The My Way

How did you start Mytri Designs?

The story of Mytri Designs began with a chance encounter with an artist from a family of skilled artisans who crafted jewellery boxes for Indian Royal families.

The artist spoke about his struggles to make a living and about how the craft was slowly dying off as others had given up the arts in search of better opportunities.

I originally grew up in Kerala, and my family has been there for generations, so it was quite disheartening to see these traditions and culture slowly fading away.

This conversation provided the spark to create Mytri Designs, a platform to showcase traditional handicrafts and lifestyle products while directly benefiting the artisans who create them.

So, I wanted our mission at Mytri Designs to preserve these traditions and showcase India's unique crafts to the world.

How do you find the artisans your company works with?

After starting Mytri Designs I knew I wanted to do more than just sell products.

So, for the first two years, I travelled across India, meeting and collaborating with NGOs and social enterprises to identify small businesses owned by or directly employing local artisans.

On my travels, I was amazed by the incredible diversity of these handicrafts and the passion and dedication of the artisans who create them.

Each region has its unique style & traditions, with many arts and crafts techniques passed down through generations and are a closely guarded secret within families or communities.

Working with these varied small businesses and local artisans, we co-created unique product lines that blended traditional craftsmanship with modern design trends.

In what ways have your artisans’ lives improved?

Having worked closely within smaller communities, I saw firsthand the challenges that these artisans faced in today's global market - from exploitative middlemen to a lack of access to capital and technology.

Our priority was ensuring anyone we worked with earned a fair wage or a market price for their products.

In addition to partnering with these small businesses, we also prioritised providing them with essential business skills.

We took the time to educate them on quality standards, packaging guidelines, sustainable practices, and the even latest design trends and technology.

By sharing our expertise, we were able to help these businesses improve the quality and appeal of their products, ultimately giving them a better chance at success in the marketplace.

Our success is intertwined with our partner businesses and the communities they represent. By prioritizing fair wages, essential business skills, and constant support, we hope to create a sustainable and equitable future for these talented artisans and their families.

Why is sustainability important for your brand and products?

For us, sustainability is not just a buzzword or a passing trend. It's a core value that guides everything we do, from the materials we use to the way we package and ship our products.

By giving new life to materials that might otherwise end up in landfills or polluting our oceans, we're reducing waste and creating something beautiful and unique with a story and character.

And we're proud to be a part of a growing movement of businesses that are putting people and the planet before profit.

What’s next for Mytri Designs?

We are curating a range based on recycled plastic – working with teams in India who are doing fantastic work in this space to reduce waste.

And by the end of this year, we hope to finish expanding our base in the US as well as Europe.

You can follow us on our journey at https://mytridesigns.com/