Learning from Ibus

To me, fashion has always been a way not only to express myself, but to embody the principles I cherish and value most; creativity, storytelling, ambition, and feminism.

 Hello everyone, my name is Veda. You may remember me from my speech on women’s roles in the Swadeshi movement at Ibu's 2026 mini summit, but my Ibu story starts in 2023 when my mom took me to Ibu’s Fringe Revolution celebration for International Women’s Day. The moment I walked in, I was enamored by the colors, textures, and textiles that came together to form this rich experience that combined both traditional fashion and unique artistry. There, I realized that fashion is much more than just pretty clothes, in fact textiles hold stories and memories, often having the power to accentuate the voices that have been overlooked by history.

I soon found myself deeply inspired by the mission of Ibu to uplift and amplify women’s voices and crafts all over the world. A year later, I founded a chapter of She’s The First, whose mission is to achieve equality in girls' education in less fortunate parts of the globe, and a year after that, I founded a local non-profit aimed at improving literacy and a love of reading for the young girls at Title IX schools in Charleston. 

Recently, in honor of the India theme for the International Women’s Day event this year, Ibu gave me the opportunity to share a story that holds special meaning for me, that of my great-grandmother. When Ibu first approached me about this role, I was nervous about not only public speaking, but also making sure I was doing my family justice as I researched and presented on our complex familial history. That morning, however, my nerves completely dissipated as I found myself deeply moved by each artisan's story, from Anita Reddy’s creation of the DWARAKA collective and the restoration of kalamkari arts to Arushi Chowdhury Khanna’s revival of himroo weaving, this time in the hands of women. Their stories made me hopeful for a future where all forms of art are given the recognition they deserve, and all women artisans are given the platform they need to share their talent.

Fast-forward to today, and I have had the honor of interning with Ibu and learning how they operate behind the scenes. After spending two weeks with them which involved an action-packed day-trip to SCAD, I have come to understand the many ways in which Ibu makes an impact. Whether it's awarding grants, reviewing brand marketing from SCADserve, preparing the Santa Fe itinerary for IFAM, or selecting pieces for the partnership with Veronica Beard, each decision the team makes is purposeful and meaningful. One artisan flawlessly described Team Ibu as “some of the most professional and yet compassionate women [they] had encountered in the international circuit”. The Ibu team works so harmoniously together that they have reshaped my understanding of what it means to be a team and build off of one another. 

Similarly, another artisan leader described their work with Ibu as a “beautiful cycle of growth,” which stood out to me because nothing is ever truly finished. For instance, I am still building upon my research that began with my grandmother’s story to delve deeper into the sari as a symbol of women’s resistance and empowerment. I also hope to expand my non-profit to other schools and reach more girls. My experience with Ibu has informed me there is always more support to give, more art to create, and more women and girls to uplift. 

Veda Patel, Ibu Intern, Ashley Hall Rising Senior