Shikha Shah, the founder of ScrapShala, a premium environment-friendly products brand, is dedicated to promoting sustainability and social responsibility in the textile industry. With a mission to make a positive impact on the planet and its people, Shah has been working tirelessly to achieve this goal.
ScrapShala was founded in 2016 with the goal of upcycling discarded materials into functional products, providing employment opportunities for local artisans, and promoting sustainable living. Since its inception, the brand has grown to produce a diverse range of products, including home decor, lifestyle, and gifting items, using pre-existing raw materials.
Shah’s journey began in Varanasi, where she was born and raised, and later pursued her education in environmental studies at TERI University in New Delhi. Her experiences working at the Reliance Foundation and at IIT Madras inspired her to start her own business, leveraging her mother’s creative skills to upcycle waste materials.
ScrapShala has employed over 100 local Indian artisans, mostly women, and has reduced over 1 lakh kg of waste into functional products, which are now sold in over 20 countries worldwide. Shah’s dedication to her mission has not gone unnoticed, with her brand winning several awards and recognition in the media.
Despite the challenges she has faced, including the struggle to educate consumers about the benefits of upcycling and the stigma associated with the word “scrap,” Shah remains committed to her vision. She is proud to have created a positive impact in her community, with Varanasi residents now more conscious about their consumption habits and the brand having become a tourist destination.
As a serial entrepreneur, Shah is also the founder of AltMat, which transforms agricultural waste into innovative materials, primarily for textiles. Her ScrapShala India Social Foundation, a Varanasi-based organization, spearheads CSR initiatives to empower artisans and promote sustainable living. Through her various initiatives, Shah is working towards a more sustainable future, embodying the theme of “Accelerate Action” on International Women’s Day.