ABOUT FABORG
FABORG is an impact-driven social enterprise based near the Auroville International Township in Tamil Nadu, India.
At the heart of FABORG lies a deep commitment to natural farming practices and the revival of traditional fiber-yielding plants. By developing a unique bast-fiber extraction technique, FABORG works beyond a single raw material—reimagining how nature’s fibers can be responsibly sourced, processed, and returned to the textile ecosystem.
Today, our primary focus is the Calotropis plant—a resilient, often overlooked species with extraordinary potential. Through years of hands-on research and experimentation, FABORG is on a journey to reintroduce this valuable natural fiber back into the textile industry, proving that innovation and tradition can coexist beautifully.
FABORG’s work is rooted in a holistic approach: supporting farmers, respecting ecosystems, and building transparent, chemical-free processes from plant to product. By connecting agriculture and textiles through ethics, ecology, and equity, we are shaping a future where sustainable fashion and regenerative farming grow hand in hand.
FOUNDERS
Gowri Shankar
Gowri Shankar comes from a centuries-old weaving community in Tamil Nadu, traditionally working with silk. From a very young age, the routine use and disposal of chemicals never felt right to him.
Since founding FABORG in 2015, Shankar has been relentlessly seeking end-to-end solutions for the artisanal textile traditions he grew up with—solutions that honour both craft and nature. His work bridges indigenous knowledge with innovation, always rooted in respect for land, farmers, and materials.
When he met Elen in Auroville in 2016, their individual quests for ethical work and meaningful living aligned effortlessly—marking the beginning of FABORG as it exists today.
Elen
Born and raised in Estonia, a young and forward-thinking European nation, Elen’s journey took her across continents before bringing her to India.
Her discipline and resilience were shaped in the United States, where she worked with one of the world’s oldest direct-sales companies, rising to become a sales manager and top performer. Long days, relentless summers, and an unshakable work ethic defined that phase of her life.
During her first visit to India in 2015, Elen made a clear commitment: to redirect the fruits of her work back to Mother Earth. FABORG became the living expression of that commitment—where purpose, planet, and people meet.
CONTRIBUTORS
The success of Calotropis is not the work of FABORG alone. It is the result of a collective effort shaped by many hands and minds.
Researchers across disciplines have invested time and care in documenting their findings, leaving behind valuable knowledge that continues to guide this work. Forward-thinking journalists played a crucial role in bringing early visibility to the potential of Calotropis, helping the story reach wider audiences. The Government of Tamil Nadu has also shown encouragement and interest, providing support & manufacturing licence that strengthened the foundation of this initiative.
All this allowed FABORG to put the missing puzzle pieces together and accelerate the vision of more sustainable future through Revolutionising Calotropis.
