As handcrafted charm is lost in mass production, one brand is carving out its unique path, with tradition at its core and technology at its disposal. Bengaluru-based Zwende is turning India’s forgotten art forms into digital success stories.
Launched in 2016, the platform blends technology with tradition, giving artisans the tools to design, customise, and sell their work to the world. From unique home decor items to captivating travel accessories and many gift options to choose from, for Zwende, every product isn’t just handmade, it’s a story waiting to be told.
A Purpose-Built Beginning
Zwende, the brainchild of Sujay S. and Innu Nevatia, was born out of a simple frustration, the struggle to find unique, meaningful home decor that truly resonated with their style. What started as a personal gap quickly sparked a bigger idea: what if technology could help people connect with India’s rich artisan heritage in a more personal way?
Based in Bengaluru, Zwende does more than just selling handcrafted products. It equips local designers and artisans with digital tools to bring their ideas to life, from creation to customization to commerce. By flipping the traditional marketplace model, Zwende empowers creators to showcase their craft, build sustainable livelihoods, and reach customers worldwide.
This shift in approach is quietly transforming how SMBs, artisans, and designers grow, helping them thrive both locally and globally.
Disrupting the Offline Artisan Economy
Zwende connects traditional craftsmanship with the digital landscape, especially for artisans in India’s largely unorganised crafts sector. Through the use of online tools, customizable product features, and technology integration, it helps preserve and adapt age-old art forms for contemporary markets.
Its approach has also sparked broader conversations around technology-driven inclusion in the artisan economy, drawing attention from industry leaders at the national and international levels.
Personalization at Scale
Zwende offers a 360° customization feature that allows users to experiment with colors, materials, and designs in real time. This tool enables more interactive and flexible personalization of home decor and accessories, helping individuals tailor products to their preferences through a simple digital interface.
Today, the platform supports over four billion SKU combinations, backed by a manufacturing‑only‑when‑ordered model.
A Million Artpreneurs Vision
Today, Zwende hosts 500+ Indian artisans and designers, offering not just products but also workshops, DIY kits, and creative experiences
Their mission? To nurture a generation of “artpreneurs” and bring handcrafted elegance into modern lifestyles.
Zwende demonstrates how technology can humanize commerce, transforming artisan livelihoods, preserving cultural heritage, and giving consumers meaningful alternatives to mass-produced goods. Their growth isn’t just commercial, it’s cultural, social, and deeply purposeful.
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