HER STORY ⟡ Abby Nurre

May 1

Today, we're meeting Abby Nurre with the Aruna Project!

Tell us about you and your background! What is your role at Aruna?

I am the Senior Designer at Aruna, and I have been with the team since 2016 — almost 10 years now! I attended the University of Cincinnati - College of DAAP and studied fashion design. After working in corporate positions for 3 years after graduation, I was lucky enough to connect with Ryan and April and join Aruna’s mission.

Tell us about the Aruna Project - what does Aruna do?

Aruna exists to create sustainable employment for women who are survivors of human trafficking. Most people know us through either participating in a race or purchasing products. Through both of these avenues, customers and participants receive high quality items that are 100% made by survivors. In this way, Aruna challenges the fashion industry by offering beautiful products that are not only convenient and versatile for consumers, but they are made in a place that offers holistic care and a true sisterhood for the women crafting each item. Aruna offers products with a story of freedom, hope, and human connection.

What is your favorite thing about designing the bags?

I know that each style Aruna offers is made by women who now have opportunities. I get to be part of a powerful story of survival, resilience, and freedom. In some positions, fashion design feels wasteful for the world and abusive to individuals working in production. At Aruna, I feel the complete opposite. I have been to the Production Unit in Mumbai, and it’s a place of light, respect, creativity, education, and positivity.

Additionally, each bag is made with care, and each style is designed along with our very talented Production Team in Mumbai, India. I personally get so much from this partnership. It’s an inspiring place to work.

Tell us about the Cincinnati Aruna Run!

Our flagship run is the Cincinnati Aruna Run, which gathers 1500+ people from the tri-state area each Labor Day to run/walk in 10K, 5K, and 1-Mile races, all to help raise awareness and funds to bring freedom to trafficked women. In the past ten years, the run has raised over $911,000 for the cause. The money raised catalyzes the freedom process by helping fund our Training Centers

situated in the heart of brothel systems in India. The Training Centers help equip trafficked women with the skills they need for independence and employment.

What do you love most about the run?

What I love most about the Cincinnati Aruna Run is that participants are so intimately connected to the cause. Participants receive a bag hand-made by Aruna Artisans, freed in part thanks to funds raised in previous Aruna Runs. They also run or walk for a trafficked woman by name, writing her name on their race bibs. The best part is that 100% of registration fees and additional donations go to the cause as race expenses are covered by local sponsors.

What does BEAUTY mean to you?

To me, beauty means feeling powerful, confident, and authentic. It is a feeling that an individual has more than the way one looks.

Who or what inspires you?

This one is easy - every single Artisan at Aruna inspires me. It is overwhelming to know so many stories of women - mothers, sisters, daughters, friends - who have not only been able to overcome and live full lives for themselves, but who also encourage others to do the same.

What would you like our Beauty Boost members to know?

There are several ways you can be part of the freedom movement:

Run or Walk - Participate in the Cincinnati Aruna Run on Labor Day, 9/7, in-person or virtually. 100% of registration fees and donations go to the cause. See all the details and register starting May 1 at https://bit.ly/2026CincinnatiArunaRun.

Shop - Purchase products handmade by women freed and employed in our freedom business. 100% of proceeds are reinvested into the Freedom Business to fund the holistic care each Artisan receives. See the collection here: https://arunaproject.com/collections/all.

Share - Follow and share @ArunaProject on Facebook and Instagram to inspire others to join the fight to end human trafficking.

How can our community connect with you/find you?

Follow along and join the journey:

• Instagram: @arunaproject

• Facebook: Aruna Project

• Website: arunaproject.com

• Cincinnati Aruna Run registration: https://bit.ly/2026CincinnatiArunaRun

• Email: anurre@arunaproject.com or sprudhomme@arunaproject.com (Cincinnati Aruna Run)

Special Offers for TBB Community?

Get $5 off Cincinnati Aruna Run registration fee with promo code BEAUTYBOOST5. Good on any sub-event, in-person or virtual. Register starting May 1 at https://bit.ly/2026CincinnatiArunaRun