We are a future friendly, award-winning, ethical accessories company dedicated to bridging the gap between high fashion and traditional ethical offerings; producing entirely handmade, high quality bags and accessories, designed in Britain and created in Calcutta, West Bengal.

The East Indian ‘City of Culture’ is close to our heart; today the population exceeds 15 million and poverty is a major problem for a great many of its inhabitants. We want to help.

Through raising awareness of the importance of ethical fashion by utilising and promoting a sustainable business model, which in turn creates jobs and empowers those involved in the production of our collection, we make beautiful bags and a positive difference to people’s lives. Ethical fashion can, and should, be elegant, chic and desirable.

Fundamentally committed to social change, we combine the best of UK design talent with the promotion of age-old Indian craftsmanship and artisan skills. In doing so, we support and champion marginalised producer groups to ensure that those who create our products receive both a fair wage and a healthy, happy working environment.

We are extremely proud to be working with our manufacturing partner. Adhering to ethical business practices and being accredited by international bodies, which they are*, is of course essential but it is our manufacturer’s genuine warmth and positivity that inspires us. More than just producers; they are our friends.

Our products are not only unique in design but also, and crucially, in the story behind them. We don’t ask that you compromise your social or style standards. We wouldn’t. We quite simply bring you an ethical alternative to the things you love and an opportunity for a brighter, more secure future to those who deserve it the most.

We hope you love our products as much as we do. Thank you for your support.

Naomi Cornelius-Reid
Founder

*Our manufacturer is a ‘not for profit’ organisation and a founding member of the Fair Trade Forum India and a member of the World Fair Trade Organization.

NV London Calcutta is proud winner of Notonthehighstreet.com’s Make Award for Community Contribution & The Ethical Fashion Forum’s Supplier Innovation Award 2011.

A couple of reasons why we love our manufacturer so much…

• In a male dominated society, they have a woman in charge. She’s incredible.
• They operate on a not for profit basis, meaning all money is ploughed directly back into the workers. All employees have the option to vote into the company pension scheme for later life. Amazing.
• Everyone is encouraged to learn new skills and develop their careers. Anyone can use factory equipment out of hours to work on their own projects.
• They partner and support over 26 grass roots producer groups, many rurally based, providing an important source of income to the individuals and their families through the sale of their crafts whilst sustaining and nurturing their age-old artisan skills.
• All materials are locally sourced in West Bengal and of the highest possible quality.
• Everyone is treated as equal; one of the packing team is the only counter signatory to the MD.
• Every woman in our Quality Control room was chosen not only because of her skill but beacuse she is the only bread winner in the family. The majority are widowed and support the entire extended family single handedly.
• There is an amazing team spirit and working environment- the yearly company away week, where all HQ employees travel to the coast to sing, dance and relax together must be something to do with it.