Maitri Jariwala
- Founder, KallaKalla began during Maitri’s final year of Chemical Engineering as a project called Begin With Flowers. The first experiments explored how used flowers could become natural dyes. When the dyes did not perform reliably enough on the synthetic fabrics common around Surat’s textile environment, the idea evolved rather than ending. Experimental colour batches became natural Holi colours. Those first packets were filled by hand at Maitri’s grandmother’s house. From there came agarbattis, soaps, exhibitions, packaging experiments, customer feedback and years of learning by doing.
On 24 August 2022, Kalla was incorporated as an LLP on the same day Maitri joined Bhagwan Mahavir University as a Teaching Assistant. She continued building Kalla after work until she was ready to take it forward full-time. Today, that student project has grown into a purpose-led lifestyle, gifting and wellness brand.
WHERE THE PEOPLE STORY REALLY BEGAN
From helping to leading
Sushila Ben was Kalla’s first team member. She began by helping during the hours she had available, then gradually moved fully into the business. Over time, she brought other women into the work, trained new joiners, taught production processes and grew into a trainer and manager. Her journey represents what social impact means to Kalla: work, skill, responsibility and progression.
Today, women contribute across different parts of Kalla's operations, including processing, production, finishing and packaging. Kalla also has mother-daughter duos working within the team, showing how the workplace has grown through relationships, trust and shared opportunity.
Different roles. Shared purpose.
A Kallakar may be sorting flowers, preparing products, packing an order, building a hamper, training a new team member or developing the next idea.
Sustainability
Giving flowers a useful second life where possible.
Social Impact
Creating opportunities for skills, responsibility, regular work and progression.
Spirituality
Respecting the emotional and devotional meaning connected with flowers and ritual.
Conscious Living
Making useful, thoughtful choices in everyday life.
Kalla grows when its people grow
Kalla’s first workplace was Maitri’s grandmother’s house. Work moved from the kitchen to the veranda, then into cupboards, rooms and eventually a much larger working setup.
For years, Maitri worked from a simple table in the warehouse with a blueboard and laptop.
Work.
Skill.
Responsibility.
Progression
That is what social impact means to Kalla.
Now Kalla is entering a new chapter with a dedicated approximately 2,500 sq. ft. facility designed around how the team actually works.
The planned space includes areas for women artisans, team working, hamper assembly, storage, content creation and operations.
The surroundings may change. The principle stays the same.
Kalla grows when its people grow with it.- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
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