Episode 02: Empathy in Social Impact with Tanja Cesh
In Episode 02 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kalra speaks with Tanja Cesh of Mulxiply, a fair trade contemporary fashion accessories brand dedicated to keeping heritage handicrafts from Nepal alive.
There are approximately 28 million people living in Nepal. Half of the population lives below the poverty line, earning less that $1.25 per day. With unemployment high, many leave the country as migrant workers. There are a lot of social enterprises and non-profits that go into countries wanting to make a difference. Doing good in an unequal world takes listening and being able to understand the nuance of why a society is the way it is.
Navigating Impact with Cultural Humility
In this episode, Tanja talks about her journey from working in fast fashion to slow fashion. She shares her personal reflections on what led her to start Mulxiply, and the challenges she both experienced and observed along the way. Tanja talks about the role of empathy when navigating within a culture other than your own and ways in which social enterprises can use empathy to build relationships and address colonial power dynamics.
In fast fashion, orders are given to the maker with set expectation and limited communication, but slow fashion is much more collaborative. For socially conscious designers like Tanja, the design process is as much about her vision as it is about the maker's.
Impact During a Pandemic
Global inequities are staring us right in the face. At a time like this, the systemic inequities of society are magnified by the ways in which each country and community navigate crisis. Each individual experience is unique, but it has been especially difficult for those who are economically disadvantaged globally.
“It’s heart-breaking and gut-wrenching to see what’s happening on the borders right now in Nepal. Citizens who have been working abroad are trying to get home. It’s their right! Thousands have been on foot for days and are now stuck with no process for entering or quarantine, no water or food, etc. Thousands of men, women and children are stranded.”
— Tanja Cesh [read the full post here]
Connect with Mulxiply
Please make the effort to support small businesses — you can follow Mulxiply on Instagram and shop Mulxiply’s contemporary collection online.
Thank You
This podcast is dedicated to creating a safe space to discuss and challenge topics surrounding how we each navigate our personal advantages and disadvantages. I want to thank Tanja for being one of the first individuals I interviewed for this podcast — her energy and dedication is truly an inspiration!
Finally, thank you for listening! Please subscribe, download, and leave a review for Art of Citizenry Podcast on iTunes — I appreciate your love and support on this exciting journey!
Also, if you want to connect, please feel free to follow me and share your thoughts with me on Instagram @manpreetkalra.
Photos courtesy of Mulxiply, and captured by Meredith Brockington.