Our Story
Aliya Blue was created with the purpose of giving back to the environment and empowering local artisans of Sri Lanka. It is an avenue for them to support, not just themselves and their families, but also their communities.
In a Nutshell…
Focused on Sustainability
We promote the use of sustainable alternatives to plastic. All our products are created ethically using natural and sustainable materials, with a lot of love for the planet. All our packing is done with sustainable materials too.
Empowering Artisan Communities
Aliya Blue was founded with the purpose of providing a venue for artisans in Sri Lanka to showcase their unique products and skills to the world. It is a path for them to support, not just themselves and their families, but also their communities.
Inspired by Sri Lankan Culture
All our products are designed and inspired by the captivating culture, rich history, and vibrant island life of Sri Lanka.
Take a piece of paradise with you.
Who We Are
My name is Thushari Siriwardhane Aniban, born in Sri Lanka, raised internationally but always with my heart in Sri Lanka. I live in Las Vegas with my husband, daughter & son. My career has been in banking but during a visit to Sri Lanka in 2019 my perspective on what I wanted to do going forward changed dramatically. With the smallest of steps, starting with me personally, my family and I decided we were going to do our utmost to make as minimal an impact to the environment as possible.
Being Inspired
The inspiration came to me when I came across a number of artisans in Sri Lanka whose livelihood had been impacted by the tragic Easter Sunday terror attacks in Colombo, and currently the ongoing pandemic. These craftspeople were creating a variety of beautiful products using natural materials and repurposing other materials. The idea of conservation was second nature to them. Yet there was no real exposure for their talents and they were struggling to survive.
How It Began
We created Aliya Blue to give these artisans an avenue to showcase their incredible craftsmanship and offer their products to a global market. We began with re-usable eco-friendly bags that has now evolved to include a wide range of products. We buy what the artisan community produce. All our products are created by hand with care, attention and minimal impact to the environment. This means each piece is unique and there will never be a hundred pieces of one item.
What started out as a simple idea of introducing eco-friendly bags to the US, turned into a showcase for Sri Lanka’s unique artisanal handcrafts. Working with a number of people in Sri Lanka from advocates of the artisans to the artisans themselves, we were able to launch Aliya Blue in September 2020. They have been working through the challenges of the pandemic to ensure their products are made on time and to the highest quality.
We hope to continue developing our brand while striking a balance between supporting the artisans and impacting the environment.
