“Nevertheless, the show must go on. While prices will rise, the quality and uniqueness of our products will overshadow the increase. Support for the Bandhwari women is needed now more than ever.”
Students say the project offers far more than business experience. Political science major Taylor Perez, who is preparing for her first trip to India, said she joined to understand the human side of international cooperation. “Seeing firsthand what a project like this does for the people who are part of it — that’s what drew me in,” she said.
For Wernick, that blend of business education and global empathy is what makes the Bandhwari Women’s Project endure. “In the end,” he said, “this is about students learning to use the tools of business to make a difference in a complex world — and doing it with a ton of heart.”
The Second Annual Bandhwari Women’s Project Fashion Show will be held Friday, November 14 at FIU’s BBC Campus. The event is free for FIU students and $45 for the general public online through November 1, then $60 at the door. All proceeds from ticket sales, donations, the silent auction, and vendor partnerships will go directly toward expanding the Bandhwari Project. Find more information and registration here.