How it all began...

My name is Marlene Stroband and I have been living with my husband in Chennai, formerly Madras, in India since 2014.

India captivated me immediately with its fascinating culture, sensory experiences, landscapes, and warm-hearted people. However, the negative impressions, such as poverty, the treatment of women, the sick, and people with disabilities, and environmental pollution, also left a deep mark on me. Therefore, I decided to take action.

Equipped with many years of experience in marketing and sales, I founded Madras Carry to support a women's project in the slums of Chennai.

Together with a local fair trade certified NGO, I design and produce handmade bags and baskets from recycled plastic and sell them in Germany.

We currently employ around 60 women who, due to their social or health circumstances, face limited opportunities in the local job market. Sales will enable us to increase local production so that we can help even more women in the future.

Do you want to know more?

Here you can learn more about our producers and our materials .