We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Myesa Arora. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Myesa below.

Myesa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Since that “Jeeji” is the Hindi word for “sister,” “Jeejihood” seemed like a suitable choice. As a tribute to the sisterhood, the word jeejihood was used as the brand name for this company, whose mission is to aid tribal women who are sisters in another area of the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

JeeJi-Hood’s offering extends beyond bags and encompasses a carefully curated collection of handmade, embroidered bags crafted from surplus textiles. Our aim is to provide sustained employment opportunities to our sisters residing in rural areas of Rajasthan, India, in a sustainable manner. Our skilled bag makers, fondly referred to as ‘Jeejis,’ hail from Rajasthan, a region celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, intricate handicrafts, and magnificent palaces and temples. These talented artisans belong to low-income households and tirelessly employ their craft-making skills to supplement their family income. However, the pandemic has made it challenging for these women to continue doing what they love and support their families through their artistic pursuits. By purchasing our bags, you not only enable these women to pursue their passion but also provide for their families during the aftermath of these difficult times.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

My friend Anya and I launched the business, JeeJi-Hood, with a total investment of $4,000. While I contributed $2,000 from my summer internship earnings, Anya chipped in with $2,000 from her personal savings. We were determined to start the business without relying on financial assistance from our families or acquaintances, and this joint effort motivated us to persevere and achieve our entrepreneurial goals.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

The products are meticulously crafted by hand by tribal women from India, who possess exceptional craftsmanship. However, the virtual COVID environment posed several challenges in effectively communicating design specifications and overcoming language barriers. To address this issue, I created detailed design specifications accompanied by clear illustrations and sought the assistance of a language expert liaison in India. This enabled me to effectively convey my ideas to the women who handcraft these products in the local language. The women are highly skilled and exhibit tremendous attention to detail in every piece they create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jeejihood.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeeji_hood/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeeji-hood8487