Why did I choose Sac Ethique (NGO in India) to make our tote bags?
I didn't just want a "proper" workshop. I wanted every bag to fund something real. That's how I met Sac Ethique , the B2B structure linked to an Indian NGO, SSMI , which transforms work into autonomy for women—and sales into school for their children.
How it all began (their story in brief)
It all started with a simple story: a business school student went to Delhi, collaborated with SSMI to produce tote bags for businesses, and realized that a product could replace donations. A few years later, this insight gave rise to the B2B structure Sac Ethique: a sustainable bridge between brands like mine and the NGO. The basic idea hasn't changed: the product must finance emancipation .
In the NGO's workshops, women from working-class neighborhoods are trained, supported, and paid in safe conditions. The model is virtuous: a significant portion of the sale price goes directly to the NGO to pay salaries, run training programs, and support schooling.
According to Sac Ethique/SSMI, 235 women are currently trained and 1,100 children are enrolled in kindergarten through high school. These aren't promises: they're classroom places, skills, and monthly salaries. 
Why I produce there
Because we talk about quality and dignity in the same sentence. The teams know how to sew, cut, control, print (screen printing, and also block-printing for other pieces), and do so with a real concern for traceability. In terms of materials, we work with cotton (and, depending on the series, GOTS/GRS-labeled fabrics). I specify the label as soon as it applies to a given series. The objective is simple: less impact, longer lifespan.
My totes remain true to what I stand for: 100% cotton , 220 g/m² canvas , 45×38 cm , 67 cm handles , straight bottom corners, clean screen printing . I produce in small series and I don't do sales: I prefer a fair price and a careful purchase. Yes, it sometimes takes more time. But it's time to do things well, without betraying my values.
" Women empowerment ", the real version
In India, advancing as a woman often requires moving mountains. SSMI and Sac Ethique work at the root: secure employment, a decent salary, continuing education, and school for children. We're not talking about charity: we're talking about capacity. Carrying a tote made here is carrying a piece of that capacity.
Thank you, Ethical Bag
Thank you to the people who run these workshops. Thank you to the women who cut, sew, and print. When you wear a Seni'Stuff, you also wear their strength.
Certain data (number of employees trained, children enrolled, share of income donated) are communicated to us by Sac Ethique/SSMI and are updated regularly. We indicate the labels when they apply to a series.
