Sanaya Set is a quarterly self-care subscription box that sends a seasonal collection of curated lifestyle products curated by a trio of first-generation South Asian womxn. The subscription is $99 and 10% of net proceeds is donated to charity. They collaborate and give back to organizations that have positive impacts on social justice, intersectional feminism, and values aligned with those causes.
We focus on sourcing predominantly from womxn owned businesses, with an emphasis on businesses owned by womxn of color and/or those from marginalized communities. We also work with organizations and fair trade companies who elevate womxn globally. Our goal is to spread our mission and values, while empowering womxn who are brave enough to pursue their passions.
If you don’t want to commit to a subscription, it’s ok! You can also buy the box for $120.
They sent us a welcoming postcard! The artwork of this postcard is inspired by Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World book. (It’s a very enjoyable good read that we have checked out from the library.)
What a lovely personal note!
Even in the box design, Sanaya Set doesn’t fail to make an impression. They promote social justice and self-care.
Upon opening, there’s a card on top of the products wrapped in a blue paper and sealed with their logo sticker.
This box is full of items! I’m excited!
The info card has all the images of the products in the box.
At the back of the card are the details about the products and their significance to the cause.
Everything in my box!
The proceeds for this box will go to ACLU, which works to protect the people’s constitutional rights and is properly signified by this ribbon. (This wasn’t in the main photo – we found it when we broke down the box for recycling!).
Nandi Jewelry Necklace This box supports women-owned businesses. Nandi, an artisan jewelry maker from New York, made this piece just for Sanaya Set Spring 2018.
The lotus pendant signifies that we can grow through dark times and blossom with beauty and grace.
It is a chain necklace, perfect for all occasions.
Apparently, this necklace is inspired by a quote from Suzy Kassem.
Whenever you should doubt your self-worth, remember the lotus flower. Even though it plunges to life from beneath the mud, it does not allow the dirt that surrounds it to affect its growth or beauty.
Hi Wildflower Lipstick In Gulabi Gang ($27) The brand is created by Tanwi Nandini Islam, a feminist writer, and novelist. She combines botanical inspiration from her home in Brooklyn and her homeland in Bangladesh which translates to her creations.
The shade name is Gulabi Gang, which is not an ordinary name. The shade is inspired by extraordinary women’s movement in India that pushes equality to have socio-economic, cultural, and political opportunities the same as men.
It is a botanical lipstick with essential oils and waxes that moisturize the lips even though it has a matte finish. I love the classy black and gold packaging.
Wow! What a hot pink pigment! It is not drying on the lips and it is transfer proof. It is cruelty-free and formulated without phthalates, parabens, and sulfates. I love that it pushes color boundaries – and is a great color for all women to wear to signify boundary pushing!
Claws Out Nail Polish In Resistance ($15) Claws Out is a family-owned company that makes beautiful, vegan and five free nail polish. They want this world a better place so they also donate proceeds to charities that make a difference in people’s lives.
The color is just as rebellious as the shade name, Resistance.
On top of the donations made by Sanaya Set, 20% of the proceeds of this nail polish shade will also go to ACLU.
It’s a deep red shiny shade that offers long-lasting wear without easily chipping off and has full coverage after two coats.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou ($11.52)
Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise, as seen on PBS’s American Masters.
Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.
Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.
This is a classic and a best-seller for a reason! Dr. Maya Angelou storytelling is very engaging, as she managed to talk about a lot of heavy issues about racism, sexual assault, etc. without alienating the readers. She was able to make us understand her point of view as she had undergone in different stages of her life.
This is one compelling book. I can’t put it down because even though it happened a long time ago, we are still dealing with situations she encountered in the past. She is a hero for being brave and for infusing her own influence and take on civil rights and social movement.
Rise & Chai Rise Sleep Mask. You can’t have a good working energy without sleeping soundly! They want us to have a good night’s sleep so we can wake up and competently RISE above and perform our tasks.
It’s an all-black mask with the word RISE in gold. It has a cushion inside which doesn’t apply pressure to our eyes at all, instead, it enhances our comfort experience.
It is made up of very soft and smooth material with elastic bands to keep it snug and secure to your head.
Theo Bread & Chocolate 70% Dark Chocolate ($2.99) It is a buttery, salted and toasted artisan breadcrumbs blended to an organic 70% dark chocolate. It is an innovative twist to a classic pairing.
For every Theo product bought, the company support families from Congo and Peru on their quest to make a livelihood and improve their way of life.
Dark chocolate is good for the health so don’t worry about eating this whole bar.
This is organic, soy free, and kosher.
It’s a fairly sweet, delicious dark chocolate with a salty twist.
Sudara Anju Robe ($79) The Anju robe is the heart of the box as it is made in India by working women to remain free from sex slavery.
This robe is like an armor for these women. From our purchases of their robes, they are protected by being safely employed. It is fulfilling that we are able to participate in their endeavors.
If we choose, we can gift it to our friends. They provided us with a quoted tag card that fits the essence of this robe.
Freedom is what beauty feels like when it can most express itself.
Sanaya Set collaborated with Sudara, which is a Certified Benefit Corporation, mission-driven lifestyle brand, who advocates on behalf of women who have escaped from or at the high risk of human trafficking. Their success is measured by the positive social impact that creates a long-term, sustainable and dignified employment opportunities for women.
This robe is in one size that fits all.
The Anju print features line-drawn flowers filled with different colors of raspberry, mint, grey, and ivory with a touch of turquoise and sage.
The trimmings are thicker than the fabric of the robe to make it more capable of withstanding the everyday wear and tear.
The line-drawn flowers are vibrant and the fabric is made up of cooling and breathable fabric which feels very comfortable to skin.
This robe is trimmed in interlocking colors of ivory and gold and has an elegant Banarasi Border design. This robe is stunning and super-high quality. Even my husband remarked that it’s his favorite robe he’s ever unboxed – both in quality in style. I agree!
Before even getting to the items I had positive impressions about this subscription because it is purpose and passion-driven. The box doesn’t just promote a brand but the women behind it and their power to create. Tarul, Sandy, and Tejal are out to promote a cause and they are serious in uplifting women’s status all over the world. I love that the curation is not limited to a certain niche. We can expect a legitimate variety of products from skincare, jewelry, to basically anything that has an inclination to empower women. There are no fillers in the box as each product is handpicked by women for women. The curation is gorgeous and I couldn’t be more pleased about the much needed diversity Sanaya Set is bringing to women’s lifestyle boxes.
Any thoughts about the Sanaya Set?
Comments
Very lovely and thorough review. I had just heard about this subscription recently. Thank you!
Beautiful robe but price is too steep for me.