What if a corporate career could lead to a completely different kind of success?
In 2014, Pratibha Krishnaiah, a computer science graduate working in Bengaluru, left her corporate career and joined the SBI Youth for India Fellowship. Her journey took her to Khetikhan, a remote village in Uttarakhand.
There, she noticed something special.
Women in the village were skilled at knitting sweaters, socks, scarves and other woollen products. But most of these products were made only for personal or family use.
Pratibha saw a business opportunity.
She started working with just 10 women, helping them improve their products and connect with customers. What started as a small initiative later became Himalayan Blooms.
In 2016, Pratibha returned to Uttarakhand and worked closely with the women. Along with craft skills, they learned about orders, accounting, bookkeeping, packaging and deliveries.
The idea slowly grew.
By 2021, Himalayan Blooms had connected 200+ women across around 40 villages with wider markets. The women were reported to earn around ₹7,000–₹10,000 per month, while the venture generated approximately ₹15–20 lakh in annual revenue.
The most inspiring part?
During the pandemic, the women independently managed several parts of the business, including its website and social media operations.
This is more than a story about knitting.
It is a story about turning local skills into sustainable livelihoods, creating rural entrepreneurship and building financial independence for women.
Sometimes, the biggest opportunities are already present in our villages. They simply need the right connection to markets.
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