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Teacher to Terracotta Queen: How One Bangalore Mom Built an Ethnic Handmade Jewellery Brand From Her Kitchen Table
• Chaitra Divate • Category: Udyoginis Stories/ Stories
• 7 min read • Dec 29, 2025
Sushma, the founder of Glamvila
The clay was still soft under her fingers when the phone rang.
Another friend asked if she could make a pendant that matched her wedding saree. Sushma smiled, wiping terracotta dust onto her apron. This was not unusual anymore. What had started as a quiet creative habit had begun to interrupt her days, gently but persistently.
Just three years ago, she was a school teacher in Bangalore, moving between lesson plans, classrooms, and parent-teacher meetings. Somewhere in between, a dream stayed tucked away. It whispered every time she passed a craft store. It reminded her of who she was before routine took over.
Today, that whisper has become Glamvila, a growing ethnic handmade jewellery brand shipping across India. The journey from classroom to kiln was not clean or linear. It was uncertain, deeply personal, and built with courage she did not know she had.
This is her story.
The Accidental Entrepreneur and the Pull of Creativity
Sushma was born and brought up in Bangalore in a simple, supportive family. Her father was known for his strong work ethic and community-driven values. Her mother was artistic and creative, someone who worked with her hands and imagination. That influence stayed with Sushma long before she could put a name to it.
After marriage, she chose stability and became a schoolteacher. On paper, everything was fine. But emotionally, something felt unfinished.
“My love for art and craft was always there, and I was always feeling that I’m not doing anything related to that,” she says.
Terracotta jewellery entered her life casually. She began making pieces for friends who loved wearing handcrafted designs. These were not products yet. They were expressions. Slowly, friends wore her creations to weddings and family functions. Questions followed. Requests multiplied. Word of mouth did what no marketing plan could.
“I never had any intention of starting my own business or anything. I was always missing that passion,” she reflects.
Without realising it, she had stepped into the world of ethnic handmade jewellery, guided purely by instinct.
One Wedding Order That Changed Everything
The moment that shifted everything came through a wedding.
One of Sushma’s friends wore her terracotta jewellery to a marriage function. The bride’s mother noticed it immediately. What followed was a bulk order for a North Indian Sangeet ceremony, where the jewellery would be given as return gifts.
It was her first large order. It came with deadlines, pressure, and expectations. But it also came with clarity.
“That was when I felt I could do it, and I can go ahead with my creative passion to pursue it as a business,” she says.
She completed the order on time. The feedback was positive. Confidence replaced hesitation.
“I wanted it to convert it into a business more than a hobby.”
Quitting her teaching job was not easy. Family support made that decision possible. What started as an artistic outlet was now becoming a serious step into the fashion business.
Facing Gender Bias in a Male-Dominated Market
While her family stood firmly behind her, the outside world was less welcoming.
Sourcing raw materials meant navigating male-dominated wholesale markets. Being taken seriously was not guaranteed.
“When they see a female customer, we don’t get the same prominence as they give it for the male,” she explains.
Initially, it was overwhelming. Speaking up did not come naturally. She gradually came to understand that silence carried a price. She began asking questions, demanding to see products, and holding her ground. Over time, dealers adjusted. Respect followed persistence.
With no formal business background, she learned everything on the job. Running a home-based handicraft operation brought its own challenges. Space constraints during bulk orders. Managing time between family and work. Learning, packaging, and logistics through trial and error.
She even tested shipments by sending products to her mother first.
“Initially, it was very tough for me. As I didn’t have any business background. Family is what helped me a lot.”
The Glamvila Promise in Ethnic Handmade Jewellery
At its core, Glamvila is about trust.
Every product is manufactured in-house. Quality is never compromised. Customised jewellery allows customers to choose designs that suit both their taste and budget. This flexibility has become a defining feature of the brand within the Indian jewellery space.
Most orders come through word of mouth. Customer satisfaction is non-negotiable.
“Once they place the order, till the product reaches them and they say it’s nice, I keep following up.”
Shipments are tracked personally. Customers are contacted after delivery. Damaged items are handled without argument. Product photos are never edited.
“What you see is what you get,” she believes.
This honest approach has reduced returns and built long-term loyalty in the ethnic handmade jewellery market.
How E-commerce Helped a Home Brand Grow Nationwide
For years, Glamvila operated entirely from home. Then the pandemic changed everything.
With the world at a standstill, Sushma leaped e-commerce, taking her brand from a local favourite to a national name. Glamvila is now available on Amazon, Flipkart, Mintori, JioMart, and through its own website. E-commerce expanded her reach beyond Karnataka to cities like Delhi and even Kashmir.
“Through e-commerce, I was able to connect with many of them.”
Networking with women entrepreneur organisations such as WEN India and E-Merge played a key role. These communities opened new doors. Soon, boutiques and craft stores were reaching out for custom jewellery, turning her local passion into a thriving network of partnerships.
Some early customers moved cities but continued ordering. Today, while Glamvila remains home-based, plans are in motion to explore global markets. Her husband, a software engineer, supports the digital and technical side of e-commerce growth.
Recognition That Made the Struggle Worth It
Awards marked an emotional milestone in her journey.
Receiving recognition from WEN India and the Business Excellence Award from E-Merge validated years of unseen effort.
“When I received the award from WEN India, that was one of the proudest moments,” she says.
This recognition did more than just boost her visibility. It proved that her passion for handicrafts and fashion truly made an impact.
“It showed that I can go ahead. My journey has been one to look out for, and it got featured on their platforms.”
The Family Behind the Brand
Behind Glamvila stands a strong support system.
“If I am successful today, it is all because of my husband’s support and help, including the finances and everything.”
The business was fully funded by family support. Her mother assists during bulk orders. A small team of women help with production. Delivery and finance support keep operations running smoothly.
Women entrepreneur networks provided mentorship and exposure. Glamvila is proof that small business ideas for women grow faster when support is shared.
Balancing Life, Work, and Consistency
Running a business from home demands structure.
Sushma plans her next day every night. She sets clear priorities and fixed work hours. Boundaries protect both family life and creativity.
Consistency, patience, and learning define her mindset. During the pandemic, there were months with zero sales in the Indian jewellery.
“That was when I did not give up.” Resilience kept her moving when results did not.
Her Message to Women Who Are Hesitating
You do not need capital to begin.
WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram allow businesses to start with minimal investment. E-commerce has lowered entry barriers for women entrepreneurs in India.
“Passion will always make business successful.”
She believes every woman entrepreneur has something to learn from another. Understanding government schemes is a powerful tool for women. This awareness helps them overcome common challenges and secure the funding they need to grow.
“If they do it with that passion and love for their art and craft, they will definitely be successful.”
Conclusion: From Kitchen Table to Possibility
Instead of hiding her craft between teaching schedules, Sushma now shapes dreams into reality every day. Glamvila is not just about terracotta or ethnic handmade jewellery. It is about listening to a calling that refused to stay quiet.
It is about turning “I never planned this” into “I cannot imagine doing anything else.”
When a package reaches Kashmir, or a bride in Delhi sends a message of gratitude, she remembers the first friend who wore her jewellery to a wedding. That moment started it all.
This is not the end of the story. This is Sushma, clay in hand, creating the next chapter.
If she can launch a handmade jewellery brand from her kitchen table in Bangalore, imagine what you can dream up from yours.
Your passion is not a hobby.
It is a business waiting to happen.