During Amrita Virtual Academy’s Joy of Sharing presentation in 2020, Zhenya Glorka of the sustainable fashion powerhouse glorka presented on her amazing sustainable fashion endeavors in India in collaboration with AMMACHI Labs. Hearing about her ground-breaking travels to the villages in India was an exciting and touching moment for everyone.
“When women of different cultures, age and status come together into a circle to craft, share and co-create – something amazing happens… It’s hard to explain, but it just feels magical…” ~ Zhenya Glorka, founder of glorka.
Learn more about glorka’s collaboration with Ammachi labs in this special YouTube video:
We have exciting news to share! TULA, an Australian ethical clothing brand focused on sustainability and slow fashion, has started production near the Amritapuri ashram in Vallikavu, Kollam, Kerala.
Much like glorka, this venture also involves a collaboration with AMMACHI Labs at Amrita University, Amritapuri campus. TULA is a hub where skilled artisans work together to realize sustainable designs. In their own words, “Tūla the Label began with a simple vision: to create ethical fashion that combines comfort and beauty, crafted with care for both the wearer and the artisans behind the work.”
They began by producing the sustainable Boxy Top for their upcoming collection at the Vallikavu location.
Supervised with a focus on precision and minimal fabric wastage, the pattern-cutting process adhered to TULA’s eco-conscious production standards. TULA is committed to expanding its presence in India by seamlessly integrating ethical practices with local craftsmanship. This approach not only maintains their global sustainability vision but also empowers local artisans.
Here at Amrita Virtual Academy we are so excited to learn more about slow fashion and its movement to heal the environment. We love seeing Amma’s vision of sustainability and Women’s Empowerment come to life.
Here at Amrita Virtual Academy, we are always so excited to see positive change in the community, especially when the principles of our courses—love, knowledge, evolution, service & sustainability— radiate out into the world. Here are some amazing local community updates, inspired by Meenamba’s Amrita Upcycling projects.
At Amrita University, Amritapuri campus, located just across the bridge from Amma’s Amritapuri ashram, there was a special week from November 15-20, 2025 to support Women’s Empowerment. At that time, eleven Computer Science & Engineering students successfully connected with a local women’s tailoring unit—a self-help group supporting local women—to support their artisan handicrafts businesses.
To incorporate an ecological focus into the project, a meeting was held to find reusable materials within the university that could be upcycled. This provided participating women with free resources while also minimizing waste. A solid plan for the regular collection of the selected materials—coffee bags, standard uniforms, lab coats, college lanyards, and old umbrellas—was put in place.
Students supported not only the creation of the goods, but also helped in promoting the artisanal handicrafts across the Amrita University campus. Amrita students designed and displayed promotional posters, boosting the local women’s visibility and expanding their customer base.
The students also connected with Meenamba, the Amrita Virtual Academy instructor also known as the “Plastic Woman,” who shared her knowledge on upcycling, environmental responsibility, and purposeful living. After seeing her handmade upcycled products, the students committed to starting their own collection drive, beginning with old umbrellas, to support similar projects. This valuable experience highlighted the significance of sustainable practices, social responsibility, and community engagement for the students.
Inspired by Meenamba, Amrita University’s campus also launched another sustainability initiative, focused on collecting empty Coffee Day packets from canteens both on and near the Amritapuri campus. This provides essential raw materials for the local women artisans involved in upcycling projects.
A collection system was established in three campus canteens between November 19 and November 26, 2025. Now operational, volunteers maintain a consistent supply of the raw material through weekly collections. These discarded packets are transformed by the artisans into functional, eco-friendly products.
Beyond reducing campus waste, this effort reinforces Amma’s vision and commitment to empowering women through sustainable livelihoods and responsible production.
And aren’t the purses so cute?
Finally, there was one other notable event during the November 15–20, 2025 Women’s Empowerment week. The Amrita Upcycling Project held a two-day hands-on workshop in Amritapuri to teach participants how to convert everyday waste into functional, eco-friendly products. Two tailoring students learned to craft upcycled pouches from materials like broken umbrella fabric and discarded snack packets. The training emphasized waste reduction and responsible resource use, encouraging participants to identify and creatively reuse plastic items from their own homes. This initiative strengthens local women’s sustainable livelihood capacity and fosters environmental awareness. It also expands the Amrita Upcycling movement as a whole.
We are so proud of everyone involved!
If you would like to join the movement and learn how to make your own tote bag out of recycled materials, you can do so here.
