Kalaiyarasi Ramachandran spent her childhood admiring the large handlooms in the quaint weavers’ lanes of Salangapalayam village in Erode district, Tamil Nadu.

She went on to study computer science and secured a well-paying job at an IT company in Chennai as a developer.

In 2017, during her second maternity leave, a problem caught her attention: the art of weaving was waning, with younger generations reluctant to pick it up.

Determined to make a difference, Kalaiyarasi established a startup with the help of weavers to make the work interesting and engaging. Through her company, ‘Raatai Handloom’, she introduced three types of DIY handlooms.

The first, ‘WeaveMate’, can be used to make purses, wall hangings, mats, coasters, and pouches.

The second, ‘WeaveAlly’, caters to crafting slightly larger products like handbags, stoles, scarves, headbands, and table runners. The third, ‘WeaveFit’, is designed to weave towels and handkerchiefs.

Each DIY kit comes with a user manual featuring a QR code that links to instructional videos, ensuring a seamless learning experience.

“By simply scanning it, you will be able to access a video that showcases how to use the loom. It is so easy that anyone can design their fabric,” Kalaiyarasi says.

Kalaiyarasi also discovered that these DIY looms not only serve as an innovative tool for crafting but also aid in developing fine motor skills and reducing screen time among children.

Over the past two years, Kalaiyarasi has sold 268 such looms and has established a customer base across Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru through her website.

The initiative is gradually gaining traction, with 10 schools showing interest in incorporating weaving into their curriculum, along with partnerships for homeschooling, workshops, and textile exhibitions.