KalaHouse.in incubated at Swarrnim Startup & Innovation University helps promote artisans, craftsmen

Ahmedabad: Founded in January 2023 by Drushti Jain and Haresh Valand, kalahouse.in was incubated earlier this year at Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University. The growth-stage startup presently has some 10-15 sellers which are registered on their website. The startup is also in talks with the Handloom and Handicrafts department of the Government of Gujarat as well as the Garvi Gurjari Handloom House which supports crafts from Gujarat.

Art and craft is the most visible representation of a culture, traditions and most importantly, the prized heritage of India. With an aim to promote the traditional heritage crafts of Gujarat and other parts of India, kalahouse.in, a startup from Gandhinagar, launched an online platform to help artisans sell their crafts and make them reach world over.

“The diverse geography and culture of India is replete with centuries-old heritage in the form of art and craft forms which is slowly dying. Our idea is to promote the crafts and enable artisans and craftsmen to earn a handsome remuneration out of their crafts so that they are motivated enough to continue their art and craft practice and innovate it in different formats. This way, the craft will be passed on to generations and will be known among people across the globe too, thus preserving our prized heritage,” said Drushti Jain.

“With this idea, we decided to launch the online marketplace for the artisans and craftsmen where they can sell their products globally. At the same time, we are also providing students pursuing heritage and traditional crafts to showcase their products on the portal so that the younger generation is encouraged towards craft preservation. Moreover, we are constantly exploring opportunities to collaborate with artisans and crafts communities from different regions to enhance and enrich our collection,” she further said.

Going forward, kalahouse.in envisions expanding artisanal collaborations to various regions to create a global tapestry of creativity on their platform.  Currently, the platform is showcasing crafts from local artisian shops of Ahmedabad, and Sujani Art from Bharuch and Bhavnagar.

“We are also going to include GI of different states to make it a one stop destination for all handicraft products and also to promote made in India products. Further we are connecting more small businesses and local artisians with us and giving them a proper platform to have a wide customer range.  We are a bootstrapped project but after connecting with swarrnim incubation center we were granted funds for further development. We are planning to seek further funding to market this project” said Haresh Valand.

“Kalahouse’s artisanal cultivation initiatives are designed to be adaptable, with area and investment requirements contingent on the scale of production. For specific details, we can provide a customized breakdown based on production quantity and project scope. Therefore, we are able to create a seamless platform for artisans, ensuring a user-friendly experience and vibrant community engagement. Our focus on virtual galleries, personalized storytelling, and fostering a global artisan community sets us apart. Additionally, our commitment to sustainable practices and social impact initiatives contributes to a unique and meaningful marketplace,” added Harsh.