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[Photo Courtesy: Sahara Ketabi]
Boston native Sahara Ketabi is the inspirational woman behind the fashion company, Saraswati Couture. As a 25-year-old woman, she has proven that anyone can draw inspiration from little things all around us—and implement them in meaningful ways to change the world.
From a very young age, her family instilled in her the ability appreciate diverse cultures. It was this great habit that prompted Ketabi to venture off on her own and reiterate her own desire to give back to multiple communities.
“When I was 15, I took off by myself to volunteer at an orphanage in Costa Rica for children whose mothers were in prison,” she said.
Since that first experience, Ketabi has made it a point to travel with a purpose. She eventually stumbled upon a life-changing trip to Goa, which led to the creation of her own fashion venture. During her trip to Goa, the Boston native said she came across a young girl selling pants on the beach. Intrigued by the design, Ketabi said she listened to the young girl’s heartfelt story of losing her father many years ago and helping her own mother to make a living and escape prostitution.
“I was incredibly moved by the story and wanted to do something to help,” she explained.
With her desire to help, Ketabi purchased all of their pants to help them have enough income to last a few months. Her selfless action brought her little peace, however, once she returned to the U.S., she said she couldn’t shake the young girl’s tragic story.
“I constantly wondered if they were okay, or if their fears were actualized,” Ketabi confessed. “I tried calling the number they gave me, but it was out of service. I no longer had a way to contact them.”
After the many compliments she received on the intricate designs of the pants she had purchased, Ketabi’s travel adventures didn’t stop there. During a trip to India, the Saraswati Couture founder came across another incredible idea: return to Goa to find the young girl and her family, and create a clothing line.
“I could share them with the rest of the world to bring others as much happiness as they brought me,” she said, “and also bring business to her and her mother to keep them safe from the risk of sexual trafficking.”
Having realized a way to work with the young girl, she soon began the long process of creating her own unique pants—which she soon learned was a much more detailed that it seemed.
“I had no idea how difficult it would be just to get the order right,” the Saraswati Couture founder said. “I wasn’t taken seriously because I do not speak Hindi, nor do I have a husband. After lots of persistence (and learning about Indian business), I got the pants made and sent to my doorstep in Los Angeles.”
While she feared her dream wouldn’t come true, seeing the pants right in front of her very eyes prompted the name of her line.
“I decided to name the clothing line after Saraswati, the Goddess of creativity because I had to really utilize my creativity in order to actualize this dream,” the designer said. “Like Saraswati, each pair of these pants is one-of-a-kind, honoring the uniqueness of each individual being.”
“You have to really go through them to choose which one is right for you,” Ketabi added. “Each has a personality, with so many dimensions and layers. Even when I go through them today, a year later, I am still surprised by the detail, the hidden designs, the depth of the pattern and the symmetrical and asymmetrical aspects of the pants.”
In addition to honoring Saraswati, she wanted to give back to the victims of sexual trafficking in India.
“I decided to donate 10 percent of proceeds towards self-empowerment workshops for trafficked women, so they can stand on their own feet and become the Goddesses they truly are,” she explained.
Ketabi hopes to empower women and have them demand the respect they deserve. Women, especially poor women in places like India, are easy prey for sexual trafficking—but we must work to remind society of the power of a female.
“When we do not honor the divine feminine and her sacred powers, the masculine becomes aggressive. We must put women on the pedestals they deserve,” she said. “They are the backbone of society and we can only progress as far as our women.”
Even as she continued to speak on the crimes faced by women, she hinted at the unbelievable situations in India.
“To me, Delhi is a huge dichotomy because you have some of the smartest people in the world, yet some of the most unfortunate situations,” she said. “For such a developed and advanced city, there is still so much pushed under the rug that we do not even hear about.”
[Photo Courtesy: Sahara Ketabi]
Aside from her own clothing line and having strong views on sexual trafficking, Ketabi is also passionate about making it her mission to live a very nutritious lifestyle. She even recalled when she first changed her diet and how much it changed her life.
“I began thinking more clearly, gained energy and for the first time, truly felt alive,” she said. “ I do not believe any of my accomplishments would be possible if it wasn’t for following a healthy diet.”
Attributing her accomplishments to her healthy diet, she even shares her secret to being healthy.
“I believe the secret to health is different for every person and will vary according to our environment, stress levels, age, season and so much more,” the nutritionist explained. “We cannot prescribe a single solution for all people because we are all different entities, comprised of both mind and body.”
Leaving one last notion about being healthy and as a nutritionist, the fashion designer and health coach said she believes in being happy.
“My career as a nutritionist and health coach revolves around helping others and I truly believe you are your happiest when you are your healthiest. My mission is to share the mind-body connection and empower the youth.”
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