On Shark Tank India Season 4, judge Anupam Mittal was deeply moved by the story of Iaishah Rymbai, a single mother of four from Meghalaya. With no financial backing or safety net, she built Eri Weave, a business not just for survival but to empower women who, like her, had been told their dreams ended at their doorstep.
“A single mom with 4 girls. No financial backing. No safety net. Born in a small village in Meghalaya, she scraped by on a meagre income, barely managing to put food on the table. And yet—she built a business called Eri Weave. Not just to survive, but to help other women like her. Women who had been told their future ended at their doorstep. As I listened to her story, something inside me shifted,” read Anupam Mittal’s post on Linkedin.
Overcoming adversity to build a legacy
Born and raised in a small village in Meghalaya, Iaishah struggled to make ends meet. With minimal income, she fought hard to provide for her children. But she had a bigger vision—to revive the centuries-old Eri silk weaving heritage while creating sustainable livelihoods for local women artisans.
What is Eri Weave?
Iaishah’s story and business resonated deeply with the Sharks. Her commitment to handcrafted, organic Eri silk products and women’s empowerment led Anupam Mittal and Namita Thapar to offer a joint deal of Rs 20 lakh for 12% equity in Eri Weave.
Eri Weave is more than just a silk brand; it is a movement towards sustainable fashion and empowerment. By engaging women artisans to craft high-quality silk from locally reared silkworms, Iaishah is fostering self-reliance and preserving Meghalaya’s rich weaving traditions.
As Anupam Mittal aptly put it, “Agar mauka hi nahi milega, toh chauka kaise lagega? (Most times, the difference between success and failure is simply an opportunity).”