About Us – Panchami Products

Our Brands

The brand name for coconut shells was crafted to reflect our mission. Pakaram means ‘Substitute’ and Keram refers to ‘Coconut Palm’. These words are based on Malayalam, which is a language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala- the state which derived its name from “Kera” and “Alam” which means coconut and land respectively.

Our mission is to use coconut shell as a substitute for products which are hazardous to the planet. We believe that nature provides better products that are durable and stylish than plastic.

Our deep commitment to keep the environment greener, combined with the love for simple and elegant clothing , urged us to launch a clothing brand. Products from ‘panchami weaves’ are derived from natural sources like cotton and linen. We are mindful of the environmental impact caused by overproduction of clothes.

Gradually and thoughtfully, we intend to be one of the most sustainable clothing brand.

From the founder

Sustainability is the key of everything we do. We started this journey using the Lean Start Up Strategy. The business was launched by carving one of many coconut shells which were neatly packed in the backyard. A coconut shell candle was made and sold in the ecommerce websites. Since then, we invested hours of research and experimentation, explored materials, studied the impact on environment, emphasized on customer feedback and was grounded in hands-on design.

During the experimentation phase, ideas were turned into reality. Designs were reimagined to meet the requirements in everyday life. The efforts slowly took shape and we went on to sell more than 500 coconut shells across India. Minimal returns and positive reviews from customers pushed us to constantly innovate and design products which are exclusive to our brand. In the meanwhile, a clothing brand was also launched to sell products that are derived from natural materials.

I took a leap from the corporate job, leaving behind a steady income and a great workplace, to pursue this venture to make difference in people’s lives. A business is not what I aspired, but sustainable solutions that are better for the wellbeing of our planet. With the learnings from close to 2 decade of corporate experience that stretched my thinking and passion to establish sustainability as a necessity, I am sure that we will emerge as one of the most valued sustainable brands.

Thankyou for reading this story!

– Lekshmi Basu, along with Baby Raghavan, Proprietor and Financial Consultant.

Our Values

Innovation at Pakaram

We believe that creativity has no boundaries. These are designs that transpired out of rigorous and constant brainstorming that took place in our backyard. We repeatedly asked ourselves- ‘What if we did it differently?’

Fearless about imperfections and asymmetry our innovative products were launched in the market.

Zero Waste Program

The residual products generated during the manufacturing process was analyzed and upcycled in all possible ways.

Some shells like top part of coconut with hole, shells that wobble etc., couldn’t be utilized for making bowls or containers. These shells labelled as trash had to be packed in sacs, cartons etc. Gradually, this started to form a landfill in our tiny backyard. Here, are some products formed out of recycling the so called waste, that we preserved.

An absolute reimagination! Shells with distinct pattern that resembles a lamp were sorted to craft this product.

Not so perfect or symmetric, but accepted by customers.

A shell type that could not be utilized much as it wobbles. A hanging pot designed for repurpose.

The Slow Art with Coconut shells

Biodegradable threads are wrapped around the shells to create colorful holders and plant pots. This weaving project was launched to promote Slow Art, which is a reflection of mindfulness. We felt ‘Being with the process’ throughout the journey of making this product.