Holi Boli was founded on the belief that fashion can be a vehicle to empowerment and dignity for women.

dignity/ˈdɪɡnɪti/noun

1. the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect.

eg. "the dignity of labour"

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Holi Boli is an ethical women’s clothing manufacturer and fashion label founded by a Kiwi couple on a mission to empower women in rural India. The Holi Boli sewing production house provides a safe place where local women come and develop their sense of identity and self worth through fair, safe and dignified employment. 

A truly inspiring story of entrepreneurship, hard work and passion, the founders lived and worked in the back streets of Odisha, India for a decade bringing opportunity to the doorstep of village women.

Holi Boli has grown to become the epitome of authentic ethical fashion. We don’t just visit the manufacturers - we are the manufacturer, and our business exists to empower women.

We also manufacture in Wellington, New Zealand with Umsiko, a women owned and operated business run by industry legend Iona and her highly skilled team.

After visiting India in 2006, New Zealand couple Ana and Daniel Wilkinson-Gee felt deeply compelled to create and provide opportunities for rural women to support their families and break free from poverty. In February 2010, the Wilkinson-Gee's left their life in New Zealand and moved to Odisha, India, to turn this dream into reality.

Ana, a qualified seamstress and patternmaker, began teaching home sewing classes for women in the community. As these classes grew, Holi Boli was born, and we started selling the garments the women made to the international market. Today, we employ 21 women and have trained another 200 in design and sewing. Holi Boli has become an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of these women and contribute to change in the fashion industry.