Digital Scoop India Official Platform of Digital Scoop India Featuring Latest & Best News #Articles #Bytes #Entertainment #DigitalScoopMagazine
Related Articles
Jodhpur, Rajasthan – In a world where fashion often celebrates the elite, Dr. Shalini Rajendra Sharma has made it her life’s mission to take fashion to the grassroots—where threads become tools of transformation. A visionary designer, educator, and social entrepreneur, she is the founder of Vastrashala by Shalini, a fashion academy that has trained over 2000+ women and youth across Rajasthan in tailoring, design, and khadi craftsmanship.
Her work is a rare confluence of creativity and community impact, rooted in the rich textile heritage of India but shaped with a forward-looking mindset.
Weaving Empowerment with Every Stitch
Dr. Sharma believes fashion is not just for the runway—it’s a livelihood, a legacy, and a ladder to economic freedom. Through Vastrashala, she offers low-cost, skill-based training programs in fashion and stitching to school dropouts, housewives, rural girls, and budding designers. From offline classes to mobile training vans and app-based learning, her initiative is designed to reach the unreached.
“When a woman learns how to stitch, she doesn’t just sew clothes—she stitches a new future for her family,”
– Dr. Shalini Sharma
Reviving Khadi for the Next Generation
Deeply passionate about India’s freedom fabric—Khadi, Dr. Sharma is working to modernize and globalize its image. From design-led khadi bridalwear to practical training in khadi-based apparel, her academy promotes sustainable fashion rooted in Indian values.
She actively collaborates with artisans, weavers, and government boards to revive dying crafts and create market-ready khadi designs that appeal to today’s youth while honoring their heritage.
Fashion Education, Reimagined
What sets Dr. Sharma apart is her education-first philosophy. Vastrashala’s curriculum isn’t just about trends and sketchbooks—it’s about livelihoods, confidence, and self-reliance. Her training centers offer:
1 to 6-month certified courses in stitching, fashion basics, and draping
Mobile franchise models to expand training access
Women-led skill centers in tier-2 and tier-3 towns
Practical training + entrepreneurial support for starting boutiques
Her goal? To make fashion education affordable, accessible, and aspirational.
Awards & Recognition
Recognized at state and national levels for her role in women empowerment
Honored as a Fashion Education Innovator by Rajasthan Women & Child Welfare Boards
Featured in media for her work in rural skill development and sustainable fashion
Presented her Khadi Bridal Couture at Cannes Film Festival 2025, representing India on the global stage
The Road Ahead
Currently working to expand her academy’s reach across India, Dr. Shalini continues to campaign for government recognition and support for fashion professionals, especially those working in grassroots empowerment and heritage preservation.
Her story is not just about a designer’s rise—it is the story of a thousand women rising with her.
