Kalaneca Handloom began with a simple vision; to put the legacy village of Uppada on the global handloom map. Starting with just two looms, co-founders Kavea R Chavali and Ramya R Chavalii have transformed their passionate homegrown brand into an international phenomenon.
Today, Kalaneca supports a grassroots network of 135 weavers. Their recent strategic acquisition by Shobitam Inc marks a monumental shift, providing the perfect platform to reach an even wider audience worldwide. In this exclusive interview, the visionary female founders discuss navigating supply chain hurdles, scaling ethnic wear, and empowering artisans through this incredible new chapter.
How does it feel to watch Kalaneca elevate from a passionate homegrown vision to a global platform with Shobitam Inc?
It is truly heartwarming. Kalaneca began with the simple intention of putting Uppada on the global handloom map. What started with one weaver, two looms, and an order for ten sarees has grown into a journey involving 135 weavers, over 100 looms, and thousands of global customers. With Shobitam coming on board, our initial vision now has the perfect platform to reach a worldwide audience. Our weavers’ smiles have never been wider, and we are excited to weave this new chapter together.
Women-led startups are capturing incredible momentum today. What is your most crucial takeaway as a female founder navigating the ethnic wear space?
Women-led startups lead with both their minds and hearts. Our biggest takeaway across the years is that doors do not open on their own; you must knock, and you must knock hard—especially when you know you have something incredible to offer. We also learnt that seeking cross-collaboration opportunities is essential, as Indian ethnic wear is gaining significant momentum in international markets.
Scaling a handloom brand involves highly specific supply chain hurdles. How did you overcome those early operational bottlenecks?
The reality is that bottlenecks never truly disappear; rather, your patience and ability to manage them evolve. Streamlining logistics from our village to a quality control facility in Mumbai took time. To reduce turnaround times, we now distribute inventory between both locations. To address the challenge of “impulse purchases” in a non-mass-manufactured industry, we began forecasting designs to maintain additional inventory. Combined with express shipping, we can now deliver a saree to the USA in just five days.
What does this strategic acquisition mean for your dedicated grassroots network of weavers, artisans, and customers?
This acquisition is a significant milestone for the handloom world. By joining Shobitam Inc, our weavers in the legacy village of Uppada gain a much wider audience. Simultaneously, our existing customers will have access to a broader variety of Indian handlooms, while new customers will be introduced to the “hidden gem” that is Uppada. Our storytelling will only grow stronger from here.
Backed by the expansive global reach of Shobitam Inc, what is the next definitive milestone you envision for Kalaneca?
While Kalaneca’s lightweight luxury sarees have reached thousands, our partnership with Shobitam Inc will allow them to reach millions. This move ensures increased investment in the craftsmanship of Uppada and elevates the customer experience of owning heritage weaves. Kalaneca’s 135 weavers are proud to join Shobitam’s force of 810 artisans to bring a global spotlight to India’s glorious handloom clusters.
