Our Beginning...

Deep in the lush forests of the Jawadhi Hills in Tamil Nadu, India, hundreds of hamlets of the Malayali tribe are nestled into the rolling hills. This community has lived here for hundreds of years, isolated from the outside world, embedded in a rich and fascinating culture and living at one with nature.

 

They nurture an innate affinity with the forests that surround them, and have developed a rich medical system derived purely from the soothing and curative properties of abundant plants and trees of Jawadhi hills.

However, as India becomes increasingly urbanized it has become increasingly difficult for Indian tribal communities to retain their connection to their traditional land.

In order to preserve their way of life, the women of this community have learnt how to handcraft soaps from the organic ingredients of their homeland, using the profits to fund the education of their children without damaging the beautiful environment around them.

 

This, in Sanskrit, the traditional language of their ancient heritage, is ‘Zaila’.