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Ecowings as a fantastic learning school

From the training program “Social Entrepreneurship” of FutureProof Online, we, Finn, Sanne and Charlotte, have been able to do a project at Ecowings. See a snapshot of one of our online meetings here! From the training program we received all kinds of workshops for 10 weeks to get to know the world of social entrepreneurship better: from design thinking, storytelling to project management. In addition, we were able to immediately put this knowledge into practice by working at an already existing start-up. Our eye had fallen for Ecowings; We couldn’t pass up the possibility to have a look behind the scenes at such a great sustainable brand!

The assignment

Our assignment for Ecowings was mainly based on mapping the needs of the target group and potential customers. We were able to make this clear in particular by conducting a survey among a broad target group. In addition, we also tried to find an answer to the question of how we can best reach potential customers and we have provided extensive tools for this in the form of a social media strategy. So keep an eye on the socials! 😉 Being able to serve your target group even better means increasing the sale of bags and of course the social impact from Ecowings: that even more people become aware of the Indian and global waste problem and that rubber is a great alternative to leather and other animal skins.

The experience

We also had a great time as Team Ecowings. Together with Angela we made a nice journey through different facets of social entrepreneurship. After weeks of working together online, it was finally time for us to travel to Amsterdam on 18 July for a nice drink on a terrace at the Rembrandtpark. In the sun we toasted to a successful project. And the hard work was rewarded with icing on the cake: we were the winning support team from FutureProof Online! The training program was rounded off with a pitch event in which all participants could show what they had done recently. Our Sanne had the honorable task of doing this for team Ecowings and with enormous success! Finally, we have been greatly inspired by the story of Ecowings and the way Angela has shaped her business, so who knows what great things lie ahead…

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A waste mountain turns into a mountain of bags and accessories

Angela among the bags

I am Angela Rooijmans, mother of two sons, avid rower and social entrepreneur. After living in India for a while, I returned to the Netherlands ten years ago. In addition to the hospitality of the Indians, the beautiful nature of the country and of course the delicious food, a less positive memory also remained. The large amount of waste on the street where cows (sacred animals, of course) rummaged in search of food.

Upcycling is a solution

The enormous mountain of waste that ends up in the environment in India, among other places, also creates opportunities for the local population. For example, I saw that many Indian designers developed initiatives to do something with that waste. The aim is twofold, to reduce the mountain of waste and create employment for the local population.

Support from the west

Too often these kinds of ideas fail because there is no healthy revenue model to link to them. My background and contacts in the prosperous west gave shape to my mission: to support Indian initiatives in the field of people, animals and the environment by selling their products in Europe. Ten years ago I started under the name Emax Domina with a very wide range of upcycled products, but after a year the focus shifted to bags and accessories from discarded inner tubes.

Ready for the future

Over the years, Ecowings has grown into a beautiful and strong brand with a special collection of sturdy backpacks, practical laptop bags and handy accessories. All made in India from truck inner tubes. There is now also a branch within Ecowings that makes products on commission with the logo of the relevant company, organization or institution.

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Ecowings delivers food aid

The impact of corona (or Covid19) on everyday life in India is huge. The vast majority of the Indian population works in the informal economy, which means that many of the workers are so-called day labourers. They get paid per day. And if there is no work, then there is no money. For the majority of these workers there is no social protection.

When India went into lockdown, the middle classes were forced to lock themselves in their homes. Many domestic helpers, drivers, etc. were sent home. Many businesses and shops closed. Projects came to a standstill. This of course meant that there was hardly any more employment for these day laborers. And prices for everyday food actually rose significantly.

In India, about a third of the population belongs to the so-called middle class. They are materially in good to very good shape. Some are extremely rich. And some of those extremely wealthy have also initiated a lot of large aid projects. Like Amitabh Bachcha, nicknamed ‘Big B’ – one of the richest and most famous Bollywood actors. He said he had spent about €250,000 on emergency aid, but that was not nearly enough according to public opinion! Nobles oblige!

       

A small stone

Ecowings has contributed to emergency aid for the less fortunate. During the lockdown, the Ecowings workshop also had to close. But the permanent employees are still paid. In addition, all women who worked at Ecowings on a temporary basis last year were contacted, and tailor-made assistance was offered to all of these women. Some had left for their native village, some had stayed in Indore and could be helped with food or money. But Ecowings also delivered immediate food aid. Because Himanshu Sharma – Kapil’s brother – works in the police, he was licensed to be on the streets during the lockdown. He has distributed food parcels on the street to the needy. They may be drops in the ocean, but every little bit helps.

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8 maart – International Women’s Day

Vrouwen Ecowings

On March 8, we will celebrate International Women’s Day and show solidarity with all women around the world who fight for good working conditions, fair pay and equal opportunities!

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2 top Ecowings members !

Today we put 2 highly valued employees of Ecowings in the spotlight, namely Sunita and Dhapu Bai.

     

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Purchase of tyres

We have started a great job: 2000 bags with private label on them. This requires a lot of material and that is why the men are hunting for tires at the car garages. A total of 500 old inner tubes were purchased.
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The designer and founder

Ecowings management team

Kapil, Angela, Uma – Indore 2015

The designer and founder

Kapil Sharma is the creative force behind Ecowings. He is responsible for the product development and design of Ecowings bags and accessories. Kapil has a passion for upcycling, nature conservation, innovation and traditional handicrafts. He is very motivated to make sure that the environment and people are treated better in India. Ten years ago, he started upcycling some waste streams to make usable products. Old truck tires turned out to be extremely suitable for this purpose and thanks to his knowledge and innovative talent, he has come up with a product line of excellent quality. Because of his large network of local craftsmen, he has managed to gather a professional team around him.

Kapil graduated in product design from the Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune. Complemented by a diploma in graphic design and a diploma in electrical engineering. He currently works, alongside Ecowings, as an associate professor at Avatika University – School of Design. He is very driven to transfer his passion and knowledge to the younger generation.

Kapil is married to Uma and together they have a son. He is a real family man with a big and social heart. In his spare time he enjoys doing yoga.

The commercial and organizational strength

Uma Sharma is co-founder of Ecowings in India. The day-to-day management, finances, international trade activities and logistics are in capable hands with her.

Uma has a master’s degree in HR management and marketing from Sikkim Manipal University. She was born in Kota, in Rajastan. She has been married to Kapil since 2011 and together they have a son, Lakshya. She loves to cook and is a convinced and outspoken vegan.

Sales and marketing in Europe

Angela Rooijmans joined Ecowings in 2014. After living in India for a few years, she became fascinated by the waste problem. It is her mission to support local social enterprises in India by finding a market for their products in Europe. Her office is located in Aalsmeer.

Angela has a master’s degree in Management Information Science and has recently started studying Religious Studies at the Free University. She is married and the mother of two adult sons. Her main hobbies are rowing and reading.

Ecowings Management Team 2016

Uma, Angela, Kapil – Indore 2016

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