Yellow Bag Foundation is a social enterprise based in Madurai that focusses on women welfare projects like subsidized community shops, health funds and sanitation facilities. Started by a power couple, Krishna and Gowri, their profit-making venture focusses on making eco-friendly cloth bags that look super cool and steady.
Yellow Bag Foundation has four projects under it. Tulasi, a team of women from low-income groups in Madurai's urban slum, is the one that makes kora cotton bags that is available for wholesale and bulk orders. Bhoomika is the team in which intellectually challenged women make naturally dyed handbags. Ilai is the most sustainable project of them all, that upcycles fabric scrap into pretty-looking, functional backpacks and totes. They also have a section that makes intrinsically crafted handcrafted and hand-embroidered bags called Tusker which is totally run by specially-abled women. They put together a catalogue that includes slings, totes, handbags, return gift bags and more. We loved their naturally dyed tote bag in hues of light yellow and earthy brown. They are priced at INR 150, whereas the Kora cotton bags, while purchased in bulk starts from INR 20.
While Tulasi sells bags only in bulk, the other three teams are open for retail. You can get them from Ashvita Bistro, which resells Yellow Foundation's products and also place an order online through their IG handle.