A group of college students from South Delhi's Aryabhatta college has started a unique initiative called Project Palaash. It aims to salvage floral waste and create organic dyes that are purely non-synthetic in nature.
These organic dyes are then used on fabrics. The work is done by the socially and economically underprivileged, thereby creating employment opportunities for destitute community members.
These women entrepreneurs undergo skill development training for dyeing and block printing on fabrics. Finally, the dupattas and scarves manufactured under project Palaash are sold directly to the customers through stalls set up at college fests, cultural fares and handicraft outlets.
This, in turn, facilitates the promotion of sustainable fashion. The project takes into account both environmental and socio-economic aspects by improving all the stages of production and recycling sustainable management of resources.
Project Palaash has successfully created employment opportunities while curbing the menace of water and soil pollution. It ensures an effective waste management mechanism: The bio-waste generated from the dyeing process is used to create compost, which is reutilised for growing flowers. The wastewater generated during the preparation of the dye vat is used to water plants ensuring sustainability.