RAISING WOMEN OUT OF POVERTY
MADE FOR A WOMAN
••• EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AND AFRICA
IN MADAGASCAR, ONE OF THE poorest countries in the world, those on the margins of society struggle to break out of poverty. But fashion startup Made for a Woman opened a workshop in the capital, Antananarivo, in 2019 that now employs 350 people, the majority of whom are women with few other opportunities, including the differently abled, single mothers, survivors of abuse, and former sex workers. Made for a Woman offers workers more than a safe place to earn a living wage: It also hires doctors, psychologists, and childcare workers to support them. Workers can take courses that include art and music therapy. “We create a space where we focus not only on their financial stability but also on the emotional and psychological aspects of their well-being,” says founder Eileen Akbaraly. Akbaraly, who grew up in Madagascar and earned a fashion degree in Milan, was driven to launch Made for a Woman to support the country’s most vulnerable people. But the clothes and accessories Akbaraly designs have made a mark on the fashion world. Last year, after she showed her first collection at Milan Fashion Week—models walked the runway in dramatic gowns, skirts, and elaborate hats largely made of upcycled cotton and raffia (derived from native palm trees)—high-end retailers like Moda Operandi and Farfetch placed orders. Akbaraly also collaborated with Chloé on a capsule collection last year and plans to launch a bigger effort with the French luxury brand later this year. “I’ve always had an interest in fashion, but in the less glamorous part that happens behind the scenes,” says Akbaraly. “These luxury partnerships are an opportunity to showcase the business model we have been able to create in Madagascar.”