What's The Empowerment Bag?

Our goal is to give you an awesome, useful bag that empowers you to get through your day and empowers other women and children to live better lives. We have 3 styles of practical bags to satisfy the needs of your busy lifestyle: satchel, messenger, and duffel.

All our bags are fair-trade and stitched from laminated jute or organic cotton. Jute is a natural fiber that is both durable and recyclable. And the lamination comes from a biodegradable plastic backing. Our cotton is organic, meaning our cotton suppliers use sustainable farming practices that do not rely on damaging chemicals, hormones, or preservatives. We use water-based inks, avoiding harmful petro-chemicals and compounds. We strongly believe in using the best material and practices to make our products!

Support At-risk Women

Did you know that according to the International Labor Organization, 4.5 million people are trapped in forced sexual exploitation globally? The Empowerment Bag aims to free women in India who were otherwise vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking.

All our bags are made by women at risk of exploitation in West Bengal, India. These women are given financial independence and an alternative to the sex trade through sewing training, literacy skills, and employment with fair wages.

Purchasing our bags allows over 200 women in West Bengal to receive salaries and work in a healthy, safe, and productive environment.

Impact Stories

Supporting The Empowerment Bag means supporting disadvantaged women and children in West Bengal.

Fuel Even More Empowerment (We give back!)

We're fully committed to freedom from human trafficking and exploitation. Therefore, we're giving 5% of sales on The Empowerment Bag to New Light, an organization also in West Bengal that provides shelter, education, and healthcare to trafficked women and their children.

Our business model is founded on a cycle of empowerment. We help vulnerable women in West Bengal learn how to sew, read and write, and make bags. By buying our bags, YOU allow us to give $$ back to that same community so that exploited women and kids can live safer, healthier, and more successful lives.

What've We Done & What's Left?

Who Created The Empowerment Bag?

I, Vaishali, started The Empowerment Bag because I'm passionate about stopping human trafficking. I was also looking for an affordable, sustainable, and ethically-made cross-body bag. I couldn't find such a product. I also didn't find a brand I trusted that provided a variety of bags to keep up with my varied activities and hectic lifestyle, so I decided to launch such a brand myself.

I've been involved with anti-trafficking projects since high school. When I attended Carleton College, I founded and led an anti-human trafficking task force. I was awarded a scholarship to work with the Cook County Adult Probation Sex Offender Unit and the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE). I also worked with the Australian Government Office for Women.

I hope you'll join me in the fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation by supporting The Empowerment Bag (purchase a bag on the right)!

Other Ways You Can Help

Your support means so much! After funding our campaign, please share this page with all your family and friends. Encourage others to contribute to our campaign.

You can spread the word through social media, email, or by good ol' word of mouth!

Instagram: @theempowermentbag

Facebook: @theempowermentbag

Website: www.theempowermentbag.com