PAANI Solutions

We have created a sustainable solution to provide access to clean water in underrepresented communities through women empowerment, education, and tradition. Inspired by the cloth filtration methods used by women in the South Asian diaspora for generations, we have engineered our water filtration technology into the saree, a traditional garment worn throughout India.

The GLOBAL Water Crisis:

The global water crisis is just that - global. There is nothing more essential to life on this Earth than water. People across the globe are struggling to access the quality of water they need for basic necessities like drinking and cooking. According to the UN, over 844 million people lack access to clean water. Of these people, women and children are affected the most because of their vulnerability to water borne-illnesses and because they often bear the burden of carrying water for their families.

So, what is the PAANI filtration system?

It is a series of pockets filled with a disinfectant commonly used to treat water, layered on top of each other through a traditional folding method used in India. It is built into the saree, a widely worn garment throughout the South Asian diaspora. We chose to build a simple yet enhancing solution that filters water through a method created and used for generations, making it feel more adaptable and natural to the community culture.

Covid-19 Impact:

PAANI worked with a local organization in India that advocates for sustainable fashion and women's rights to produce and distribute Covid-19 masks to communities that were lacking personal protective equipment. We raised enough money to give away over 2,700 masks to families in need, while paying the FULL salary for the women doing the work behind the scenes to produce these masks. To us, it is important to highlight the efforts of the women who took charge in making the masks because women can be the change agents for their communities around health. 

We are passionate about creating a pathway and inspiring women to become community change makers. Through the PAANI filter, we hope to refine, not replace traditional water filtration methods used by women. In the era of a global pandemic, join us in our journey to provide a basic human right to families in need, and empowering women through education and social impact.