The Coimbatore-based start-up company “Vilvah” creates skincare products that are made entirely of natural materials. The brand has been trending on social media lately.
However, the road to creating such a brand was a passionate one.
Kruthika Kumaran, founder of Vilvah, has witnessed her mother’s battle with severe skin conditions since childhood. She says that her mother is the reason she set out to create her own natural soap. As an initial step, she enrolled herself in a natural cosmetology course to understand the making of such products. starting with goat milk-based soap.
Today, Vilvah offers a range of products, including soaps, hair care products, mosquito repellent, deodorants, body butters and yoghurts, and moisturisers.
Vilvah, which was launched with a Facebook and Instagram page in 2017, currently has three stores and a website in addition to its social media accounts. The venture started merely with a seed capital of 10,000 rupees in a home kitchen. Sharing with close friends and family. The products were a hit. And that was her turning point in life.
The brand is also recognised for having a social mission. Vilvah takes pride in its relationship with the community of local farmers, sourcing ingredients directly from them and aiming to incorporate as many native ingredients as possible. They have their own farm where they get their goatmilk, coconut oil, sesame oil, and other ingredients. It takes stringent measures to ensure that every ingredient chosen for inclusion in the formulation meets toxicology and safety standards.
“I have always dreamed of creating a clean and sustainable skincare line, and Vilvah is a complete family project of mine. My husband, Mr. Kumaran, and my 12-year-old daughter are a constant source of support. According to me, the skin is the largest organ of the body, and feeding one’s skin with what you consider edible is as important as feeding oneself”, says the founder.
