As a former shopaholic (turned Swapaholic), Priyanka Shahra was shocked to learn of thecolossal environmental and social hazardsthat exist through the textile lifecycle as late as 2015.
Being from a fairly exposed and well educated background, it came as a surprisethat someone like her was unaware such ansignificant fact. Whilst pursuing a Certificate in Sustainabilityand a parallel Masters Degree in Strategic Design Management, she began to study the industry and quickly learnt that there were many others like her in cosmopolitan milieus who were shielded from this knowledge.
Swapaholic was born to create an alternate platform for fashion lovers like herself to beable express their personal style without compromising our planet. Swapaholic Priyanka believes that fashion doesn’t haveto cost the earth - literally.
Priyanka’s experience with entrepreneurshipbegun in 2010, when she cofounded the brandsolutions company, A Brand New Day (ABND)in India. Realising her creative passions were most ignited by projects that uplifted society, she transferred her enterprise innovation skills into founding the social enterprise, One With Earth (OWE) in 2015. In alignment with the UN’sSustainable Goals, OWE was born from the epiphany that all initiatives, for profit or otherwise OWE it to the earth to act responsibly.
One With Earth is a social enterprise that nurtures, supports, develops and partners with solution based-initiatives that are socially and/or environmentally sustainable. OWE’s portfolio consists of a range of diverse impactdriven projects that focus on Textile Sustainability, Education, Community Welfare as well as Sustainability Consulting.
Aside from meaningful entrepreneurship, Priyanka has been fortuitous to experience fulfilment through enriching opportunities such as; being on the board of the prestigious Shirin Fozdar Programme under the SMU President’s Office; teaching Visual Expression at Ecole Intuit Lab; using her training in Hindustani Classical Music to set up a successful vocal music program at SPJ Sadhna School as a means of speech therapy to mentally challenged children; delivering a TedX speech; pursuing a certificate in Sustainability from Harvard Extension School; attaining a MS in Strategic Design Management from Parsons New School.