Aruna Project
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aruna Project does
Aruna Project is a nonprofit social enterprise that designs, manufactures, and sells women's bags, totes, and hair accessories through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, with supplementary wholesale, corporate gifting, and customized product channels. The product portfolio centers on functional everyday carry — backpacks (Geeta, Sonu, Rani, Swathi), crossbody bags (Shree, Pooja), totes (Vahida Yoga, Ashley Work, Monica, Nanda, Zoya), the Soniya belt bag, the Mona wristlet, the Disha laptop sleeve, the Aruna duffel, and an expanding headband line (Rita 8-inch, Reshma 4-inch, Chaya cold-weather) — alongside curated bundles such as The Workout Collection and The Journey Collection. The underlying product technology is sustainable textile manufacturing using Bluesign certified fabrics, Fair Trade verification, recycled ripstop nylon/polyester, water-repellent coatings, and PFC-FREE treatments; a distinctive feature is custom-printed micro-poly liners inscribed with the names of freed artisans, embedding provenance into each product.
Aruna Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aruna Project
- Legal name
- Aruna Project
- Website
- https://arunaproject.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aruna Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Handbags & Accessories
- NAICS
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Textile Bag and Canvas Mills (314910), Apparel Manufacturing (315)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Handbags & Purses (CRAAAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI), Handbags & Fashion Bags Manufacturing (IMAOAHAA), Sports, Outdoor & Adventure Packs Manufacturing (Backpacks/Duffels) (IMAOAHAE)
Keywords
Where Aruna Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Aruna Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales: E-commerce sales of bags, backpacks, totes, crossbody bags, wristlets, laptop sleeves, and hair accessories. 100% of sales revenue is reinvested to free, employ, and empower survivors of human trafficking. Products priced at $15-$159 with variations in color options.
- Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale channel through wholesale.arunaproject.com for retailers and bulk buyers.
- Corporate Gifting: Corporate gifting programs for businesses seeking ethical gift options for employees, conferences, and events.
- Customized Products: Customization services through customized.arunaproject.com for personalized products.
- Donations: Donations supporting the Freedom Process and direct care services for survivors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Women's Headbands - Wide (Rita) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Women's Headbands - Slim (Reshma) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cold Weather Headbands (Chaya) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Belt Bags (Soniya) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Crossbody Bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Backpacks |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tote Bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Laptop Sleeves (Disha) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wristlets (Mona) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Duffel Bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Almost Perfect (Imperfect) Items |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Aruna Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aruna Project designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable women's bags, totes, backpacks, crossbody bags, belt bags, wristlets, laptop sleeves, duffels, and hair accessories (headbands) under its own brand. All products are handcrafted by survivors of human trafficking, with 100% of sales revenue reinvested to fund the Freedom Process. The company distributes through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, wholesale, corporate gifting, and customized products platforms.
Product overview
Aruna Project is a nonprofit social enterprise offering a focused portfolio of survivor-made women's bags and hair accessories. The product lineup centers on everyday carry bags including backpacks (Geeta Everyday Backpack, Sonu Backpack, Rani Backpack, Swathi Backpack), crossbody bags (Shree Crossbody DTM, Shree Crossbody, Pooja Crossbody), tote bags (Vahida Yoga Tote, Ashley Work Tote, Monica Tote, Nanda Canvas Tote, Zoya Mesh Beach Tote), wristlets (Mona Wristlet), belt bags (Soniya Belt Bag), laptop accessories (Disha Laptop Sleeve), and fitness bags (Aruna Duffel, The Workout Collection, The Journey Collection). Hair accessories include wide Rita Headbands (8-inch), slim Reshma Headbands (4-inch), and cold-weather Chaya Headbands. The company also offers curated bundles (The Workout Collection, The Journey Collection) and an 'Almost Perfect' sub-brand featuring discounted items with minor imperfections. All products are handcrafted by survivors of human trafficking who receive career wages, holistic support, and Fair Trade compensation. The company operates exclusively through Shopify's e-commerce platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Geeta Everyday Backpack Recycled nylon backpack with padded laptop pocket and interior lined with names of freed Artisans, available in multiple color options including solid and two-tone combinations.
- Shree Crossbody DTM Lightweight nylon crossbody bag with dyed-to-match trims and new hardware, available in black, camel, lilac, blush, and olive.
- Shree Crossbody Lightweight nylon crossbody bag designed for travel and everyday use, available in black, olive, slate blue, and poppy red.
- Pooja Crossbody Bag Compact phone crossbody bag with removable strap and zipper compartments, made with durable water-repellent fabric.
- Vahida Yoga Tote Premium yoga tote that secures mats, towels, and blocks with spacious interior compartments and side-load mat storage, available in multiple colors.
- Ashley Work Tote Work tote in camel nylon with padded laptop sleeve, designed for everyday professional use, available in multiple color options.
- Mona Wristlet Women's wristlet wallet with phone pocket, removable dual pouches, and key attachment lanyard, made from washable, water-repellent nylon with debossed wrist strap featuring names of freed Artisans.
- Sonu Backpack Versatile backpack available in multiple colors and prints, featuring front zip pocket and top grab handle.
- Rani Backpack Large backpack made from water-repellent recycled fabric with laptop compatibility, available in matte black, charcoal, maroon, and light gray.
- Swathi Packable Backpack Packable ultra-thin backpack made from mesh ripstop fabric, featuring lightweight and packable design with multiple color options.
- Aruna Duffel Sports duffel bag made from water-resistant nylon material, suitable for workouts or as a lightweight weekender bag, available in black, olive, slate blue, and poppy red.
- Zoya Mesh Beach Tote Mesh beach tote designed for summer and beach use.
- Nanda Canvas Tote Bag Natural cotton canvas tote bag available in bold color.
- Monica Tote Compact tote bag suitable for everyday use.
- Disha Laptop Sleeve Padded nylon laptop sleeve with front slip pocket, machine washable and water-repellent, available in two sizes to fit 13-16 inch laptops, made with Bluesign certified fabric.
- Soniya Belt Bag Adjustable belt bag, sling bag, and crossbody made from recycled ripstop fabric, available in petite and regular sizes with 2 liter capacity, machine washable and PFC-free.
- Rita Wide Headband (8-inch) Extra-wide 8-inch non-slip headband made from soft nylon fabric, machine washable, designed for workouts, yoga, hiking, and running, with dozens of artisan-designed prints.
- Reshma Slim Headband (4-inch) Slim 4-inch non-slip nylon headband that lies flat and stays put, lightweight and low-profile, suitable for running, yoga, hiking, and everyday wear.
- Chaya Cold Weather Headband Winter running ear warmer headband designed for cold weather activities, available in shadow gray, dark mint, dusty rose, and faded coral.
- The Workout Collection Curated workout collection bundle including yoga and fitness bags with matching liner colors, available in slate blue/gray liner, black/coral liner, and olive/gray liner combinations.
- The Journey Collection Collection bundle with black/coral liner color scheme, premium multi-piece set designed for travel and fitness.
- Almost Perfect Discounted Products Discounted products with minor imperfections at 50% off regular prices, including almost perfect versions of Ashley Tote, Aamina Yoga Tote, Sonu Backpack, Soniya Belt Bag, Shree Crossbody, Shree Crossbody DTM, and Rani Backpack.
- Corporate Gifting Program Corporate gifting program offering ethically made bags and accessories for businesses for employee gifts, conference swag, and corporate events.
- Wholesale Distribution Wholesale channel through wholesale.arunaproject.com for retailers and bulk buyers seeking mission-aligned Aruna products.
- Customized Products Platform Customization services through customized.arunaproject.com for personalized products with custom branding and designs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.9 average rating from 1,270+ reviews
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Aruna Project
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aruna Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Aruna Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aruna Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Raven + Lily: Ethical accessories and bags brand working with artisan cooperatives in developing countries; directly comparable in mission, materials (natural fibers), and bag category focus.
- ABLE: Ethical fashion brand employing and empowering women (formerly known as Livefashionæble); directly comparable to Aruna's survivor-employment model and produces bags, accessories, and apparel for a values-driven consumer.
- Purpose Jewelry: Nonprofit social enterprise employing survivors of human trafficking to make jewelry and accessories; the closest comparable on the human-trafficking-survivor employment mission and artisan-made product model.
- Sseko Designs: Ethical accessories brand employing women in Uganda to make sandals, bags, and accessories; closest peer in women-empowerment-driven bag and accessory manufacturing with global e-commerce.
- FEED Projects: Mission-driven accessories and bags brand where each purchase funds school meals; comparable one-for-one social enterprise model operating in the same ethical-handbag/lifestyle accessory category as Aruna.
Broad incumbents
- Sevenly: Cause-driven apparel brand that donates a portion of each sale to rotating charitable campaigns; broader incumbent in the cause-marketing apparel/accessories space competing for similar purpose-driven consumers.
- Warby Parker: Buy-a-pair-give-a-pair eyewear pioneer and one of the largest mission-driven direct-to-consumer brands; a benchmark for the give-back model Aruna operates within, though in a different product category.
- TOMS: Iconic one-for-one footwear and apparel brand with purpose-driven positioning; broader incumbent in the mission-aligned apparel/accessories space with significantly larger scale than Aruna.
- Bombas: One-for-one apparel basics brand with a charitable give-back model; broader incumbent that competes for the same values-driven consumer wallet, though focused on socks and basics rather than bags.
Emerging players
- The Brave Collection: Mission-driven jewelry and accessories brand founded by women, employing artisans in Cambodia to combat human trafficking; emerging player with adjacent product mix and directly aligned cause.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aruna Project social profiles
Digital presenceAruna Project compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Aruna Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aruna Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aruna Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aruna Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aruna Project
What does Aruna Project do?
Aruna Project designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable women's bags, totes, backpacks, crossbody bags, belt bags, wristlets, laptop sleeves, duffels, and hair accessories (headbands) under its own brand. All products are handcrafted by survivors of human trafficking, with 100% of sales revenue reinvested to fund the Freedom Process. The company distributes through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, wholesale, corporate gifting, and customized products platforms.
Is Aruna Project a public or private company?
Aruna Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Aruna Project founded?
Aruna Project was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aruna Project based?
Aruna Project is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aruna Project make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution, corporate Gifting, customized Products and donations.
Who are Aruna Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Raven + Lily, ABLE, Purpose Jewelry, Sseko Designs and FEED Projects. Broad incumbents are Sevenly, Warby Parker, TOMS and Bombas. The Brave Collection is listed as an emerging player.
Does Aruna Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aruna Project.
What industry is Aruna Project in?
Aruna Project's product category is Handbags & Accessories. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAJAA, Handbags & Purses, with a secondary code of CRAMAAAI, Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail. Its NAICS code is 3159 and its SIC code is 5600.