Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. It’s home to a universe of special, extraordinary items, from unique handcrafted pieces to vintage treasures.
Etsy’s Mission:
In a time of increasing automation, it’s our mission to keep human connection at the heart of commerce. That’s why we built a place where creativity lives and thrives because it’s powered by people. We help our community of sellers turn their ideas into successful businesses. Our platform connects them with millions of buyers looking for an alternative – something special with a human touch, for those moments in life that deserve imagination.
As a company, we strive to lead with our guiding principles and to help spread ideas of sustainability and responsibility whose impact can reach far beyond our own business.
Etsy’s sellers:
Our sellers are the heart and soul of Etsy, and our technology platform allows our sellers to turn their creative passions into economic opportunity. We have a seller-aligned business model. We offer Etsy sellers a marketplace with millions of buyers along with a range of seller tools and services that are specifically designed to help our creative entrepreneurs generate more sales and scale their businesses.
We would like to introduce you to the stories of some of our favourite sellers from India.
1. Rasmi Poduval of Etsy shop TheKaithariProject (Kerala)
Rasmi Poduval, a graduate of IIM Bangalore, had worked with Coca-Cola and Saregama. However, over the years of observing and assisting her now late mother-in-law, Vimala Viswambharan, with weaving and pattern making, she joined the family business full time. Vimala was a seamstress with over 30 years of experience in bespoke tailoring. She started her first unit in the 80’s called Ideal Cholis. Thereafter, she went on to establish units in Udupi, Trivandrum, and in Thrissur. Rasmi now works with weavers and craftsmen from all over the country, reviving ancient weaves and crafts. She is currently working with weavers across Kerala, designing and adapting age old weaving techniques to create new textile forms.
Rasmi describes TheKaithariProject as a richly rewarding experience and journey of discovery and learning, which is an ode to the rich weaving heritage of Kerala. ‘Kaithari’ is a word derived from Malayalam language meaning ‘handwoven’. Through this project, Rasmi has travelled the length of the state visiting weaving cooperatives and distinct weaving techniques of each region, creating textile designs that bring out unique traditions specific to each geographical region. While one is accustomed to associating Kerala handlooms with the kora (white) and gold, TheKaithariProject has attempted to infuse a riot of colours and textures, inspired by the lush vibrance of Kerala.
2. Zalak Patel of Etsy shop ZeearGallerie (Gujarat)
Zalak Patel is a design graduate and an interior designer by profession. Her brand, ZeearGallerie is an exquisite design studio crafting one-of-a-kind light sculptures from naturally fallen tree branches. For Zalak, it all started with a broken twig, weak and rejected by it’s parent tree.
Upon seeing this lifeless piece of oak lost in the woods, Zalak had a notion borne out of sheer inspiration from nature, causing her to pick it up and breathe new life into it. Upon cleaning it thoroughly, she peeled it to give it a nice polished look, which was just the start of her long journey.
She started building a beautiful structure around the branch and after hours and days of focused work, she finished it with a bunch of special papers and an LED bulb. The final result, and the moment she turned it on, caused the entire space to light up with a mesmerizing and dreamy glow. Today, ZeearGallerie is a community of customers that believe in art, nature and harmony.
The small business, based in Gujarat, lends a helping hand to rural and underprivileged communities through education and work opportunities. Moreover, Zalak also believes in sharing profits with animal care NGOs working for stray animals and nature conservation.
3. Meenal Kaushik of Etsy shop StudioNaach (Bengaluru)
It was during her college years, when Meenal Kaushik found herself utterly motivated to start something of her own. Upon observation of the unethical choices being made by fast fashion, she aspired to create something that leads a path towards a sustainable lifestyle. Borne out of this notion, StudioNaach, a textile jewellery brand, came into being in 2019, and since has produced unique embroidered jewellery pieces using waste fabric sourced from local boutiques. This small business is on a mission to build a community of people who admire handcrafted products and follow a more sustainable and circular approach when it comes to fashion. StudioNaach celebrates an open world, with love and expression at its core, inspired by the beautiful colours and karigari of the Lambani Community of Karnataka.
Since 2019, StudioNaach has made its place in the community of sustainability. Meenal was featured as a budding entrepreneur in Candy Magazine with the Indian actress, Ridhima Pandit, wearing it’s products in the cover story. In April 2020, the label was recognized as one of the 20 brands from across the globe, chosen by the talents of Vogue Italy for a portfolio review. StudioNaach also ran a Support Your Artisan campaign in the summer of 2020 to help artisans survive the unprecedented times during the pandemic, where it pledged to dedicate 50% of the monthly sales to the label’s own artisans.
4. Shashank Gautam of Etsy shop StudioMIANZI (New Delhi)
Shashank Gautam is a graduate of IIT Mumbai, and is a quintessential worker with an ardent love for technology. For Shashank, it all started with a design competition in 2009, while designing a building with zero carbon footprint, which was awarded by the Indian Green Building Council. It was then, when he realized the true potential of bamboo, and later designed a bamboo cycle and several other bamboo based furniture and accessories. With a drive to build eco-friendly products, Shashank established MIANZI to revolutionize the way bamboo is perceived and used, by introducing inventive, aesthetic and nature-friendly bamboo built options. Harvested from fully sustainable and rapidly growing forests, bamboo is an environmentally friendly, renewable resource, as well as one of earth’s fastest growing plants.
StudioMIANZI’s mission is to produce furniture, lighting, and lifestyle accessories that breathe life into any space they occupy, with its natural suppleness and personality. Each product is handcrafted by artisans from small tribes in villages of India, that are ensured with ethical wages and livelihood.
5. Rajshhreei Choudhury of Etsy shop RaagaSilkTales (Mumbai)
Rajshhreei Choudhury grew up observing her mother and grandmother adorning beautiful handloom sarees and handwoven fabrics for everyday needs. The path towards a handloom business came to her naturally as she has many childhood memories attached to it, evoked by a feeling of nostalgia where her grandmother weaved fabrics, sarees, mekhela chador, a traditional Assamese attire.
Based out of Mumbai, RaagaSilkTales started as an empowerment hub providing a platform for women workers to showcase their skills and earn a living. Rajshhreei is now a woman entrepreneur who aims to provide mindful handloom choices and commercial opportunities alike. She believes in exploring the creative side of culture, with every handmade product reflecting a beautiful story. Her designs are a bold take on reminiscence and memory in modern times, with a trendy, versatile and comfortable approach.
