Entrepreneurial bug, they say, can push you to think beyond ordinary; two college friends from Kerala's capital city, Thiruvananthapuram, took the challenge head-on to come up with an innovative idea that has the potential to transform the textile industry. And they did it with the ubiquitous PET bottles.

Armed only with their engineering degrees and a meagre capital they garnered as gig workers, Vishnu Girija Gopal and his friend Jithu GS, set out to make fabric out of recycled plastic bottles and bamboo pulp. They have not only delivered on their promises of creating breathable and comfortable clothes but have also taken them on the path of revolutionising the apparel market.

"The challenges were many, but we never gave up. We were determined to make it happen," Vishnu told Onmanorama. 'Naeth' is the fruit of their undying dream.

The beginning
After completing BTech in mechanical engineering from Mohandas College of Engineering, Nedumangad, Vishnu, a native of Kanjirampara, and Jithu, from Petta, decided to merge technical innovation with fashion by creating textiles that could replace conventional fabrics like cotton and polyester—without harming the ecosystem.

Executing the idea was not the first challenge they faced. Coming from middle-class families, raising capital proved to be a bigger hurdle. They pooled their investments and the money saved from gig works to collect ₹30,000.

Then they struck a deal with a Malayali in Tirupur to produce sample T-shirts. Unfortunately, the man cheated them after they had paid him. That could have crushed their dream. But giving up was no answer.

“We were devastated, but we knew that wasn’t the end. We pushed harder and eventually found a genuine partner in Tirupur — Binoy, who became our saviour. With his help, we brought out our first branded T-shirt,” Vishnu said.

“Our idea was to make sustainable clothing because the textile industry contributes significantly to environmental waste. Although we had the vision, we were initially unclear about how to execute it," he recalled.

In December 2022, the duo officially launched 'Naeth' with the tagline “Woven to Speak.”

Their first products were cotton T-shirts featuring creative designs, including hand-painted and embroidered elements. "But we never let go of our core mission," he said.

"Our vision was to establish a business that guarantees sustainability while promoting India’s art, and our mission was to create a sustainable fabric by recycling plastic.

"In 2023, I joined an MTech in Renewable Energy at CTET, Thiruvananthapuram. Balancing studies right after launching a business was a tough decision, but Jithu managed operations brilliantly while I focused on developing fabric from plastic waste. The guidance from the department, especially from Professor Mathew, Sasi sir and Baiju sir, was invaluable,” Vishnu recalled.

For them, 'Naeth' was not just a brand, but also a collaboration with a community of artists, where every piece of clothing tells a story — from Onam to Che Guevara’s 'Motorcycle Diaries'.

The shining moment came when Bollywood actor-director Anurag Kashyap wore a 'Naeth' T-shirt at a public function. For Vishnu and Jithu, this recognition felt like winning a top award. Today, they operate from 'Naeth'’s office at Vazhuthacaud.

PET to fabric
It takes around 10 PET bottles to make yarn for a T-shirt. The crushed bottles are blended with bamboo pulp, in an 85:15 per cent ratio, to develop the yarn. Locally collected bottles are shredded into fine particles before being turned into fabric. Although it resembles polyester in appearance, the addition of bamboo makes it softer and more skin-friendly, according to the young entrepreneurs.

Currently, they rely on companies in North India for the process, as the required advanced machinery is not available in Kerala. Now, the duo and their team are preparing to launch their very first batch of plastic-based T-shirts this September.

Beyond PET
Beyond developing new fabric, 'Naeth'’s focus remains on sustainability. “The idea is to give plastic a second life by converting it into one of the most demanded products. While the fabric isn’t 100 per cent biodegradable, it is far more sustainable than polyester,” explained the founders.

A sample of this innovative fabric was recently showcased at the Kerala Innovation Festival in Thiruvananthapuram.

The brand name comes from the Egyptian goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handicraft - Neith. The goddess’s face is depicted in the logo.

Collab with artists, weavers
For Vishnu and Jithu, 'Naeth' is not just a clothing brand but a community of artists. Its unique designs celebrate Kerala’s culture and promote India’s ancient design traditions.

Speaking about their Onam project, Vishnu said 'Naeth' is collaborating with the traditional weavers of Balaramapuram.
“The traditional weaving community is disappearing from Kerala’s handloom villages. Balaramapuram once had around 1,500 weavers, but now only about 10 families continue the craft. Our aim is to revive Balaramapuram’s handloom tradition through our designs,” he said.

From once being unemployed village youths delivering food on scooters, they have transformed into entrepreneurs whose brand now generates an annual turnover of ₹15 lakh. Today, 'Naeth' outfits make people across the globe look trendy and classy.