KOCHI: While our ethnic weaves are scorching many an international ramp, a slew of traditional looms in Kerala have gone silent leaving the weavers in a state of quandary. Christy Treesa George, a textile designer, had seen their misery firsthand, the very reason she quit her job to start an initiate to support the weaving community. “While migrant labourers earn around Rs 1,000 a day, a handloom sari, which involves more than two days of work, is sold for just Rs 400. I wanted to change the situation,” says the city-based entrepreneur.
She started Weaves and Looms four years ago in a small, 250 sq ft shop but was dispirited by the lukewarm response. “While I was thinking about winding up and returning to my earlier profession, a friend suggested to register with Amazon. After the required quality checks they asked us to upload our products,” she says. Initially they uploaded around 10 products and now Christy is selling more than 700 products through the online giant. “As of now I provide direct employment to 10 women and around sixty others benefit from our enterprise,” she adds. Christy says she wouldn’t claim her products are impossible to source, “but you won’t see them in 99 percent of city stores.”
Christy sources her products from experienced weavers, mostly women, spread across Kerala. “I get home furnishing products from Kannur and Kerala saris from Balaramapuram. I also outsource work to a Parassala-based embroidery unity and then our banana fiber bags come from craftswomen in Kochi,” she says. Christy has in a store a range of ethnic products from home furnishings to dress material and spices to handicrafts. There are handmade soaps that are free from parabens, sulfates and mineral oil. “We use virgin coconut oil and no harmful chemicals or artificial colours are used,” she says.
You will find unbleached and undyed handloom towels, wild turmeric straight from Wayanad and homemade essential oils. Christy says she ensures the quality of her products before they are sold or shipped. “Getting in touch with the right network was a major task. We buy from reliable farmers and craftsmen only and if we find the products are not first-grade, handmade and organic, we return them. You don’t get hundred percent pure honey or spices and usually and it’s not easy to detect the difference. And then, over the years, you know when we see original products,” she adds.