Fashion with a Purpose: Empowering Girls

Period poverty is a significant, often overlooked issue in Sri Lanka, affecting thousands of girls who are forced to miss school during their menstrual cycles due to a lack of access to affordable sanitary products. According to research, approximately 60% of schoolgirls in Sri Lanka do not have adequate menstrual hygiene products, and it is estimated that 1 in 5 girls miss school during their periods, sometimes up to 50 days a year. This absenteeism negatively impacts their academic performance, lowers self-esteem, and, in many cases, leads to school dropout.

Ashoka Maha Vidyalaya - Perimiyankulama, located in the rural area of Anuradhapura, faces this challenge on a large scale. Many girls at the school experience period poverty, forcing them to stay home during their menstruation. As a result, they fall behind in their studies and miss out on valuable learning opportunities. This creates a cycle of inequality, as girls who fall behind often struggle to catch up, diminishing their chances for future success.

To combat this issue, Aperevè’s Sarandib Collection is launching a social impact initiative. For every item sold from the collection, a packet of sanitary napkins will be donated to girls in need. Our goal is to donate these sanitary napkins to the students of Ashoka Maha Vidyalaya by the 20th of December, providing them with the resources they need to manage their menstrual health and attend school with confidence.

Through this initiative, we aim to significantly reduce absenteeism among these girls, allowing them to focus on their education without the fear or embarrassment caused by a lack of menstrual hygiene products. This effort aligns with Aperevè’s mission to not only create fashion but to also empower women and girls at every stage of life.

The Sarandib Collection invites women everywhere to embrace their inner strength, to wear pieces that carry a story of resilience, and to join a movement that empowers others. It is a celebration of women, by women, for women. With each sale, a connection is formed—a bond between the woman wearing the piece and the young girl receiving the support she needs.

Through Sarandib, Aperevè is not just crafting timeless fashion, but creating ripples of change, one empowered woman at a time.