Our vision is a world where all women have the confidence and resources to makes choices, thrive and contribute to the strengthening of their communities. Secret Projects was founded to realise this vision.

Established in 2014, Secret Projects operates as a social business, training and empowering women in India through the making and selling of clothing and homeware. Secret Projects consists of two organisations, our parent company based in UK and our subsidiary company based in India. Our global trading name is Secret Projects.

What we do:

We are a Community Benefit Society set up to benefit communities of marginalised women in India. We work with our subsidiary company in India, Social Power India to create and support sustainable livelihoods and an equitable world.

Our impact areas are:

• Social Investor Platform: We provide a platform for social investors who want to invest in women’s empowerment and the creation of sustainable livelihoods
• Secret Leaders/Influencers: We are a vehicle for people who want to make a difference through their own personal and business networks, using their skills, passion and creativity
• Linkages: We connect our Maker Communities with the global marketplace (Business to Customer / Business to Business) by creating market linkages
• WFTO: We work within the framework of World Fair Trade Organisation as a member to achieve fair wages and acceptable working standards and we are working towards minimal waste
• Experiences: We offer a variety of ways that our Makers and Customers can meet and work together.

SPCBS is run by a team of 3 female directors and employs 1 part time member of staff and also works with volunteers, interns and sub-contractors.

What we do:

Social Power India enables sustainable livelihoods towards an equitable world.

Our impact areas are:

• Training: We run our own training programme and we create and sell customised training packages to collaborating organisations
• Professionalisation: We support a rise in quality of production and promote the concept of selling and marketing.
• Enterprise Development: We mentor our Maker Communities to capitalise on the opportunities available to them locally
• Leadership: We identify emerging leaders within our Maker Communities and support their development.
• Sales: Maker Communities produce clothing and homeware that are sold to a global market through linkages created by our parent company, Secret Projects Community Benefit Society UK.
• Fair Trade: We work within the framework of World Fair Trade Organization as a member to achieve fair wages and acceptable working standards and we are working towards minimal waste.

SPI is run a team of 2 female directors and employs 2 full time equivalent staff members.

Our Virtual Training for Empowerment Programme (VTFEP) plays a central and important role at Secret Projects and forms the basis of our vision of a world where all women have the confidence and resources to make choices, thrive and contribute to the strengthening of their communities.

Working closely with established and reputable Indian based charities and NGO’s, we are able to link with communities of women with good sewing skills, who want to be able to earn their own living from their expertise, but need support to find relevant and authentic opportunities. These women become part of our Maker Community, forming local Maker Groups and, with our guidance, learn how to make Secret Products. Each one becomes part of our 4 stage Training for Empowerment Programme (see below), that not only provides a route to both the domestic and international sales markets, but also gives each member the tools to be able to form their own micro-enterprises if this is something they want to pursue.

Stage 1: Training - Makers learn how to make foldable Secret Products, e.g. Secret Pillows

Stage 2: Professionalism - Makers are supported to produce products of the highest export standards

Stage 3: Enterprise Development - Makers are coached to uncover local opportunities to generate an income

Stage 4: Leadership - Emerging leaders are encouraged to develop their leadership skills and grow their confidence

Our programme currently spans 5 Indian states, and has trained over 500 Makers since we began in 2014.

Our Customers and other ethical investors are invited to invest and own the business through our Community Benefit Society business model. The investment this creates is being used effectively to scale our activities and we currently we have over 300 investors from all over the world.

We also have a number of other major income streams:

• Retail, through our on-line international retail sites
• Bespoke training programmes with Indian NGOs
• White Label sales
• Wholesale
• Our bespoke range
• Working with universities