The Origin of THE THIRD SHARE

From our backyard gardens to a thriving community enterprise, our journey as Adivasi farmers embodies heart, hope, and harmony with nature. Our dream is to build a legacy for generations to come.

We offer gratitude to the land, the soil, and every living being in her balance, nurturing natural coffee, aromatic pepper, and forest honey; each reflecting our respect for life. Sharing runs deep in our spirit. With open hearts, we bring you gifts from our lands. Meet the Ippimala Third Share Producer Company, built by us; the Adivasi farmers of Gudalur and Pandalur taluks - a testament to community, compassion, and the enduring bond between people and the earth.

The story behind the brand:

The Third Share

We come from the Kattunayakan community, a tribe in the Nilgiris biosphere. Before every honey-collecting expedition, a small team from our community scouts the forest. Honey harvesting begins after Vishu (Kerala’s New Year) in April, when a larger team sets out. Since these expeditions can last from a few days to a week, we carry enough provisions with us

We climb the trees at night when the bees are less aggressive. Before climbing, we pray, ask forgiveness from the bees, and thank the tree for allowing us to access it. We remove only part of the hive, leaving behind a portion with the baby bees and some honey for them. The rest of the hive is slowly lowered using a rope and bucket.

As many people know, beehive wax is precious and often used in products like lip balm. When someone once asked us why we don’t bring out the wax for sale, we said simply: that share belongs to the bears.

And so came the Adivasi law:
The first share is for the forest, the second for our community, and the third for you.

“From the days of our ancestors we used to collect honey and bring it to the market, but the local traders will reduce the price and not give a fair price. We don’t have a choice but to give them." - Vijayan

When we shared this with our creative partners at Red Baron, they loved it and this became the inspiration for the Third Share brand.

The origin of URUMALA

“We are not scared to dream as we are in this together”  - Badichi*

22-year-old Badichi, a Bettakurumba from Erumad, Nilgiris, studied until 8th grade before discontinuing. She has worked in tea plantations and under the NREGA program, living with her mother and brother's family. An enterprising woman, she pioneered a village savings scheme now modeled across Adivasi villages in the region.

Badichi and other women worked as daily wage laborers, struggling to make ends meet. Seasonal tea estate work was backbreaking - women carried 20-40 kgs of tea leaves daily to collection points. Meanwhile, their expenses rose as vendors charged inflated prices for apparel, and they lacked bargaining power. Traveling to town meant losing a day's wage, and they knew they were being cheated.

Badichi and her friends craved opportunities beyond tea plucking with assured, stable income. While self-employment seemed an option, they needed to build confidence to negotiate the world on their own terms with dignity and pride. They approached ACCORD for support, and ten women from the Kattunayakan, Bettakurumba, and Paniya tribes became Urumala's founding members, united by their interest in tailoring and determination to do something different.

*name changed

The story behind the brand:

URUMALA

As the SHG group started operations, the question emerged: what should we name our enterprise? The women returned to the community to explore potential names. An elderly woman suggested that since they worked with fabric, why not choose a name associated with their own community traditions?

The name ‘Urumala’ is inspired by the traditional cloth tied around the waist by Paniya women (an indigenous tribe in the Nilgiris), which doubles as a pouch for carrying personal items.

Urumala, incubated under ACCORD’s Adivasi Innovation Hub, mentors Adivasi women in business and develops an environment-friendly product portfolio across four categories:

URUMALA's objective is to enable Adivasi women of Nilgiris to become entrepreneurs and role models for future generations.

  1. Home decor and Living - Table linen, Story wall mounts, Patchwork quilts, Story quilts
  2. Soft toys - Associated with the Nilgiris forests
  3. Travel - Laptop sleeves, Totes, Sling bags, Water bottle holders
  4. Personal care - Reusable sanitary pads

Inspired by the Nilgiris Biosphere's forests and mountains, the signature products are handcrafted using applique, embroidery, crochet, and patchwork.