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In just under a week, Stop Traffick Fashion will launch a line of t-shirts made by women in Kolkata, India. Freeset bags have been a staple of our inventory from the very beginning, so we’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Freeset into t-shirts.

Freeset is a business in Kolkata, located in Sonagachi, the largest sex district in the city. For nearly ten years, Freeset has been employing women who’ve been trapped in the sex trade—giving them a choice, often for the first time in their lives.

The women of Freeset are former prostitutes or the daughters of prostitutes who’ve been victims of poverty, trafficking, abuse, and exploitation. Each of their stories are unique and heartbreaking; but when they make the choice to work at Freeset their stories converge into a story of unity and hope. At Freeset, they’re taught skills (most don’t know how to use scissors or write their names when they come), paid fair wages, and given health insurance and pension funds. Most of all, they become a part of a supportive community that is pursuing freedom.

In an area characterized by squalor and heartbreak, the Freeset women are making bold steps toward hope.

Stop Traffick Fashion is humbled to be part of the women’s story—and we hope you’re excited too.

Over the coming days, I’m going to share some of what I learned about Freeset on my trip there in December. And next Friday we’ll unveil our new line of Freeset tees at our benefit concert in Cincinnati.

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