Socks from India keep families warm and fed

Hundreds of women in remote parts of India have been given the opportunity to work from home and earn a living for their families thanks to a social enterprise run by a Kelowna couple. Mike Gunn and Vanessa Tse started Fazl Socks with the mission of making a difference in the lives of women and children in India, where they now live.

The company employs local women to knit wool socks, which are then sold around the world.

Fifty per cent of the net profits go toward supporting two orphanages Gunn and Tse work with in North India.

All other profits go back into the company to pay for materials and to pay the women a fair wage.

Since its inception a year and a half ago, Fazl Socks has gone from employing 50 Indian women to more than 500.

“We’ve been amazed at the growth, and we’ve turned away women because we’ve literally ran out of wool,” said Tse.

Some women come from as far away as two hours by bus to pick up wool for the socks.

“Last winter, we gave out approximately one ton of wool within a month (that) we had planned to give out over several months,” said Tse.

Gunn and Tse also arrange to send wool to regions of India that are cut off for half the year due to snow and glaciers.

“It’s an extra cost for us, but our hearts are for those who really need work, and there happens to be many ladies who really appreciate this in the winter months,” said Gunn. “Their industry is potato farming, but this is limited and extremely labour intensive.”

Farming also does not pay well and is seasonal, he said.

“In the winter, they literally have nothing to do but sit around the fire, now making Fazl Socks, which we pick up in the summer.”

The women employed by Fazl Socks are mainly housewives who take care of domestic responsibilities, including making food and caring for their sheep and cows.

“This is why we have chosen to allow our ladies to create Fazl Socks at home,” said Gunn.

“They can make socks on their own time and often in community with other family and friends from their villages.”

Women who cannot knit are also employed to help prepare the socks for shipment.

“By providing work for the women, it can start to create systemic change for families,” said Tse.

This month, Fazl Socks has a pop-up shop in Kelowna’s Orchard Park mall, which will be open until Dec. 27.

Contributed Indian women knitting socks for Fazl Socks, a social enterprise started by Kelowna couple Mike Gunn and Vanessa Tse that raises money for orphanages in North India and provides fair wages to the women who make the socks.

Contributed A pair of Fazl Socks knitted by women in India. Since its inception a year and a half ago, Fazl Socks has gone from employing 50 Indian women to more than 500.