Donate your saris for a good cause and boost your karma - that's the basis of Durban entrepreneur Kanchana Moodliar's skills development project aimed at benefiting and empowering disadvantaged women in Chats-worth. SEEKING GOOD KARMA: Clothing designer Haroun Hansrot with entrepreneur Kanchana Moodliar, who is launching a project to recycle saris to benefit poor women Moodliar, who runs a high-fashion, corporate-clothing business, is launching the project, Saris for Good Karma, and is inviting women to "raid their cupboards" and donate unwanted garments.Karma is a philosophy based on the cycle of cause and effect. The saris will be re-sold or turned into high-end fashion garments or accessories. The profits will benefit a community in Bayview. "The idea is basically to cut them up and turn them into couture garments, cushions, African regalia, beading them and making them a little more enhanced," said Moodliar. "Indian women have about 10 to 20 saris at any given time which they have not worn for the past 10 years. It's a lesson in consciousness and how to let go of the old and do good with this stuff." She said 12 women had been identified, some of whom had lost their jobs in the clothing industry, to receive business training in a year-long programme. "It is the war against poverty we are fighting. "These women would then share their knowledge with others in the community. People could also go to them to have things sewn. They are not going to learn just sewing, but couture sewing." Moodliar said there were plans to sell the items in a chain store in the long term. The event will be launched at the ICC in September. "At the launch, we are going to raise money to purchase sewing machines, thread, beads and things the women will need to start the self-sustaining business." Moodliar is working with clothing designer Haroun Hansrot for the launch. Sew-on-this Blogspot Link: http://sewnowthis.blogspot.com/2010/07/helping-needy-with-saris-saris-for-good.html