Suee: Weaving Tradition into Modern Fashion
Krishna Karappath, along with her friend Hiba, embarked on an entrepreneurial journey deeply rooted in love for their homeland, Kannur, and a passion for uplifting weavers. Fresh graduates from NIFT, destiny led them down an unexpected path when they were selected for a prestigious craft development program by the central government, receiving Rs. 2 lakhs each out of thousands of applicants.
Their involvement in the project deepened their understanding of the handloom industry, igniting a commitment to preserving this age-old tradition. While traditional handloom products seemed confined to the older generation, Krishna and Hiba saw potential in catering to the youth market by creating stylish, handloom-based fashion.
Crafting prototypes for their project, their products sold out during an exhibition sale, marking a pivotal moment. Despite lucrative job offers, they decided to follow their hearts, launching their brand, “Suee,” meaning needle, with the tagline “Sewing Tradition.”
Beginning without a physical office, they held meetings in a Kannur park before securing shared office space. In 2018, they officially launched Suee with a groundbreaking fashion show during the Kerala government’s second-anniversary celebration.
Their venture into e-commerce started with sueestore.com, utilizing social media and e-commerce platforms. Early successes with sarees led to product range expansion and staff growth, implementing a line production system.
In 2018, Kerala floods devastated their unit, followed by the disruptive COVID-19 pandemic. Undeterred, they restarted, registered Suee as an LLP, and partnered with Lulu Fashion Store, a significant milestone. Expansion continued as they began selling their products in multi-designer stores across South India.
In 2022, they received a women’s productization grant of Rs. 12 lakhs from Kerala Startup Mission, accelerating their progress. In 2023, they opened their first physical store in Fort Kochi, inaugurated by the Kerala Tourism Minister. Suee now boasts over 5,000 customers worldwide.
Their journey transcends entrepreneurship, focusing on meaningful impact. Collaborating with over 3,000 handloom artisans and 50+ embroidery artists, they provide training to homemakers, enabling ethical, home-based livelihoods. Suee’s mission is to preserve and promote the handloom industry while creating sustainable, stylish fashion.
Krishna Karappath and Hiba’s story is a testament to their love for their homeland, a deep connection to tradition, and an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit. Evolving from a small startup to a globally recognized brand, their mission to uplift the handloom industry and offer sustainable fashion for the modern era continues. They invite more people to join their journey and share in their success ahead.
Can also scroll over their products through our Pracol site https://pracol.com/prayaana-prayojika/SUEE/
