Today on Buzz with Danu, I spotlight a marketplace that’s doing more than just selling products—it’s selling purpose. Athwela Marketplace brings together Sri Lankan artisans, survivors, and change-makers to create sustainable, meaningful products that empower communities and protect our planet. It’s not just commerce—it’s conscious living. Let’s dive into the story behind this inspiring initiative. Athwela Marketplace: Where Community, Craft and Climate Converge. An interview with the team behind Grassrooted Trust’s latest initiative.

Q: Athwela Marketplace champions sustainability and community empowerment. What personal experiences or inspirations led you to create a platform with such a deep commitment to both people and the planet?

A: While Athwela Marketplace is a new initiative, the philosophy behind it has always been central to our work at Grassrooted. We’ve long believed in identifying people with talent and connecting them with markets that value and respect that skill. This marketplace simply gives structure to that ethos.

We are fundamentally against the concept of the one-time-pity-buy—a substandard product purchased out of sympathy, with no real intention to return. At Athwela, we co-create with artisans, cottage industries, and artists to develop products that are exceptional in quality—products that they can be proud of, and that deserve a fair wage.

When it comes to our planet, we’re out of time for complacency. 2023 was the hottest year on record—until 2024 broke that record again. Unless we act collectively and urgently, our tomorrows are in real jeopardy. Athwela is one of our ways of responding.

Q: How do you balance traditional Sri Lankan craftsmanship with the demands of a modern, eco-conscious market?

A: Sri Lankan artisans are brilliant. Many are already adapting to environmental concerns in inspiring ways—shifting from traditional batik to eco-batik, developing plastic-free packaging, and reintroducing sustainable materials into everyday commerce.

That said, we do face resistance. Vendors are often caught between tradition and customer demand. Consumers still request single-use plastics for convenience—be it for their thambili straw or mallung wrap. So we ask: does this eco-conscious market truly exist, or is it something we still need to cultivate more deeply?

Q: The concept of zero-emission delivery is pioneering in Sri Lanka. What were the biggest challenges in setting up partnerships like eDrops for sustainable logistics?

A: eDROPS, led by Sharuk and Fahim, were phenomenal collaborators. They instantly understood the urgency of climate-aware logistics. But broader challenges remain. We need better climate literacy across sectors—government, private, and civil.

We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel. We’re saying: understand the climate truths and apply sustainable methods that work for Sri Lanka. Climate action can’t be confined to once-a-year efforts tied to awareness days. It needs to be embedded in our education systems, our policies, and our behaviors—daily, systemically, and with purpose.

Q: You work with artisans from across the island. What’s been the most inspiring story to come out of these collaborations?

A: The women led by Anoma in Ibbagamuwa stand out. Survivors of gender-based violence—many single mothers—they find not just economic empowerment here, but community. They grow together, emotionally and professionally.

This model doesn’t just offer refuge. It offers a future. And while these women may come from rural, low-income backgrounds, we’ve seen the same need among women from more privileged circles—bound by social expectations and silent suffering. Athwela is for them too.

Q: Beyond commerce, Athwela supports causes like menstrual health and women’s empowerment. How do you envision your role in activism evolving over time?

A: Grassrooted’s core has always been sexual and reproductive health and rights. When USAID funding was pulled during the Trump era, many programs shut down overnight—including ones run by our long-time partners DDC and WDF in Yakalla. Staff were let go. Women lost support. We knew we had to build something that wasn’t at the mercy of shifting donor politics.

That’s why Athwela dedicates 80% of its profits to long-term care and support initiatives. This model is possible because of our partnerships—with police divisions, health officials, and local leaders. It’s a shared ecosystem of trust and action.

Q: How do you encourage today’s consumers to move beyond fast consumption and appreciate slow, meaningful craft?

A: We tell stories. Honest, grounded, and resonant stories.

Take our Rainbow Family Till—made of clay, designed for families to save together and smash together when full. Or our Happy Yaka trays—each one hand-painted, a labour of love. Even our artisanal food, like the Arrack-infused iced coffee from Margie’s Kitchen, is made fresh and delivered within 48 hours.

We’re offering a return to ritual, memory, and togetherness—something fast consumption has stolen from us.

Q: What systems are in place to ensure ethical production and fair wages?

A: Every vendor on Athwela is part of our community and vetted by Grassrooted. We insist on financial transparency. On each product page, you’ll find a breakdown of earnings—how much goes to the artisan and how much supports our work. We want you to see it. Know it. Trust it.

Q: Scaling often comes at the cost of values. How do you plan to grow while staying committed to zero-waste and ethical practices?

A: Through collaboration and humility. We’re learning from pioneers—industry leaders with proven models for phasing out plastics and improving waste management. The knowledge exchange in this space is open, generous, and full of potential.

Q: How does Athwela plan to change the global narrative about Sri Lankan craftsmanship?

A: By telling better stories, in new ways. Film. Reels. TikTok. Shorts. These are powerful, accessible tools. Our younger team members are teaching us how to use them to share these stories beyond borders—and bring visibility to the brilliance we’ve long known locally.

Q: What role do you see digital platforms playing in preserving Sri Lankan culture in this globalized world?

A: Digital platforms help us meet people where they are. But we also want to invite them in. Visit us in Ibbagamuwa—just 10 minutes from the Yaggapitiya exit on the highway to Dambulla. Sit with us. See the work firsthand. There’s room at the table.

Q: As founders, what’s been the most rewarding milestone since launching Athwela?

A: Watching an artisan’s face light up when they see their product online—or on display in-store. That moment of recognition. That pride. It’s everything.

Q: Looking five years ahead, what is your dream for Athwela Marketplace?

A: Connection. Between families. Between urban and rural youth. Between people and planet. We dream of a marketplace defined not just by what is bought and sold—but by how it uplifts, connects, and transforms lives.