The macrame expert from Assam was married into another patriarchal household. But that didn't stop Kanchan Mali from exploring her love for sewing and stitching. Learning intricate designs by the torch light in her house in the northeastern part of India, Kanchan never knew she would one day be running a sewing school for women in Uttar Pradesh. But as luck would have it, Kanchan found her passion mirrored in her sister-in-law once she reached Gorakhpur. Together they started the Geeta self-help group and began working on training more women to become independent. Today, Kanchan creates decorative items and cushion covers from waste material. She hopes to expand her Silai School to upskill women in her neighbourhood and enable more women entrepreneurs.