Our Story
Our Story
Working Locally
“I wanted to create skirts that felt as meaningful as the journeys they would go on. So I traveled to India and spent time getting to know the artisans and tailors behind each piece, sharing tea, stories, and long days of work together.
From women sewing in their homes to family workshops carrying generations of craftsmanship, every skirt is made by hands I know and people I care about. Their skill, dedication, and stories are woven into every piece we create.”
— Valeria
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The Skirt Girl operates as a direct partnership between a US-based small business and a network of artisan workshops in India. The United Nations 17th Sustainable Development Goal, Partnerships for the Goals, recognises that real, durable change happens when small businesses, makers, and communities work together across borders, on fair terms, with shared upside.
That is how we built this brand:
- Direct relationships, no middlemen. We work with artisans by name, not through agencies or wholesalers.
- Fair pay above local rate. Every workshop and tailor is paid above market rate for our region, on schedule.
- Inclusive labour. Our team includes single mothers who sew from home, and multi-generation tailors whose workshops we visit each year.
- Zero-waste craftsmanship. Offcuts become tops, scrunchies, and the Recycled Patchwork Skirt. Nothing is landfilled.
- Knowledge exchange. Designs are developed together. The artisans we work with shape what we sell.
Our Tailor Collection (Isha x Valeria) is the first piece of work made under a named partnership with our lead tailor. More to follow.