Three NID graduates in their 30s — Nakul Lathkar, Vidyadhar Bhandare, and Santosh Kocherlakota — decided to chase a dream that set them apart from other automobile design graduates: developing a need-based design to create meaningful impact.
After spending six months in Maharashtra’s villages and gaining hands-on farming experience, they were inspired to design a critical necessity — durable, sustainable footwear for farmers.
“While working under the hot sun, or in a sloshy field, all the farmers used to walk barefoot. This not only caused deep cracks in their feet but also made them prone to fungal infections and snake bites,” says Santosh.
Months of experimenting with 15 natural fibres led the trio to select indigenous wool as their primary material. This wool is also used to make traditional Ghongadis or Kamblis, known as the ‘magic blankets’.
This marked the beginning of Earthen Tunes, a Hyderabad-based social enterprise manufacturing water-resistant, sustainable shoes for people, with a primary focus on farmers.
The wool they use is sourced from local pastoralists in Deccan, Himachal Pradesh, and Kutch, providing a steady income for these communities and preserving a 1,500-year-old craft
Water-resistant, mud-proof, and sunlight-resistant, these shoes are ideal for farmers, requiring no socks and minimal maintenance. The wool’s antimicrobial properties and elasticity add further benefits.
Earthen Tunes also works to break caste stereotypes around shoe manufacturing in India by conducting workshops on felt-making and yarn-making in remote villages, often through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Credits: Earthen Tunes/ LinkedIn
The startup has partnered with corporates like Wells Fargo and ITC, and NGOs like CSA, Vikasa, and Centre for Pastoralism to conduct outreach programs and supply shoes to farmers.
Credits: Earthen Tunes/LinkedIn
Through their 'Buy a Pair, Give a Pair' initiative, Earthen Tunes has provided over 6,000 pairs of their Yaar farmer shoes, supporting the feet that sustain the nation.
Credits: Earthen Tunes/ LinkedIn
The startup is also conducting thorough research to develop snakebite-resistant footwear for farmers, collaborating with a snake park in Chennai to bring this concept to fruition.