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August 22, 2023
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Sustainablee began as a passion project that evolved from my decade-long experience in corporate sustainability and waste management. Throughout those years, I worked on creating community awareness to encourage positive environmental behavior changes. This experience revealed a clear market gap: Consumers lacked access to locally made sustainable products under a single, trusted brand.
Through my work, I discovered many talented local artisans and small businesses creating innovative products from upcycled waste materials. I was impressed by their craftsmanship and saw an opportunity to make these products accessible to a wider market. Importantly, I wanted to ensure these craftspeople received fair opportunities to grow their businesses and increase their income in a non-exploitative manner.
In 2018, I combined my passion for sustainability with my commitment to supporting local artisans, and thus, Sustainablee was born—a carefully curated lifestyle brand featuring exclusively locally sourced sustainable products. After leaving my corporate career, I was confident this project would allow me to pursue my passion while also supporting our community.
Building a brand from scratch presented numerous challenges, but we gained our first foothold by participating in the Saturday Good Market. This provided the perfect opportunity to test our products and brand concept before expanding our range. The enthusiastic response from early customers confirmed that we were on the right path.
Today, Sustainablee continues to grow in both product range and market reach. We serve as a platform connecting small businesses with consumers who seek high-quality, reusable, and sustainable products—making environmental responsibility an accessible part of everyday life.
Our biggest challenge was identifying key products that had both a need and demand in the market while also finding suitable suppliers who could produce them at the required quality and quantity. Additionally, we had to ensure the right mix of suppliers—those who could collaborate with us to develop and manufacture the carefully curated range of products we offer.
Another significant challenge in the field of sustainability is ensuring that all suppliers follow an eco-friendly production process from start to finish. We are committed to using raw materials that serve a purpose and ensuring that our final products are made from biodegradable or upcycled materials.
We have been fortunate to work with a wonderful team of suppliers, including small cottage industries, home-based seamstresses, and women’s community groups from across the island. Many of them have been with us for years. The Sustainablee team works closely with these suppliers, helping them develop their skills and produce high-quality products that can be scaled up to meet the demands of large customer orders.
We are happy with our growth so far and continue to work toward streamlining our processes and expanding our product range. From just five items on a table at the Good Market, we now offer over 25 products across main 5 main categories such as Homeware, Upcycled Stationery, Reusable bags, Personal care, and Eco-friendly gift sets. Our reach has also expanded through multiple channel partners in Colombo, the South Coast, and even overseas.
Some key moments in our journey include the positive feedback we receive when interacting directly with customers at our Saturday Good Market stall and the pop-up events we participate in. Their enthusiasm and appreciation for our products and mission have been a great source of motivation.
Our channel partners genuinely appreciate our product range and overall brand vision, often requesting to stock our products—an encouraging sign for a small brand like ours. It has been incredibly rewarding to support our growing network of community partners, even during challenging times, by maintaining minimum order values to help sustain their livelihoods. Their feedback on the support we provide has been a reassuring reminder of why we continue this business.
Our daily work includes looking at all aspects of the business. To list a few;
We love what we do, and with each sale, we can support our community partners and motivate them to continue producing. While some tasks may seem routine, they are essential to maintaining momentum and driving our mission forward.
We are fortunate to have a great team that encourages one another, works collaboratively, and ensures that we get through our daily tasks efficiently. Together, we remain committed to making a meaningful impact through our work.
We are proud of how far we have come. From 2019 to 2025, Sustainablee has grown in many ways, achieving key milestones along the way.
One of our most significant milestones to date is the establishment of our physical showroom in Colombo, which opened in 2024. This space has provided our brand with a dedicated platform to engage with clients daily, allowing them to visit, browse, and connect with the stories behind our products. This long-awaited achievement was made possible through our collaboration with Ayuwanna by Barberyn, located at De Fonseka Road, Colombo 5, allowing us to showcase our products in a meaningful way.
Another major milestone is the wide network of customers we have built over the years. While we initially focused on Colombo, we have since expanded, making our full collection available online at www.sustainableeyours.com and developing channel partnerships across the island and internationally.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our team members and the suppliers working behind the scenes at Sustainablee.
The true success of our efforts is felt when we receive positive feedback from our suppliers, who share stories of how Sustainablee has supported them during challenging times. Their success is our greatest achievement, and we look forward to continuing to grow and make a difference in this space.
Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy—you need resilience and the right mindset to keep pushing forward during tough times. My deep passion for the brand and belief in its positive impact on the community and market have been my greatest sources of motivation.
As a sustainable brand, Sustainablee Yours has always prioritized maintaining low overheads, controlling expenses, and growing steadily. We operate from a small office in Colombo, repurpose materials whenever possible, and work with a dedicated part-time student team. Our efficient work system ensures smooth operations, allowing us to manage workload increases or staff shortages without disruption.
I wouldn’t change a thing. This journey has been both wonderful and challenging, and I have learned many valuable lessons along the way. It has shaped me as a person and made me stronger.
I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for all the partners and suppliers who have supported us and stood by us over the years. As someone who is naturally risk-averse, taking a leap of faith—leaving my corporate job and embarking on this journey—has been truly rewarding. I have no regrets, only countless lessons learned!
As we continue to grow, we are excited to expand our product portfolio, offering a wider range of sustainable solutions to cater to a broader audience. Our goal is to ensure that more people have access to high-quality, eco-friendly products that seamlessly integrate sustainability into everyday life.
We hope to create a greater impact, promote sustainable living on a larger scale, and support even more artisans and small businesses. We look forward to growing our Sustainablee family, building strong partnerships, and continuing our journey of making sustainability accessible, practical, and rewarding for all.
In short, don’t give up on your dreams! Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, conduct thorough market research, develop a solid plan, and execute it with determination.
Start small, focus on adding value to the space you want to enter, and be prepared to test the market, adapt to changes, and evolve based on demand. At the same time, stay true to your brand’s core values. Continuously align your products and business ethos with these values to ensure you remain authentic and consistent in your journey.
We are available on :
@sustainableeyours – Instagram and Facebook | 0773480515 – WhatsApp
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