give us a call at 502-709-4377 or email info@anchalproject.org
We do not currently have a brick-and-mortar location but you can make an appointment to visit us at our Louisville, KY studio. You can also check out our events page to see if we’re coming to a city near you or our stockists page to purchase in-store with one of our retail partners.
We're always looking for energetic and talented individuals to join our passionate team in Louisville, KY. We have internship and volunteer openings throughout the year. Complete our volunteer application or visit our careers page to see our current opportunities.
“Fast fashion” is a term used in the industry where fashion designs move quickly from the runway to stores to consumers and to waste at an unsustainable rate. The rise of fast fashion has made the global textile and apparel industry one of the most resource-intensive industries in the world – resulting in toxic pollution, unethical labor practices and mounting waste.
Once your order has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number.
Yes. Please email info@anchalproject.org within one hour of placing the order and include your order number in the subject line. After one hour, the order will be placed in the fulfillment line and no changes can be made.
Yes! Anchal offers Afterpay.
Afterpay is a service that allows us to offer our customers the ability to make purchases now and pay for them in four equal payments made every 2 weeks without any interest. To learn more about Afterpay click here.
We ship items Monday - Friday within 48 hours of ordering. We do not ship on Saturdays, Sundays or nationally observed U.S. holidays. If your order is placed on Saturday or Sunday, it will be shipped on Monday.
The delivery time frame depends on the shipping destination. For U.S. shipments, we offer FedEx Home Delivery/Ground (3-4 days) and FedEx Express (2-3 days). For international shipments, we offer FedEx International Economy and FedEx International Priority. Depending on your country, it will take 2-5 weeks for your order to arrive.
Yes! We offer international shipping through the FedEx International with the choices of Economy or Priority. Please note that you are responsible for any additional customs fees, taxes or charges upon delivery and these fees are not included at the time of checkout. Fees and taxes vary by region.
Yes! Any order shipped to a P.O. box will be mailed using USPS First Class or USPS Priority shipping.
We are responsible for your new purchase until it is picked up by the shipping carrier. We will not grant refunds for any packages lost in transit. If a package is lost in transit, it is your responsibility to file a claim with the carrier seeking reimbursement. We cannot be held responsible for any incorrect addresses entered at checkout. To modify your order, please email info@anchalproject.org within one hour of placing the order.
Route offers tracking services and shipping protection which extends insurance for online purchases that are lost or damaged in transit, or stolen immediately after the carrier's proof of delivery when Route traces the transportation. Route is available for a small fee on each order.
Since our products are made by hand, there may be minor imperfections which we consider part of their beauty and charm. If however, you're dissatisfied with your purchase for any reason, notify info@anchalproject.org or call 502-709-4377 within 14 days. We will work with you to arrange a prompt replacement or refund.
If you need to exchange a piece for the same item, send us an email at info@anchalproject.org or call 502-709-4377. We will respond with instructions on next steps.
We have a 14 day return policy. After 14 days we cannot accept exchanges or offer refunds.
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary. If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept refunds or exchanges for orders placed outside of the United States.
Anchal offers free exchanges on all wearables, please reach out to info@anchalproject.org if you would like to change the size or color of your order.
Visit our wholesale page, complete our wholesale application and our sales manager will reach out to let you know if you're a good fit.
Existing retailers, welcome back! To place your next order, please contact us at sales@anchalproject.org
We have a $500 opening order minimum.
All of them!
Yes we do! You can get your copy by filling out the wholesale application and if we are a good fit, we will send you the catalog and order form.
Anchal sells various textile products including: quilts, table linens, outerwear, bags, scarves, pillows and pillowcases. Visit our shop page to the products we currently have available.
Many of our products are made from 100% recycled vintage-cotton saris, layered and stitched together in Kantha-style (simple running stitch) by Anchal’s artisans. Additional collections are made from GOTS certified organic cotton, low impact and natural plant dyes. Visit our design philosophy page to learn more about the inspiration behind our products.
Because of its handcrafted nature, each piece will differ slightly. We celebrate the small imperfections and believe these details connect you with the maker of your product.
Hand-dyed pieces may contain variations or imperfections in coloring, enhancing the character of each piece. Some dyes, especially more saturated colors, will bleed the first few washes, we recommend washing them separately in cold water and laying flat to dry out of direct sunlight.
ORGANIC COTTON THROWS & BEDDING
Dry clean recommended. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Warm iron, if needed.
VINTAGE SARI THROWS & BEDDING
Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Warm iron, if needed.
PILLOWS
Dry clean recommended. Machine wash cold. Lay flat to dry. Warm iron, if needed.
SCARVES
Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Warm iron, if needed.
TOTES, POUCHES, AND WEEKENDERS
Spot clean. Lay flat to dry. Warm iron, if needed. Or dry clean.
TABLE LINENS
Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Warm iron, if needed.
We receive new shipments from our artisans monthly and we restock a variety of items on a weekly basis.
Yes! Our inserts are made in the United States from 10% down and 90% feather and are cut one inch larger than the pillow cover itself to ensure a full and plush fit.
