A STITCH IN TIME

The 2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise stands behind Denica Riadini-Flesch and her efforts to improve the lives of Indonesia's marginalised women through ethical clothing brand SukkhaCitta

Indonesian clothing brand SukkhaCitta derived its name from the native words meaning “happiness”. Ironically, that was far from what its founder, Denica Riadini-Flesch, was feeling when she left Indonesia to study as a development economist in the Netherlands, she “felt guilty, knowing it’s not an opportunity most women in Indonesia have”. She returned to her homeland with a mission: to change things in a way that would benefit everyone. Riadini-Flesch was alarmed by a pressing issue facing her country: the lack of a fair living wage for women in the textile industry.

Indonesia is one of the world’s largest clothing manufacturers, but fewer than two percent of its garment and textile workers, the vast majority of whom are women, earn a living wage. “These women, working from home, are the most marginalised segment of the global fashion industry because their labour is outsourced through layers of middlemen,” says Riadini-Flesch. In 2016, she set up SukkhaCitta, a “farm to closet” social enterprise that sells high-quality, traditionally crafted clothing on its website, as well as in a number of retailers.

In addition to the beautiful apparel SukkhaCitta offers online and in select retail stores, the brand has established craft schools where young women can learn traditional skills that will enable and empower them to perpetuate their culture. These schools not only teach craft and design, but also impart business skills and environmental stewardship to ensure sustainable supply chains. A number of them also offer a mentorship programme where more experienced artisans can take on young mothers as apprentices.