Horsham businesswoman in bid to help Indian workers suffering during lockdown

A Horsham businesswoman has launched a campaign to help workers in rural India who have been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Shona Easton designs handbags and leather goods that are manufactured by a fair trading firm operating in a remote Indian workshop.

But around 200 women workers at the company have been unable to work since India introduced a sudden lockdown on March 24.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Shona, who has run Shona Easton Design Studio in Warnham for the past nine years, said: “I realised what a MUCH more serious situation they are in than me/us in the UK.

Shona Easton SUS-200605-152410001Shona Easton SUS-200605-152410001
Shona Easton SUS-200605-152410001

“They totally need help so they can buy food and look after their families.”

Shona, a former designer for a number of high street brands including Next, is now trying to raise £60,000 to pay the women’s wages for the next six months while they are unable to work.

She has set up a crowdfunding appeal and is seeking sponsorship for a headshave event. “My plan is to have my head shaved following the ‘Tonsure’ (the removal of hair seen as symbolic to sacrificing your ego to the universe) tradition in India,” said Shona.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And husband Robert is to undertake the chop for 54-year-old Shona on Monday (May 11).

Shona Easton with some of the workers in India SUS-200605-153055001Shona Easton with some of the workers in India SUS-200605-153055001
Shona Easton with some of the workers in India SUS-200605-153055001

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.

Related topics: