Growing up, we have heard about the immaculate craftsmanship of the Indian handloom and textile industry. Sadly, we have also heard the increasing decline in this industry in its country of origin owing to mass produced machine products. Manjul Jayakumar and Vandhana Sunil founded Cananor Guild with the aim to revive this dying industry by providing quality home décor and home furnishing fabrics to their customers. Once a lucrative industry, the handloom sector of our country was famed all over the world for its intricate designs and fabric. While the quality still remains the same, the demand for such products in its home country keeps declining and that’s just disheartening. Talent deserves the recognition and it is this recognition and pride that Manjul and Vandhana aim to bring back to the craftsmen toiling away all day to provide the industry with its finest products.

The Birth of an Idea

Based in Kannur, Kerala, the place known as the land of looms and lores, they dug deep into the essence of the place to provide the best of the handloom industry to all their customers. Being brought up in the handloom industry with a legacy of over four generations in the industry, Manjul and Vandhana came up with the idea when they noticed their friends using products that their parent company has been exporting abroad only to buy them from London or USA. They sensed a market gap in the industry in India and they decided to capitalise that using the best handloom craftsmanship in the country.

Experienced hands running the business

Upon graduating from Cass Business School, London, Manjul worked at one of the leading textile companies in London, with a focus on customer centric roles. He developed relations and contacts with major textile barons in the country to help expand his business in the future.

Vandhana is a seasoned design professional who has worked with some of the greatest creative minds in high-end companies such as Ogilvy & Mather and Deloitte Digital. Every company achieves success when the designing and the marketing work hand in hand in unity. Manjul and his wife aim to do just that by combining their skills together for the company.

Cananor Guild: A company with a cause

The services rendered by the company have received immense appreciation from all the customers. With the goal to become global, the company is focusing mainly on capturing the Indian market currently owing to its vast potential. While the company aims to revive a shrinking industry, Manjul and Vandhana deserve special applause for providing employment to women, making their work force comprising of 90% of women and opting for eco-friendly working structures that just make Cananor Guild noteworthy. The company has immense potential and is sure to achieve the growth it deserves owing to the hard work of its founders and each and every artisan.

To know more, visit –

Website – https://cananorguild.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cananorguild/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit — https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

A business enterprise created and successfully developed by the daughter, after learning the art of macramé from her mother – this sums up what Love me Knots is all about. It is also about creating a very unique identity for oneself, by using the not very well known art of Macramé, which is a creative process of making anything from textile fiber using the technique of knots.

Starting out in 2018, it was a bit difficult to get noticed, since not many were aware about this art and also not sure how anything made out of this would last. Vidhi Malhotra, the passionate and talented founder says, “I transitioned from being a professional interior and furniture designer to an entrepreneur designing, manufacturing and retailing in macramé, with the guidance of the head artist: My Mother. We started out small using exhibitions and Instagram as our mediums to reach the consumer, eventually our unique ideas and desire to make this art familiar to the consumers soon helped the business pick up.”

Today, Love me Knots is a brand known to create exciting and truly trendy piece of fashion wears.

Handmade macramé collection that is changing perceptions

Crochet, knitting and stitching are things which people are familiar with and they think things made using these skills are not all that up to the mark.  The same was the opinion for the art of macramé. However, Love me Knots stepped into the market and proved, that a macramé artist can create truly stylish and luxurious items, using a vibrant mix of colourful, ecofriendly chords and a pattern of intricate knots.

Today, the Love me Knots product portfolio is simply mesmerizing. It boasts of a truly eclectic collection of plant hangers, dream catchers, tote bags, clutches, earrings, key chains, footwear, wall mirrors, slings bags, coasters and more.

All products are made using the best imported raw material and finished to perfection to meet the customer’s choice of colour, dimension and finish. The turnaround time is sufficiently quick so that a customer does not have to wait too long. What Love me Knots also tries to do, is make things that are more suitable to the Indian household, so that customers can find both beauty and utility in the creations.

Today it has built up an impressive clientele and ships worldwide to a host of happy customers.

Customizing knots beautifully to bring joy to customers

Every single creation at Love me Knots is a statement of individuality and a true reflection of the imagination of its client’s needs. What it does very skillfully is that it demonstrates the beauty of handmade macramé items. It shows how customization is so much more innovative than factory line produced objects, which look the same and have no soul.

Says Vidhi, “I want to make people understand that every product we make is completely hand made with love. They are ecofriendly. In a way we are offering a smart alternative to luxurious leather products with no compromise on design and style. Customization to please every customer that is how we are creating our own success story – ONE KNOT AT A TIME.”

To know more, visit –
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/love__me__knots/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit — https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

“The aim of art is not to represent the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. ” ~ Aristotle

Life without art would be as lifeless as a body without its soul. Art gives flight to our imagination and meaning to our existence. Art has undergone tremendous changes to keep up with changing times. To ensure people’s interest in traditional art doesn’t shrink, many talented young artists are infusing new lease of life into traditional artforms so that they remain as relevant and popular as ever.

Launched in 2018 by the prolific first-time entrepreneur Suvidha Bolar, June Studio is a startup that strives to promote paintings, pottery and wood carvings in their most traditional form and ensure they’re kept alive with the help of creativity, imagination and sheer artistic skills of its talented founder.

All she was ever meant to be was an artist

The journey began with a big dream and a modest sum of thousand rupees. Suvidha initially worked in the corporate sector. However, she soon realized her heart beats for art and art only.

Having studied at the distinguished Chitrakala Parishad, Suvidha learnt a great deal about art under the guidance of some of the best teachers. This experience shaped her up as an artist and as an individual. In no time, she began dabbling in different types of painting.

She adds “When I knew I had the talent and the will to make things happen, I decided to pursue it as a profession and try to make money out of it.”That’s how June Studio came into existence.

When asked the purpose behind creating her own startup, Suvidha explains ” I want people to value traditional art, right now people are more into plastic and I want people to be more into traditional art and ceramic and they should understand the value of that.”

June Studio: where the magic of traditional art lives on

As a creative enterprise and the brainchild of a gifted artist, June Studio is a fusion of various types of artwork that are as unique as they’re enchanting. The startup offers something for every artlover – the charming paintings, beautiful pottery – ceramic and terracotta, exquisite wood carvings and many more. Moreover, the brand has begun experimenting with Jesmonite products, planters and tea-holders too.

As far as sales are concerned, Suvidha says “We’ve sold more than 1000 orders till now. We did see increased orders during Covid and people started seeing our page more and we got more traction.”

Though there aren’t any major clients associated with this brand, it’s the individual customers who are creating a wave of positive word-of-mouth publicity for June Studio.

Blueprint for the future

In the next five years, the startup intends to extend its reach across multiple states in India. The plan is “to open a studio in Uttarakhand and then there’s this place in Assam where we are planning to open a residential pottery studio.” Like any other business that has begun spreading its wings, June Studio too is planning on expansion of business so that the brand becomes synonymous with class and authenticity not just in India but also all over the world.

To know more, visit –
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/june__studio/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Suvidha.JuneStudio/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit — https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

It is not often that we find someone passionate about design, the environment as well the livelihood of talented yet marginalized artisans. The Inside Project however, has incredibly managed to combine all these 3 facets into a profitable business model. Operating from Bangalore and with a robust ecommerce business model in place, the venture was founded by Sudeshna Sahu at the age of just 24 a few years ago. Today it is a sought after brand that is home to stylish and modern furniture by artisans from Odisha, the state she belongs to.

Says Founder Sudeshna Sahoo, “Green architecture is my motivation. With this at the core of our business ethics and functioning, we craft exciting, all space and high utility furniture that sustains the environment, as well as the livelihood of artisans. Our designs are not just about style, but also about conscience.”

A journey that is a benchmark in design, function and client satisfaction

Having seen the adverse impact of “fast furniture” manufacturing by corporate giants who exploit natural resources and the sheer quantum of waste generated, The Inside Project was launched with an objective to set an example as to how to control this practice, and also be a profitable venture.

“As a business we understand our responsibility towards our clients and society. For our clients we create furniture that complements their space with an eloquent combination of style, comfort and function. For society, we work closely with local artisans from Odisha who use Bamboo or Cane. This is not only eco-friendly, but design friendly too,” adds Sudensha.

With complete backing from her entire family and the solid support of her husband Ketan Vajir who has also helped her build her company from the ground up. Their teamwork has made this venture progress from strength to strength. With a compact team of professionals to look after operations, the product portfolio has evolved to encompass colorful, exceptionally trendy and innovative furniture like Accent and Hanging Chairs, Outdoor Sets, Lights & Lanterns, Tables, Mirrors, Bar Stools, Storage Organisers, Scandinavian Chairs, Balinese Baskets, Rustic Tables, Mexican Furniture and more. These add that touch of class to every space. What’s more satisfying is that it is a source of stable livelihood to so many small artisans too.

Furniture for the world-Designed in India

Inside Design, with its emphasis on quality, innovation and sustainability has attracted a very select clientele. Its pieces adorn leading corporates, celebrity homes as well as personal spaces of millennials who appreciate the thought behind the venture.  Today it has nurtured a relationship with over 500 clients and the list is growing at a steady clip.

Sudensha believes that “India has a rich heritage of craft and design and I want to bring that to the world. We need to support local artisans and traditional art. We can easily be the best due to the wonderful combination of aesthetics, finish and price that we offer. I am ambitious, my vision is to be as big as IKEA and with our furniture make India’s presence felt in the competitive global market.”

To know more, visit –
Website – https://www.theinsideprojects.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theinsideprojectindia/
Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/theinsideprojectindia/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit — https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

Success stories often begin in the most unlikely of places. Imagine, what is today a multi-crore business enterprise, being born due to an unfortunate accident in a kitchen! Two elements plastic cookware and the microwave being the main instigators.

However, what came out of it was a lesson on the utmost importance of traditional cookware, which was somehow losing ground to the glitzy design and new-age material offerings.

The founders Madhumitha Udaykumar and Jagadeesh Kumar got brainstorming on this and in March 2016 The Indus Valley was born with investments of their own personal savings. The One Point Agenda – manufacture kitchen products only from natural and health-focused materials, without using any chemical coatings or plastic. The emphasis being “health-friendly kitchenware”.

“Our first order was dispatched from the small verandah of my 2BHK apartment. We were just starting out and all we had were a few cartons and a small inventory of products,” reminisces Madhumita.

Since then, with the quality, innovation and design excellence seen in every single product, the brand has received rave reviews from homemakers, professional chefs, cooking enthusiasts, food bloggers and influencers.

Applying design and science to create cookware that delights!

The Indus Valley today designs, manufactures and markets a wide spectrum of kitchenware. It has consciously chosen to use traditional materials like cast iron, iron, wood, clay, copper, brass and bronze. All materials are locally sourced and they have proven to be beneficial and add intrinsic value to food cooked in them or with them. The handcrafted range available is categorized as Cookware, Tableware and Drinkware. Clients can buy items like Kadai, Tawa, Pans, Wooden Spoons, Plates, Bowls or Trays, Copper Tumblers and more.

With its operations centralized in Chennai, The Indus Valley has invested in two critical business aspects – one is its product development and the next is building marketing muscle and reach, through its 24 x 7 online business model. Till now the company has served 10,000+ pin codes across India. What’s more impressive is that it has evolved from a modest 750 orders in 2018 to fulfilling over 2 lacs of orders till date. Truly a story of one successful milestone after another.

Ambition tempered with a practical approach is the recipe for growth

With customer satisfaction and innovation as the focus of its forward-looking plans, The Indus Valley has whipped up an ambitious recipe for growth – the milestone being – to consolidate its leadership position in the highly competitive Home and Kitchen market.

Having recently raised USD 1.1 million (₹8.25 crore) from, DSG Consumer Partners (DSGCP), Rukam Capital, and The Chennai Angels, it plans to pump this capital into extending its geographical reach, add flavor to its team plus enrich its product portfolio.

Says Jagdeesh, “With our current portfolio crossing over 230 SKUs we are focusing on scaling up to 1,000 SKUs in the next 24 months. Challenging yes, but with the growing consumer awareness and our robust online presence, we are confident of accomplishing our goal.”

To know more, visit –
Website – https://www.theindusvalley.in/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/official.indusvalley/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theindusvalley/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr5s7L82oBiFFGsnv3Kpujg

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit — https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

From living a carefree life full of play and abandon, most of us transition into adulthood with aches and pains and the joy of play sucked out of our lives. As parents we do everything in our power to protect our kids from these future pains and lay the foundation of a healthy and happy life. One of the key components that gets missed in this journey is their footwear. Skoodo’s mission is to educate parents about the importance of footwear in the proper growth and development of kids to have a healthy and happy life full of the joy of free play! 

After having gained prolific professional experience in the corporate world, the three co-founders Kannan M, Pooja Sardana and Parul Sarin ventured into the uncertain waters of entrepreneurship in late 2019. They identified a key gap in the footwear market and decided to capitalize on it. The founders realized that most kid’s footwear brands simply manufacture a miniature version of adult footwear. Skoodo believes in creating what is right for children’s feet. To ascertain this, Skoodo has been designed with the help of experts – podiatrists, pediatric orthopedics and sports therapists that cater to the needs of growing children. 

Shoes That Make a Difference

Since feet continue to develop until a child is 14 years old, children need shoes that facilitate high range of movement, are wide and shaped as per the foot to ensure enough space for toes to spread and grow and most importantly, allow kids feet to sense the contour of the ground so as to support arch and posture development. None of the shoes in India are currently designed to do this. 

The Founders wanted to create a product that solves these problems. Skoodos are the only shoes in India with a thin, flat and durable rubber sole that flexes fully for unrestricted movement with a firm grip. The wide fit shape with quick fix straps let’s them step get on the move without any risk of injury. All this, while making sure that their feet feel the ground comfortably during long hours of non-stop play. 

Another pain point of this industry is sizing. Since most of the sales happen online, it is important for the sizing to remain consistent. With the help of design thinking and multiple wear tests, Skoodo is able to recommend a size for customers with just a single measurement. This has created a plethora of happy consumers with just 10% exchanges and 2% return to origin. An average pair of Skoodo shoes will cost you Rs 1900. 

Skoodo: Building a Strong Footprint

The brand uses a standard D2C model and lists its product on their own website along with ecommerce websites like Myntra, Amazon, AJIO and Flipkart. Skoodo’s offline presence is visible in 6 cities in India across outlets of Iconic Kids in north and west and CENTRO in the south.  

The brand has received an overwhelming response in the two years of its inception. Having served over 20k customers pan India, they have managed to grow 8x over the last 2 years. The ongoing pandemic has been a little bit of a dampener owing to the fact that children were locked indoors for long stretches of time. However, Skoodo reports that most users come back to them for a repeat purchase within the first 7 to 90 days! 

To know more, visit –
Website – www.skoodoplay.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/skoodoborntoplay/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SkoodoBornToPlay/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit — https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/