Selyn Textiles: Fair Trade, Big Impact

🧵 Selyn Textiles: Weaving Equity, Craft, and Social Innovation in Sri Lanka

In the heart of Sri Lanka’s vibrant craft industry, Selyn Textiles has emerged as a beacon of fair trade, ethical fashion, and women’s empowerment. Founded over three decades ago by Selyna's mother, a visionary lawyer turned entrepreneur, Selyn has grown from a small handloom workshop to one of Sri Lanka’s most recognised ethical textile brands. Today, under Selyna’s leadership, the company is not only preserving traditional Sri Lankan handloom textiles but also revolutionising how social enterprises operate in the global market.

👩‍👧 The Origins: A Mother's Vision, A Daughter’s Legacy

Selyn Textiles was born from a powerful intersection of personal commitment and social purpose. Amid Sri Lanka’s political turmoil 35 years ago, Selyna Peiris's mother established a handloom workshop to create sustainable livelihoods for women in her village. What began as a grassroots initiative quickly evolved into a structured enterprise—named "Selyn" after Selyna herself—focused on economic empowerment through craft.

This foundational story embodies the core values of fair trade, community resilience, and ethical entrepreneurship that continue to guide the company today.

🤝 Workers’ Equity: The Ethical Middle Path

At the core of Selyn’s operations is its unwavering commitment to workers’ rights and equity. Unlike many craft-based businesses, Selyn prioritises the needs of its artisans—ensuring fair wages, consistent work, and long-term stability. The business operates as what Selyna calls the “equitable middle,” bridging the gap between skilled artisans and international markets without compromising worker dignity.

In an industry often dominated by competition, Selyn fosters collaboration over rivalry, supporting even their competitors to grow the overall sector. This holistic approach has made the brand a model for ethical business in Sri Lanka.

🎨 The Design Process: Collaboration at its Core

Selyn Textiles thrives on a collaborative design model, partnering with designers while empowering artisans to contribute creatively. Although Selyna doesn’t position herself as a designer, her leadership ensures that creativity aligns with market needs and financial sustainability.

This balanced approach challenges the romanticisation of craft, recognizing that for most artisans, what matters most is not creative freedom but consistent income, dignity in labor, and long-term job security.

🌱 The PAD Project: Tackling Period Poverty Through Innovation

Innovation at Selyn extends beyond textiles. With the launch of the PAD Project, Selyna is leading efforts to combat period poverty in Sri Lanka. Originally conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic to address supply chain shortages, the project now produces reusable sanitary pads, offering women both employment and menstrual hygiene solutions.

This groundbreaking initiative is now a standalone enterprise within the Selyn ecosystem, demonstrating the brand’s potential to tackle broader social justice and public health issues while remaining rooted in ethical enterprise.

🔮 Future Goals: Scaling Ethical Impact

Selyna Paris envisions a future where Selyn continues to scale its operations—locally and globally—while staying true to its ethical roots. With projects like the PAD initiative and a growing focus on sustainable design, Selyn is redefining what it means to be a Sri Lankan social enterprise in the 21st century.

From textiles to women's health, Selyn is creating systems of support, equity, and innovation that extend far beyond its original mission.

📌 Key Takeaways

Selyn Textiles is a pioneering fair trade brand focused on handloom textiles and community empowerment in Sri Lanka.
Founded by a female lawyer during a time of national crisis, the company has grown into a symbol of ethical fashion and social innovation.
Its unique model promotes workers' equity, collaborative design, and sustainable entrepreneurship.
Projects like the PAD initiative reflect the brand’s commitment to gender equity and public health.
Under the leadership of Selyna Paris, Selyn is poised to expand its impact across global markets while preserving Sri Lanka’s rich craft heritage.

PODCAST Apple episode here / Spotify Episode here

About Selyna Peiris

Selyna Peiris (Attorney-at-Law) is a social entrepreneur and development practitioner driving several women-led social enterprises in Sri Lanka. She is the Director of Business Development at Selyn, the country’s only Fair Trade guaranteed textile craft company, and the Founder CEO of FemmeCare, a leading provider of sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions.

As Director of the Selyn Foundation, she also co-leads the #BleedGood Movement, a multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to ending period poverty in Sri Lanka. Selyna serves on multiple national and international boards and committees, including the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the World Fair Trade Organization. With a background in law, government, and grassroots advocacy, she is a passionate champion for equitable development and women’s empowerment across South Asia.

Websites: www.selyn.lk, www.selynfoundation.org Facebook & IG: @selynfairtrade; @selynfoundation