Our News & Views

2017 February - Empowerment isn't glamorous

Thank You to all u lovely ladies who supported our 40% off everything love sale! Today I am sitting with two of our beautiful Holi Boli ladies in a government office as we try to fix their Aadhaar Cards (ID / Residents card in India). We are trying get PAN cards (tax numbers) for all our girls but alas their Aadhaar card was declined. So, here I sit sweating it up in a world full of men barking...
Read more
2016 December - Merry Xmas and Happy New Year

We wish you a merry Xmas and Happy New Year! Our end of the year wind up has consisted of a few picnics and team building trips. A 'picnic' in our part of India usually involves a day of cooking in some very scenic spot with a bunch of your girlfriends (and a token guy to scare away any unnecessary onlookers). I guess in the west you might call it a BBQ or something (except we guys are mainly...
Read more
2016 November - The Class of Sewing Geniuses

Just look at what these clever sewing students are up to!  The have been at for 3 months and already the are starting to create amazing designs.  They design, pattern make, cut, and stitch.   "Empowerment is a beautiful kind of Freedom!"
Read more
2016 October - Opinion - What is Ethical Fashion?

What is ethical fashion?Whenever I try to discuss an idea like 'ethical fashion' I end up realising that the person I am talking to has a totally different definition of the topic.  Defining what you mean is essential for proper discussion on any topic.  In fact, it seems apparent to me that most academic conversations spend a fair amount of time in definitions.The word 'ethical' means 'beliefs...
Read more
2016 August - Busy days at the Sewing School

Learning Pattern Making Busy, busy at sewing class. The ladies are doing so well and nearly finished working their way through the Skills/Techniques Checklist. Almost ready to start their first projects! High excitement.Click on the link to buy a 'smile' (or two or three or ten, for US$2 each) to contribute to the empowerment of women in rural India with Holi Boli. https://www.holiboli.com/products...
Read more
2016 August - New Sewing Class Started!

New Students in the Holi Boli Sewing Class Practicing a straight stitch First time on a machine Another four month sewing class kicked off on Monday with 14 new lovely students eager to learn and be empowered. Let the fun begin. Our new teacher aid - Banita gives lessons at her first class Good lines and good beginnings on treadle machine
Read more
2017 February - Valentine's Sale 40% off

Holi Boli is all about spreading the LOVE! So, Valentine's day seems like the perfect time for a sale.  Money in the bank enables us to empower rural Indian women; dresses in the store room does not!  So, open your heart (and your wallet) and help us to empower women in India.Let us empower you to look fabulous too by taking 40% off everything! Even our already reduced stock.Your wearing Holi Boli...
Read more
2016 December - Let the Graduations Commence!

First it was our sisters over at the "Malipali Play and Learn" time to graduate. Two wonderful girls completed 8 months of intense and practical based training. We are so proud of these girls as they have worked very hard to gain their awards. The spend 2.5 hours with the children at the Play and Learn Centre followed by 2 hours (sometimes more) of theoretical training. Both Puja and Nimala are...
Read more
2016 October - Opinion - Quality in Ethical / Sustainable Fashion

Should Ethical/Sustainable Fashion be Quality Fashion?Of course there are times where the artisan or crafts industries struggle to meet quality standards set by modern manufacturing facilities.  However...... quality itself is a customer perception!Regardless of our products we must continuously strive for quality. Our drive for sustainability and ethical practices do not need to compromise the...
Read more
2016 September - Lovely Visitors from New Zealand

Team Gizzy! The Dynamic Duo We have some the most amazing customers!  Some even travel all the way over to India to cheer us on.  Of course, they are usually the ones that cheers on from afar also. Jan and Miriam are a dynamic duo in Taupo real estate. They arrived in Visakapatam and toured through Jaipore up to our base in Bhalupali then finally up to Kolkata. Awesome time! The Holi Boli team were...
Read more
2016 August - India Independence Day Clearance Sale

Dresses in our warehouse do not help us empower women! Buy a Holi Boli dress and help us sponsor more rural village ladies in India to learn to sew and for us empower women into meaningful work. Independence Day is about freedom - freedom comes through empowerment! Come and have a look at some of our beautiful dresses that have been dramatically reduced to clear them out of our warehouse. http://w...
Read more
2016 July - Banumati's Story - Ethical Fashion Empowering Women

POSTED ON JULY 28, 2016 BY ADMINTrusted Clothes Blog - Used by Holi Boli with permision.Banumati shared her story for Trusted Clothes blog. This story is used with her permission.Banumati was born in the Government hospital on 14 June. She doesn’t know what year, but thinks she is now 21 years old. She doesn’t celebrate her birthday but her brother (who used to be the only one in the family...
Read more
2017 February - Empowerment isn't glamorous

Thank You to all u lovely ladies who supported our 40% off everything love sale! Today I am sitting with two of our beautiful Holi Boli ladies in a government office as we try to fix their Aadhaar Cards (ID / Residents card in India). We are trying get PAN cards (tax numbers) for all our girls but alas their Aadhaar card was declined. So, here I sit sweating it up in a world full of men barking...
Read more
2017 February - Valentine's Sale 40% off

Holi Boli is all about spreading the LOVE! So, Valentine's day seems like the perfect time for a sale.  Money in the bank enables us to empower rural Indian women; dresses in the store room does not!  So, open your heart (and your wallet) and help us to empower women in India.Let us empower you to look fabulous too by taking 40% off everything! Even our already reduced stock.Your wearing Holi Boli...
Read more
2016 December - Merry Xmas and Happy New Year

We wish you a merry Xmas and Happy New Year! Our end of the year wind up has consisted of a few picnics and team building trips. A 'picnic' in our part of India usually involves a day of cooking in some very scenic spot with a bunch of your girlfriends (and a token guy to scare away any unnecessary onlookers). I guess in the west you might call it a BBQ or something (except we guys are mainly...
Read more
2016 December - Let the Graduations Commence!

First it was our sisters over at the "Malipali Play and Learn" time to graduate. Two wonderful girls completed 8 months of intense and practical based training. We are so proud of these girls as they have worked very hard to gain their awards. The spend 2.5 hours with the children at the Play and Learn Centre followed by 2 hours (sometimes more) of theoretical training. Both Puja and Nimala are...
Read more
2016 November - The Class of Sewing Geniuses

Just look at what these clever sewing students are up to!  The have been at for 3 months and already the are starting to create amazing designs.  They design, pattern make, cut, and stitch.   "Empowerment is a beautiful kind of Freedom!"
Read more
2016 October - Opinion - Quality in Ethical / Sustainable Fashion

Should Ethical/Sustainable Fashion be Quality Fashion?Of course there are times where the artisan or crafts industries struggle to meet quality standards set by modern manufacturing facilities.  However...... quality itself is a customer perception!Regardless of our products we must continuously strive for quality. Our drive for sustainability and ethical practices do not need to compromise the...
Read more
2016 October - Opinion - What is Ethical Fashion?

What is ethical fashion?Whenever I try to discuss an idea like 'ethical fashion' I end up realising that the person I am talking to has a totally different definition of the topic.  Defining what you mean is essential for proper discussion on any topic.  In fact, it seems apparent to me that most academic conversations spend a fair amount of time in definitions.The word 'ethical' means 'beliefs...
Read more
2016 September - Lovely Visitors from New Zealand

Team Gizzy! The Dynamic Duo We have some the most amazing customers!  Some even travel all the way over to India to cheer us on.  Of course, they are usually the ones that cheers on from afar also. Jan and Miriam are a dynamic duo in Taupo real estate. They arrived in Visakapatam and toured through Jaipore up to our base in Bhalupali then finally up to Kolkata. Awesome time! The Holi Boli team were...
Read more
2016 August - Busy days at the Sewing School

Learning Pattern Making Busy, busy at sewing class. The ladies are doing so well and nearly finished working their way through the Skills/Techniques Checklist. Almost ready to start their first projects! High excitement.Click on the link to buy a 'smile' (or two or three or ten, for US$2 each) to contribute to the empowerment of women in rural India with Holi Boli. https://www.holiboli.com/products...
Read more
2016 August - India Independence Day Clearance Sale

Dresses in our warehouse do not help us empower women! Buy a Holi Boli dress and help us sponsor more rural village ladies in India to learn to sew and for us empower women into meaningful work. Independence Day is about freedom - freedom comes through empowerment! Come and have a look at some of our beautiful dresses that have been dramatically reduced to clear them out of our warehouse. http://w...
Read more
2016 August - New Sewing Class Started!

New Students in the Holi Boli Sewing Class Practicing a straight stitch First time on a machine Another four month sewing class kicked off on Monday with 14 new lovely students eager to learn and be empowered. Let the fun begin. Our new teacher aid - Banita gives lessons at her first class Good lines and good beginnings on treadle machine
Read more
2016 July - Banumati's Story - Ethical Fashion Empowering Women

POSTED ON JULY 28, 2016 BY ADMINTrusted Clothes Blog - Used by Holi Boli with permision.Banumati shared her story for Trusted Clothes blog. This story is used with her permission.Banumati was born in the Government hospital on 14 June. She doesn’t know what year, but thinks she is now 21 years old. She doesn’t celebrate her birthday but her brother (who used to be the only one in the family...
Read more