Arwa
Arwa Shawl is a Sri Lanka-based, direct-to-consumer modest fashion retailer founded in 2019, selling abayas, shawls, kurthas, and clutch bags to young, fashion-conscious Hijabi women via its e-commerce site and a single Nugegoda retail outlet.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNugegoda, Sri Lanka
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Arwa does
Arwa Shawl is a privately held, Sri Lanka-based modest fashion retailer founded in 2019, operating as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand with an accompanying physical retail outlet in Nugegoda. The company sells curated Islamic modest wear and accessories — primarily abayas, shawls, kurthas, and clutch bags — targeting young, fashion-conscious Hijabi women in Sri Lanka. The brand differentiates through named signature fabric collections (Aleeza, Armani Silk, Bohama Silk, Satin Emboss) and embellishment techniques such as heavy bead corner work, applique, and corde detailing, addressing what the founder identified as a gap in the local market for stylish, colorful modest wear.
The business operates a hybrid online-and-offline model: a WooCommerce-powered storefront at arwashawl.com handles DTC sales with cart, wishlist, and Cash on Delivery functionality, while a single retail showroom at 85/1A 1/Pagoda Rd, Nugegoda drives in-person traffic. Pricing is unit-based in Sri Lankan Rupees, with product prices ranging from LKR 10 to LKR 12,400 and promotional discounting of up to 70% off. The catalog is small (~36 SKUs), the workforce is reportedly 5–10 employees, and the company has grown from a home passion project to a small factory + retail outlet over six years. There is no external funding, no parent company, no partnerships, and no disclosed revenue.
The underlying technology is conventional e-commerce infrastructure rather than any proprietary platform; the company's competitive position is built on design-led product differentiation and brand identity within a single-country, single-persona niche. Customer reach is described as 'thousands of happy customers' since founding, indicating modest but real traction in the domestic Sri Lankan modest fashion segment.
Arwa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arwa
- Legal name
- Arwa Shawl
- Website
- https://arwashawl.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Arwa Shawl is a Sri Lanka-based, direct-to-consumer modest fashion retailer founded in 2019, selling abayas, shawls, kurthas, and clutch bags to young, fashion-conscious Hijabi women via its e-commerce site and a single Nugegoda retail outlet.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arwa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Modest Fashion Apparel
- NAICS
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Women's, Misses', And Juniors Outerwear (2330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scarves/Shawls/Winter Neckwear Manufacturing (IMAOAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scarves, Wraps & Shawls (CRAAAJAF), Small Leather Accessories Manufacturing (Belts/Straps/Watch Bands) (IMAOAFAG)
Keywords
Where Arwa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nugegoda
- HQ country
- Sri Lanka
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Arwa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: One-time product sales of modest fashion items including abayas, shawls, clutch bags, and kurthas. Customers purchase individual items at set prices displayed on the website. No subscription or recurring revenue model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Product pricing by category and design complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Arwa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arwa Shawl designs, produces, and retails modest fashion garments for women, centered on abayas, shawls, kurthas, and clutch bags. Products are manufactured in a small in-house factory using premium signature fabrics (Aleeza, Armani Silk, Bohama Silk, Satin Emboss) with embellishments such as heavy bead corner, applique, bead work, corde work, and thread work, and are sold direct-to-consumer through its own WooCommerce website and a physical retail outlet in Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Product overview
Arwa Shawl is an e-commerce modest fashion brand operating as a WooCommerce-powered online store offering a curated portfolio of Islamic modest wear and accessories. The product lineup centers on four core categories—Abayas, Shawls, Kurthas, and Clutch Bags—alongside an Other Accessories category. The brand distinguishes itself through signature fabric collections including the Aleeza Collection (using proprietary Aleeza material), Armani Silk Collection (featuring luxury silk fabrics), Bohama Silk Collection, and Satin Emboss Collection. Products range from basic plain designs to elaborate pieces with embellishments such as heavy bead corner detailing, applique work, bead work, corde work, and thread work. The company sells directly to consumers through its Shopify-hosted online store, with physical retail presence in Sri Lanka.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Abayas Full-length modest outer garments offered in plain designs and embellished variants (bead work, heavy bead corner, applique detailing), crafted from premium fabrics such as Aleeza, Armani Silk, Bohama Silk, and Satin Emboss and priced between LKR 3,200 and LKR 12,400; for young Hijabi women seeking elegant, full-coverage wear for daily and occasion use.
- Shawls Elegant wraps and scarves made from soft, lightweight premium fabric in rich hues, including plain shawls and designs with heavy bead corner and corde work embellishments, priced around LKR 4,500 and above; for women seeking sophisticated modest covering and styling options.
- Kurthas Traditional ethnic wear with a classic cut produced in premium fabric for a modern look suitable for festive occasions, casual gatherings, or daily wear, priced from around LKR 4,500; for women seeking versatile, traditional yet contemporary modest clothing.
- Clutch Bags Sleek, compact handbags with secure closures and options for detachable chain straps, crafted with premium finishing for evening events and formal gatherings, priced from around LKR 2,500; for women attending modest-formal occasions who want a coordinated accessory.
- Other Accessories (scarves and statement pieces) Additional fashion accessories including scarves and statement pieces with applique and bead work, intended to complement the core abaya and shawl offerings; for customers seeking matching accents for their modest wardrobe.
Companies that use Arwa
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Arwa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Arwa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Arwa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Shukr: Long-established international Islamic clothing brand offering abayas, shawls, and modest wear via DTC e-commerce. Comparable to Arwa in modest-wear product assortment and online-first distribution, though with a much broader geographic footprint.
- Namshi: Middle East-focused fashion e-commerce platform that carries modest wear including abayas and shawls. Comparable to Arwa in modest-wear assortment and DTC platform model, though operating as a multi-brand marketplace rather than a single brand.
- Modanisa: Turkey-headquartered global modest fashion e-commerce platform offering abayas, shawls, and hijabs across many brands. Comparable to Arwa in core product categories (abayas, shawls) and DTC online model, but operates at vastly larger scale and geographic reach.
Direct peers
- Aab: UK-based modest fashion brand selling premium abayas, dresses, and hijabs direct-to-consumer online. Closely comparable to Arwa in target customer (young, fashion-conscious modest dressers), premium positioning, and DTC-led model.
- East Essence: US-based modest fashion retailer offering abayas, hijabs, and Islamic clothing online. Comparable to Arwa in product categories (abayas, scarves) and DTC e-commerce model targeting Muslim women.
- Haute Hijab: US-based premium hijab and modest accessories brand sold DTC through its own e-commerce site. Comparable to Arwa in DTC motion, premium fabric positioning, and focus on fashionable Hijabis seeking elevated everyday wear.
- Inayah: US-based modest fashion brand offering abayas, hijabs, and dresses via DTC e-commerce. Comparable to Arwa in product mix (abayas, scarves), premium embellishments, and focus on stylish young Muslim women.
Emerging players
- Myla London: London-based modest fashion brand offering abayas, kaftans, and scarves DTC. Comparable to Arwa in premium modest-wear positioning and DTC e-commerce for a young, fashion-conscious modest customer.
- Vela Scarves: Premium hijab and shawl brand selling directly to consumers online with focus on elevated fabrics and designs. Comparable to Arwa's shawl/scarve category and premium fabric positioning (Aleeza, Armani Silk parallels).
Regional players
- Alduny: Sri Lanka-based modest fashion brand offering abayas and related apparel. Closest direct geographic peer to Arwa, serving the same Sri Lankan Hijabi customer segment with overlapping product categories.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Arwa social profiles
Digital presenceArwa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arwa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Arwa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arwa 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 Arwa
What does Arwa do?
Arwa Shawl designs, produces, and retails modest fashion garments for women, centered on abayas, shawls, kurthas, and clutch bags. Products are manufactured in a small in-house factory using premium signature fabrics (Aleeza, Armani Silk, Bohama Silk, Satin Emboss) with embellishments such as heavy bead corner, applique, bead work, corde work, and thread work, and are sold direct-to-consumer through its own WooCommerce website and a physical retail outlet in Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Is Arwa a public or private company?
Arwa is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Arwa founded?
Arwa was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Arwa based?
Arwa is headquartered in Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, in the Asia region.
How does Arwa make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales.
Who are Arwa's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Shukr, Namshi and Modanisa. Direct peers are Aab, East Essence, Haute Hijab and Inayah. Emerging players are Myla London and Vela Scarves. Alduny is listed as a regional player.
Does Arwa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Arwa.
What industry is Arwa in?
Arwa's product category is Modest Fashion Apparel. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOAFAD, Scarves/Shawls/Winter Neckwear Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRAAAJAF, Scarves, Wraps & Shawls. Its NAICS code is 3159 and its SIC code is 2300.