Selyn Sri Lanka

What Selyn Sri Lanka does

Selyn Exporters (Pvt) Limited, trading as Selyn Sri Lanka, is a privately held Fair Trade handloom manufacturer founded in 1991 in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, by Attorney-at-Law Sandra Wanduragala. The company employs 43 direct staff and coordinates a decentralized network of more than 1,000 women artisans across rural Sri Lanka, producing hand-woven cotton and silk textiles — including sarees, lungis, sarongs, shawls, shirts, beach wraps, accessories, home goods, and children's toys — using traditional handloom methods and PETA-approved vegan, toxic-free dyeing processes.

Selyn operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and B2B business model. The DTC arm runs a Shopify-based e-commerce store (selyn.lk) shipping worldwide, supported by three physical showrooms in Kurunegala and Colombo (including a Love Local Concept Store at Crescat Boulevard). The B2B arm runs dedicated Corporate, Export, and a Selyn Textiles sub-brand targeting international wholesale and ethical-fashion buyers. Revenue is generated through unit-priced product sales (Rs 340–Rs 15,420 per item), gift cards (Rs 1,500+), bulk corporate orders, experiential tourism via the Selyn Fair Trade Tour, and donations routed through the Selyn Foundation. Customer acquisition blends organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X), content/blog/PR (Forbes Asia, Dutch Design Week), email marketing, and the Fair Trade Tour funnel. Mintpay installment payments and sub-brand websites extend the platform.

The company's competitive foundation rests on three third-party certifications (World Fair Trade Organization Guaranteed, PETA Approved Vegan, REACH), heritage brand storytelling built over 32+ years, and a specialized artisan labor pool. Recent strategic moves include a blockchain supply-chain pilot with London College of Fashion (May 2025), a Dutch Design Week showcase, the launch of the #BleedGood period-poverty initiative via Selyn Foundation (March 2024), and founder recognition on the Forbes Asia 50 Over 50 list (2024). Selyn discloses no external funding rounds, no revenue figures, and operates as a self-funded, founder-controlled social enterprise.

Name

Selyn Sri Lanka

Legal name

Selyn Exporters (Pvt) Limited

Website

https://selyn.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Selyn Sri Lanka is a Fair Trade handloom manufacturer founded in 1991 that produces handwoven textiles and accessories through a network of 1,000+ Sri Lankan women artisans, selling via DTC e-commerce, physical showrooms, and B2B/export channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Handloom Textiles

NAICS

Broadwoven Fabric Mills (313210), Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (459130)

SIC

Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Cotton (2211), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

General Fabric & Textile Stores (CRALADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Textiles & Fabric / Piece Goods Wholesale (CRAOADAH)

Keywords

• Handloom textiles
• Fair trade apparel
• Artisanal home goods
• Ethical fashion accessories
• Handwoven kids toys

Headquarters

HQ city

Kurunegala

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of handloom products including fashion (sarees, lungis, shirts, shawls, beach wraps), kids items, accessories, and home & living products through e-commerce and physical showrooms. Products are priced in LKR with worldwide shipping available.
2. Corporate and Export Sales: B2B channel serving corporate clients and international markets with bulk orders, custom commercial orders, and potentially private label production. Includes downloadable business profiles for enterprise inquiries.
3. Donations: Selyn Foundation accepts donations ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000, supporting social impact initiatives including the #BleedGood period poverty program.
4. Gift Cards: Fair trade gift cards available in denominations starting from Rs 1,500, valid for online purchases only.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Selyn manufactures and sells handwoven Sri Lankan textiles and apparel produced by over 1,000 rural women artisans, including fashion (sarees, lungis, sarongs, shirts, shawls, beach wraps), home and living products (cushion covers, table runners, napkins, coasters, bed runners, oven gloves), accessories (tote bags, bangles, scrunchies, wallets), and children's plush and educational toys made from upcycled handloom fabric. The company sells through its own e-commerce store, three physical showrooms in Kurunegala and Colombo, dedicated B2B Corporate and Export channels, and offers a Fair Trade Tour tourism experience at its workshops.

Product overview

Selyn Exporters (Pvt) Limited is a Sri Lankan Fair Trade handloom manufacturer founded in 1991, operating as a unified product ecosystem with multiple sub-brands and channels. The core offering centers on artisanal handwoven textiles crafted by over 1,000 women artisans. The portfolio includes: Selyn Textiles (export-focused brand), Selyn Play (children's toys from upcycled fabrics), and Selyn Corporate (business gifting). Product lines span Fashion (sarees, lungis, sarongs, shirts, shawls, beach wraps), Home & Living (cushion covers, table runners, napkins, coasters, bed runners, oven gloves), Accessories (tote bags, necklaces, bangles, scrunchies, wallets), and Kids (plush toys, educational toys). Additional offerings include gift cards, donation programs supporting the Selyn Foundation's #BleedGood initiative, and the Selyn Fair Trade Tour experience. All products emphasize ethical craftsmanship, PETA-approved vegan dyes, and sustainable materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Selyn Textiles: Handloom textile products targeting the export market
• Selyn Play
• Selyn Corporate

Products and services

• Sarees Handwoven cotton and rayon sarees crafted by skilled Sri Lankan artisans using traditional handloom weaving techniques with natural fibers. Sold to individual consumers via the selyn.lk e-commerce store, priced Rs 12,500 to Rs 12,800.
• Lungis Handwoven cotton lungis made by Sri Lankan artisans; lightweight and breathable garments for everyday wear or traditional events. Sold DTC, priced Rs 3,280 to Rs 7,000.
• Sarongs Handwoven cotton sarongs, versatile and stylish garments for any occasion, eco-friendly and ethically made by Selyn artisans.
• Shirts Handloom shirts in various sizes featuring multicolor striped patterns, crafted from cotton by Selyn artisans.
• Shawls Handwoven silk and cotton shawls, soft and lightweight, suitable for any season. Priced Rs 4,480 to Rs 5,480.
• Beach Wraps Cotton handloom beach wraps, lightweight and breathable, designed for beach and poolside use.
• Cushion Covers Handwoven cushion covers in various designs including Dumbara, Mandala, and embroidered patterns for home decor.
• Table Runners & Mats Handwoven table runners and placemats in various colors and patterns for dining table settings, up to Rs 15,420 for premium table mat sets.
• Napkins Handwoven napkins in multiple colors for table setting and dining elegance.
• Coasters Handcrafted coasters in various designs including tuk-tuk themed and embroidered options for table protection, priced from Rs 340.
• Bed Runners Handwoven bed runners adding a unique handcrafted touch to bedroom decor while protecting bedding.
• Oven Gloves Handcrafted handloom oven gloves made from durable cotton for kitchen use with heat-resistant properties.
• Tote Bags Handloom cotton tote bags featuring cultural designs including Sinhala and Tamil letters, elephant motifs, and lotus patterns.
• Necklaces Handwoven necklaces crafted with care, combining culture and creativity for any outfit.
• Bangles Upcycled handloom cotton bangles made from production offcuts, transforming waste into sustainable jewelry.
• Scrunchies Upcycled handloom cotton hair bands crafted from production offcuts for sustainable fashion accessories.
• Wallets Handwoven wallets designed to hold cards, cash, and small accessories, stylish and lightweight.
• Kids Plush and Educational Toys Handcrafted plush toys including Alphabet Elephant with Sinhala and Tamil letters, Mother Hen Play House educational toys, and Bee Backpack for kids, made from upcycled handloom fabric offcuts, priced Rs 1,100 to Rs 5,800.
• Selyn Fair Trade Gift Card Digital gift cards available in Rs 1,500, Rs 2,000, Rs 2,500, and Rs 5,000 denominations for online purchases, allowing recipients to choose their preferred Fair Trade handloom products.
• Selyn Corporate (B2B Gifting and Bulk Orders) Dedicated corporate channel offering ethical, handcrafted Fair Trade certified products for businesses, including corporate gifting, bulk orders, custom commercial orders, private label production, and employee engagement programs. Business profiles available on request via [email protected].
• Selyn Export (International Wholesale) International export channel dedicated to bringing Sri Lankan handloom products to global markets through wholesale and distribution partnerships. Bulk export orders require an additional 7 working days beyond standard worldwide delivery.
• Selyn Fair Trade Tour Educational tourism experience offering visitors a 2.5 to 7 hour guided tour of the Selyn workshops including handloom, dye house, toy workshop, Wanduragala store, and Elephant Rock viewpoint. Combines cultural education with direct on-site retail purchases.
• Selyn Donation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports over 1,000 women and families in rural Sri Lanka through fair trade employment
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• London College of Fashion (LCF), University of the Arts LondonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Collaboration between LCF and Selyn showcased blockchain technology integration for enhanced supply chain transparency in fashion. University students presented ground-breaking use of blockchain in a handloom craft showcase in collaboration with Selyn, demonstrating heritage weaving combined with modern technology for dignified future.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Made Trade: Online marketplace curating fair-trade, sustainable fashion and home goods. Comparable to Selyn as an emerging ethical-commerce channel where Selyn-like artisan brands reach US/EU conscious consumers.

Broad incumbents

• Fabindia: India's largest handloom and craft retail chain, combining own-brand stores with an artisan supply chain. Highly comparable to Selyn in product category (handloom textiles, home, apparel) and target buyer, though much larger and India-focused rather than Sri Lanka-focused.
• Boll & Branch: Ethically-sourced home textiles (sheets, towels) with a strong supply-chain transparency story. Comparable to Selyn in the handcrafted/ethical home textile category and DTC direct-to-consumer model.
• The Citizenry: Ethically-made home textiles and decor sourced globally from artisan partners. Comparable to Selyn in handcrafted home-textile category, fair-trade sourcing narrative, and premium DTC positioning.

Direct peers

• Anchal Project: Fair-trade, artisan-made textiles and home goods from India, employing women artisans and selling globally. Directly comparable to Selyn in fair-trade certification, artisan-impact model, and DTC-plus-B2B distribution.
• Mata Traders: Fair-trade apparel brand working with artisan cooperatives in India and Nepal. Directly comparable to Selyn in fair-trade certification, handcrafted apparel, and women-artisan impact model.
• Tonlé: Zero-waste, ethically-made apparel and accessories from Cambodia using artisan production. Comparable to Selyn in sustainability narrative, handmade textile category, and women-artisan employment model.
• Krochet Kids: Fair-trade apparel and accessories made by artisans in Uganda and Peru. Comparable to Selyn in fair-trade positioning, artisan-employment model, and global DTC distribution.
• Sudara: Fair-trade apparel and home textiles sourced from artisan cooperatives in India. Closely comparable to Selyn in fair-trade positioning, handcrafted textile category, and impact-driven mission employing women.

Regional players

• Biji-Biji Initiative: Malaysia-based sustainable fashion and lifestyle brand employing artisans and using upcycled materials. Comparable to Selyn in social-enterprise model, women-artisan employment, and sustainability narrative, though focused on Southeast Asia rather than South Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/selynfairtrade
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu2H39CaM1CBvf5XW5rFzEA
• Facebookfacebook.com/selynfairtrade
• Instagraminstagram.com/selynfairtrade
• TikToktiktok.com/@selynfairtrade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/selynsrilanka

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Selyn Sri Lanka