Business Partner of the Month – Dhana Inc.

“It’s all about offering a new way to connect with people across the globe and the natural world we inhabit – through the clothes we wear,” explains Founder and CEO of Dhana Inc., Shamini Dhana.

As a child growing up on an island in the 1970’s, where nearly everything was imported, Shamini Dhana realized early on how interdependent we are as a society. This planet is our home, we are connected, and we are all part of that equation. As she grew older she dreamed about starting a business that would help others become aware of our connection to the world. The dream of combining nature and the world in business was a brand worth building. But it was not until she had a child of her own in 2005 that this dream began to blossom.

After spending 20 years of her life in international strategy, global operations, venture capital, business development, and executive leadership in corporate America, Shamini Dhana launched Dhana Inc. in 2008 in Mill Valley, California. A fourteen year resident of Marin County, Shamini Dhana has family spread across five continents. Her business reflects her life – connected to people on a global scale. An ex-banker turned eco-designer, Shamini saw the need for a kids’ fashion brand that celebrates our global connections: to cultures of origin, to communities, and also connection to the environment and Nature.

The Dhana Spirit, which symbolizes the values of the company, believes that:

• Kids are our global ambassadors of tomorrow and towards a sustainable future. Kids are our future. We need to treat them like the precious beings they are, and teach them how to be good stewards of the earth.
• Kids learn through their senses. If you want to teach them, let them touch, see, and experience. Make it a celebration!
• Sustainability begins with the heart. Fostering an emotional connection with and reverence for nature is one of the most powerful things we can do for our planet and everyone on it.
• Art connects us to the world. It is the perfect vehicle for bridging the worlds of people and nature. And it speaks the natural language of kids!
• Paying it forward is giving back. We believe that by investing in ethical and sustainable practices, we are able to provide support for communities through fair trade principles and for the good of the world.

“Dhana’s mission is to empower kids to become responsible citizens of the world through the clothes they wear. We do this by partnering with artists and organizations like Kiddo! that are empowering kids to learn about Nature, the Arts, global cultures and sustainable living – in a way that is very real to them. It is our hope to see the reflection of our young artists’ designs as part of our collection and for them to share their dream of a sustainable world. Kids have the ability to be the change in the world,” shares Shamini Dhana.

Today, Dhana, Inc. is a certified B Corporation, voted amongst the Top 10 Businesses in Green America’s Fall 2014 People and Planet Award, and an internationally acclaimed children’s eco-clothing brand. Dhana is also a proud business partner with Kiddo – empowering our next generation leaders to be part of the solution for the good of the world.