The People's Impact Network (or PIN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes change towards greater ecological integrity in the fashion industry by prolonging the lifecycle of materials, improving the value of timeless garments, reducing the amount of waste, and, thus, mitigating harm to the environment.
Ethnic wear such as saree, salwars, ghagras, and fusion outfits can often be far more expensive than other types of clothing. This may deter some people from purchasing it, especially if they do not wear it on a regular basis. Additionally, ethnic wear may not be as readily available as other types of clothing. And since ethnic wear is often a form of cultural heritage, the former's abandonment can damage the latter's influence and make it more difficult for future generations to learn about it.
Namitha Nayak, an analyst by profession, started PIN in 2014 with the mission of preventing ethnic clothing from ending up in landfills and promoting and TRIPLE WIN:
- Donors make extra space in their closets and homes by giving away used ethnic clothing
- Buyers receive access to a vast variety of sprees and other ethnic wear at very reasonable prices
- Nonprofit organizations who receive funds through Saree Strong gain greater benefit from the generosity of Saree Strong members
PIN has three main programs: Saree Strong, PIN-Ed, and Voice of World.
Saree Strong is a saree resale program that sells gently used, donated saris at low prices. The proceeds from the sales are used to support PIN's other programs.
PIN-Ed is an education series on various topics, including languages and technology, that is offered to students of all ages by volunteer teachers who are specialists in their fields.
Voice of World is a forum for individuals to share their experiences, knowledge, and skills. They offer workshops, talks, and other events to help people connect and learn from each other.
With the help of a team of over 20 volunteers, PIN has supported many local nonprofits and committed over $100,000 to community causes. PIN offers grants to local small nonprofits with missions of community service. They believe that everyone has the power to make a difference, and they are committed to supporting organizations that make a positive impact on the world.
Ranjani Nangia, Mushtari Nagpurwala, Shehnaz Nagpurwala, Kalai Krishnamurthy, Madhavi Nair, and Shailesh Shirvaikar are the current board members of PIN.
PIN was recognized and honored with the National Autism Association of North Texas (NAANT) Angel Community Award.
Interested in getting involved? Here are a few ways you can support PIN:
- Donate gently used saree or other Indian clothing
- Volunteer your time to one of PIN's programs
- Attend a PIN event or workshop
- Donate to PIN's general fund or to one of its specific programs
If you are interested in learning more about PIN or getting involved, you can visit their website at https://peoplesimpact.org/.
