Kruthika Kumaran’s label came following an intensely personal experience- the loss of her mother to a complication from a skin-related problem. As a tribute to her mother, this engineer-turned-entrepreneur created all-natural skincare and organic cosmetic range in 2017. Vilvah launched with their signature fresh-goat milk soaps before diversifying into a range of shampoos, under-eye creams, toners, scrubs, and deodorants. Read on more to find out about Kruthika and her brand:
Can you tell me a bit about yourself and why you started this company?
My mother had sensitive skin and suffered from skin problems for more than a decade. The products she used on her skin made it even worse. My late mother is the reason for my path to creating my own natural soaps. It was her wish for me to use safe products that inspired me to learn and do what I do today.
After completing my diploma in natural cosmetology, I started experimenting with Goatmilk soaps since I come from an agricultural background and my daughter had eczema, a condition with dry skin. After many experiments, we perfected a recipe that we originally created for our family and that is what we sell to our customers. We started out with 2 or 3 goats on our farm and now there are countless herds of goats from where the fresh goat milk is obtained and different goatmilk products are made. Even though we have introduced different skincare products over time, the classic Goat milk soap will always remain close to my heart.
I have always dreamt about creating a clean and sustainable skincare range and Vilvah is a complete family project of mine. My husband Mr.Kumaran and my7-year-old daughter (yes, she loves working in Vilvah apart from her school time) 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.
Can you tell us a bit more about “farm-to-face”?
Using the freshest ingredients sourced from our local farmers is what we’re all about. We are committed to supporting our organic family of farmers and are proud to create beauty from the ground up. Our products are handmade with only the finest and freshest ingredients. Our concoction consists of natural and organic agricultural produce, carrier oils, essential oils, and butter. And some of the ingredients are obtained from our own VILVAH FARM where we get fresh goat milk and other ingredients used for our products.
Using the freshest ingredients and sourced from our local farmers is what we’re all about. We are committed to supporting our organic family of farmers and are proud to create beauty from the ground up.
Can you tell us a bit more about the products you sell?
All our products are made in-house and formulated in our R&D lab after several trials and errors. The main focus is to deliver User-friendly safe skincare products which suit the majority of the customer base. We don’t want to deliver anything in the name of “Natural and Organic” , is launched only after various tests and only if it works for a variety of skin types.
Picture Courtesy: Vilvah
Sustainability is becoming more and more important. Can you tell us how you incorporate sustainable practices?
More than being “ORGANIC AND NATURAL”, We are proud of the fact that our brand is emerging into one of the finest sustainable skincare brands in India. We have eliminated 95% of plastic usage in both manufacturing and packing. All our packing material is either made of Aluminum, Glass, or paper. Even for shipping, We have eliminated bubble wrap and replaced it with recycled paper, and replaced regular papers with biodegradable paper for invoices. We are planning to introduce Refill machines in our physical outlets where people can bring their own bottles and fill shampoo. We are not perfect with sustainable practices but we are definitely progressing.
Don’t forget to check out Kruthika’s brand here: https://vilvahstore.com
