The Shared Thread Newsletter - Vol 5

I've been reflecting recently on the beginnings of MarketPlace. It's hard to believe how far back it goes—we first started informally in India in 1980.

I grew up in a family of six daughters, and I often teased my parents that they must have been trying for a son. Being Catholic probably had something to do with it too! But instead of raising us as "traditional" Indian girls, our parents taught us to be independent, strong, and to give back to the community.

That spirit carries into MarketPlace, where my sister Lalita plays an important role at MarketPlace, working closely with me, and my other sister Indira has always been a steady source of encouragement and support.

We didn't have much, and I lived on hand-me-downs from my sisters. To make them my own, I learned to sew—lengthening skirts, changing sleeves, adding pockets, and mixing fabrics. Looking back, maybe that was the beginning of MarketPlace's signature style, where bold combinations of prints and colors became part of our identity.

My first job was starting a leprosy rehabilitation project in Mumbai. At that time, leprosy was still common. Through that work, I met women who had to work outside the home and very young girls who were kept from school to take care of siblings while their mothers were away. That's why hand embroidery became, and still is, an integral part of MarketPlace. It allows women to work from home, earn an income, and still care for their families. Yes, it adds to the cost of the garments, but it provides something far more valuable—opportunity and dignity as well as providing a unique garments for you.

Conversations with the women have always been at the heart of MarketPlace—not just about their lives, but about the direction of the business itself. In the early 2000s, during a very difficult time, I told the women we might have to close. One woman's response has stayed with me ever since: "You have a college education and can get a job. But what will we do?" Those words have carried me through many challenges.

And today, they remind me of something else—that MarketPlace is not only sustained by the artisans and our team, but also by you. Every purchase you make, every story you share, every bit of encouragement you give is what allows this work to continue. Together, we are ensuring that the women's voices, skills, and resilience carry forward into the future.

SHARE WITH THE ARTISANS:
• Do you remember how you first discovered MarketPlace?
• What's a family story or tradition that has shaped who you are today?
Start the Conversation!

—Pushpika Freitas | President

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