A community of artisans dedicated to crafting jewelry with values
By: Products Women
Tags: Womeninproduct, Small Business, Jewelry, Female Founders, Productsbywomen

Meet Sangya Gyawali, Founder of Blooh

A community of artisans dedicated to crafting jewelry with values

Sangya is a systems thinker with experiences in tech and global development. She founded Blooh with the aim to provide market access and digital tools for creatives and small manufacturers. She’s a Schwarzman Scholar and an Alter Fellow. Products by Women Follow Dec 31, 2021 · 4 min read

Blooh is a community of artisans dedicated to good design. Each jewelry piece encapsulates long perfected skills, hope, and cultural symbols that have persisted through time. How products are made matters. Currently, we are working exclusively with skilled artisans and groups supporting them in Kenya. Every item in the Blooh marketplace is made by their hands and inspired by timeless craftsmanship. Each product catalyzes freedom and entrepreneurship to the highest degree.Use 3EQREWPX7 for 20% off and enter FREE giveaway.

VC, Angel, or Bootstrap — and why?

Blooh has been bootstrapped so far. It was the quickest way to get started and validate our products with our customers. But we’ll be seeking out capital very soon to grow.

What is your vision and mission and what inspired you to start working on Blooh?

Blooh exists to democratize access to markets for independent and small creators. I was inspired a lot by the people I met while I worked in Uganda and Kenya the past few years. They had amazing talent but couldn’t reach customers consistently on their own.

How has your experience in Product and tech helped you bring Blooh to life?

While the handmade and creative sector has great potential, it’s also fragmented into regions, skill level etc. We use tech and automation to standardize a lot of our on the ground operations so we can provide speed and accuracy in all our processes. I’m very excited about this part of our work because the potential of what can be enabled with tech is limitless.

How would you describe Blooh’s aesthetic?

Vibrant, Simple Chic

Tell us about the sourcing and how you keep the prices accessible.

We collaborate directly with small manufacturers and global artisans to make our jewelry. Currently we’re working with various communities in Kenya to do this along with emerging designers in the US. It’s a partnership through and through. We want to create space for new and fresh ideas while enabling new streams of fair income and work for those who regularly have little access.

Were there any big surprises or challenges you encountered along the way?

We launched during the pandemic which proved to be quite challenging given most people were indoors. Knowing your customers early on was key so we just got creative with it. Also bootstrapping allowed us to go fast but I’m looking forward to growing in the next year.

Amani Hoop Set

Any favorite pieces you’ve been wearing lately?

At home I almost always wear a small hoop from the Amani Hoop Set. If I’m leaving the house, I’ll add on the bottom hoop — it’s so easy.

Any exciting initiatives in the pipeline?

Yes! We have a bunch of partnerships in the works. We’ll bring on our non-profit partner soon to double down on our impact. I’m looking forward to sharing more.

What’s the biggest risk your business ever took?

When I started, it was without a business plan. As a newcomer to the sector, I just wanted to learn fast without getting too caught up on the planning. It’s truly been a year of discovery. The last few months have been much more about strategizing.

Which one thing do you wish you’d done differently?

I would’ve paid a bit more attention to partnerships and raising earlier on. I spent a lot of the early days understanding our product and customers which will help bring on the next phase of our growth.