Taking handicraft and handloom products of local artisans to the global stage
Startup company Iraaloom promotes eco-friendly handicraft items and handloom products globally
A variety of startups, in various sectors, incubated by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) have seen themselves sprout leaves and blossom in a very fascinating manner. Adding to the list is an e-commerce platform christened Iraaloom. KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala Government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
Iraaloom, which has been supported by KSUM, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kerala Arts and Craft Village, based in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, to promote eco-friendly handicraft items and handloom products globally. As per the agreement, Iraaloom will be the first marketplace to showcase the products of Kovalam-based Kerala Arts and Craft Village.
Eco-friendly handicrafts and handloom products
Kerala Arts and Craft Village CEO Sriprasad and Iraaloom founders Harsha Puthussery and Nithin Raj signed the MoU at a function held at the Craft Village. The agreement will enable to take the handicraft and handloom products of local artisans to the global stage, according to Harsha Puthussery. It will also help the uplift of artisans in Kerala by showcasing their potential on an e-commerce platform.
Harsha added that the startup promotes only innovative eco-friendly products that can be easily composted, recycled or biodegraded. Iraaloom’s aim is to become India’s first-ever and the largest responsible e-commerce platform to represent sustainable brands, she added. Harsha, who hails from Kozhikode, founded Iraaloom in 2019 along with her younger brother Nithin Raj after giving up her job in the IT sector.
Collaboration with handicraft and handloom units
Iraaloom currently collaborates with several handicraft and handloom units in the state by showcasing the unique products from indigenous artisans on its online marketplace. The startup has offices in Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, and Aluva in Ernakulam district, said a KSUM source. Iraaloom had been selected as one of the ‘Best Social Impact Startups’ among the 11 startups selected from Kerala to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
It was also selected to the Indian Institute of Management Live Programme and Women In Startup and Entrepreneurship (WISE) programme by Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITM-K).
