Celebrate Onam with these Kerala-Born Homegrown Labels

From handlooms to holistic wellness, here are some homegrown brands bringing fresh flair to modern living.

As a Malayali, there’s an inexplicable thrill in waking up to Thiruvonam morning — a day that feels almost magical with the scent of fresh jasmine blooms and Chethi (Jungle Geraniums) blossoms drifting through the air. Scampering into the orchards, chasing dragonflies and gathering flowers for the day’s pookalam (floral carpet), while kitchens come alive with the crackle of pappad in hot coconut oil and the sweet whiff of Ada pradhaman (sweet similar to kheer) slowly simmering in ghee, jaggery and coconut milk concoction are some of the most delectable reveries of Onam. For a Keralite, it's not just a festival but a repository of collective memory. This Onam, we shine a spotlight on a curated list of homegrown brands from Kerala that truly deserve your attention this festive season.

Malai Eco

Malai Eco, rooted in Kerala’s coconut-rich landscape, is a pioneering biocomposite materials startup co-founded by Kerala-born designer Susmith Suseelan and Slovakian researcher Zuzana Gombosova. What began in 2017 as an experiment using discarded coconut water to grow bacterial cellulose has since evolved into Malai, a supple, leather-like biocomposite that is water-resistant, biodegradable, and reinforced with natural fibres like banana, hemp, and sisal. Enhanced with plant-based dyes, this innovative material can be stitched, moulded, and dyed much like traditional leather.

Today, Malai Eco collaborates with international brands while also creating its own line of sleek, minimalist accessories such as bags and wallets, offering a thoughtful alternative to leather and a modern way to complement your Onam ensemble with something deeply rooted in Kerala’s heritage.

Alda

Alda, a homegrown label from the heart of Kochi, is a brand deeply rooted in Kerala’s cultural identity. Founded by a dentist-turned-designer, Alda draws creative strength from a unique collaboration with her sister, artist Dalsa Davis. The brand leans towards elegant party-wear silhouettes, but its most anticipated genre is its annual Onam collections. Each piece is crafted in airy Malai Chanderi fabrics, with handloom borders brought to life in collaboration with traditional Kuthampally weavers.

The brand’s recent Onam collections beautifully narrate personal memories and folklore tied to Kerala’s heritage. Chitrakatha captures the essence of childhood nostalgia through delicate imprints of pressed flowers and dragonflies, while Kunjathol draws inspiration from the story of a young Namboothiri lass and her mischievous parrot wandering through mango orchards, expressed through playful motifs of yellow mangoes and baby parrots. The designer's storytelling approach extends to past collections as well. Kadali, a much-loved collection, reimagined the everyday plantain leaf, turning the mundane into something celebratory.

Neytt by Extraweave

Neytt is a high-fashion rug atelier founded by Sivan Santhosh and his wife, Nimisha Srinivas, with roots tracing back over a century. The brand emerged from the legacy of their family-owned weaving business that began in 1917 and later evolved into Extraweave in 2000. The brand is based in Alleppey, a region historically known for coir and weaving. They blend traditional craftsmanship with global design sensibilities.

Neytt positions rugs not just as décor but as collectable pieces for modern living spaces. What sets Neytt apart is its mastery of natural fibres; primarily sisal imported from Madagascar, Tanzania, and Brazil, carefully hand-sorted and woven for both durability and finesse.

The brand’s craftsmanship has earned its three consecutive roles designing the Met Gala carpet with its native essence. The 2025 piece was a 63,000-sq-ft deep-blue canvas accented with golden daffodils, woven over 90 days by 480 artisans. Neytt’s rugs have graced high-profile spaces, including the White House, luxury hotel chains like Taj, Hilton, and Six Senses. The brand has also collaborated with global giants like IKEA, Ralph Lauren Homes, and Pottery Barn. 

Gunam Beauty

Gunam, which translates to “goodness” or “virtue” in Malayalam, is a beauty and wellness brand founded by Elizabeth Issac from Kerala.  Gunam Beauty is built on French formulations enriched with Ayurvedic botanicals and clinical rigor. This Vegan brand emphasises ingredient integrity, clinical backing, and simplified skincare routines. 

Known for blending Indian ingredients with global formulation expertise, the brand offers wellness supplements such as the Golden Glow Blend and Blue Spirulina alongside skincare essentials like the Gentle foam cleanser, Balance cream, Multi-correctional face Oil, and its stand-out star, the Daily Liquid Exfoliant. This hydrating exfoliator is crafted for everyday use, working beneath the skin’s surface with fruit acids, salicylic acid, and niacinamide to unclog pores, fade scars, and reveal brighter, smoother skin; while soothing botanicals like aloe vera, vetiver, chamomile, and bergamot calm redness and inflammation for a healthier-looking complexion.

Kada Annahmol 

Kada by Annahmol is a handcrafted lifestyle brand located in Fort Kochi, curated by Anna Chakola. Kada, which translates to “shop” in Malayalam, is nothing less than a haven for all design aficionados. Here, you’ll find everything from fluid, relaxed outfits to handcrafted jewellery, tote bags, and unique keepsakes that echo Annah’s design ethos. The vintage cloisonné fish jewellery, quartz flower pendants, Clove and red seed accessories are one-of-a-kind creations that carry the imprint of Malayali roots while celebrating craftsmanship with a global sensibility. What makes Kada distinct is Annah’s unwavering commitment to sustainability; she takes recycling, upcycling, and zero-waste practices seriously. Leftover fabrics from her signature dresses are thoughtfully repurposed into jacket borders, scarves, or home accents, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. 

Pranaah by Poornima Indrajith

Pranaah has, over the years, become synonymous with festivity and nostalgia, making it one of Kerala’s most sought-after labels for Onam and beyond. The brand was founded by Malayalam film actor and designer Poornima Indrajith. The brand’s signature is their handloom pieces with hand-drawn machine embroidery that weaves memories and stories into the fabric. Pranaah works closely with the weaving clusters of Kuthampully and Chendamangalam in Kerala. The label draws design inspiration from the playful, everyday details of Kerala’s culture - standing paddy crops, bustling tea shops, thatched houses, coconut lagoons, and even elements of the Onam sadya - translating them into embroidered motifs that turn each garment into a piece of evocative storytelling.

Their menswear line Baalyam, inspired by childhood nostalgia and 1990s Kerala, marked a turning point, establishing Pranaah’s niche in cultural yet contemporary menswear. This year, the Onam 2025 collection, Onam Carnival, draws from the vibrant fairs of 1980s Kerala, with motifs inspired by balloon carts, flower stalls, and festive games. Rooted in handloom and enriched with storytelling embroidery, Pranaah continues to blend tradition with modernity, creating clothing that feels both personal and timeless.

Temple Town

Temple Town by Meera Pyarelal is a bespoke interior décor store from Thrissur, Kerala.  Located within the Museum of Kerala History, Temple Town’s flagship store is housed in a beautifully restored traditional Kerala home. The space unfolds as a treasure trove for connoisseurs of refined luxury. Her collections are rooted in antique inspirations, reimagined for modern Indian living while staying true to Kerala’s rich legacy of artisanal luxury.

Temple Town goes far beyond being just a furniture store. It offers tailored services that span from crafting unique pieces to full-scale design and execution for entire homes and apartments. Alongside its signature handcrafted furniture, the store curates an elegant selection of cushions, antique replicas, refined homeware, light fixtures, and an ever-evolving collection of art, making it a one-stop destination for timeless design and sophisticated living.

House of Urmi

House of Urmi, founded by artist Anjali Ashok, is a distinctive fashion label that transforms art into wearable heirlooms. Known for its hand-illustrated and digitally crafted designs, the brand offers unisex hand-painted shirts, bralettes, and other unique pieces that are meticulously handcrafted. Rooted in Kerala’s cultural and emotional landscape, House of Urmi often features motifs like lotus ponds, dragonflies, and women from Anjali’s memories, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia and identity.

Jebsispar

Jebsispar, founded by Kerala-born designer Jebin Johny, is a sustainable luxury womenswear label that blends artistry, emotion, and eco-conscious values into every piece. The name itself — JEB for Jebin, SIS for his sisters, and PAR for his parents—celebrates his familial bonds. Steeped in the legacy of the Kuthampully handloom, Jebin collaborates directly with local weavers, using organic cotton, eco-friendly dyes, and handcrafted printing techniques to create timeless garments.

His designs frequently carry emotional narratives, capturing motifs from Kerala’s cultural landscape such as Theyyam, banana leaves, and Malayalam symbols, imbued with playful and abstract whimsy. Boldly embracing the philosophy buy less, Jebsispar rejects fast fashion trends in favour of eco-conscious craftsmanship that lasts decades. The brand’s unique creative voice has resonated widely, attracting celebrities like Sonam Kapoor, Kalki Koechlin, Mouni Roy, Vidya Balan, Karishma Kapoor and many more.