Born in 1950, Mr. Karappan began his life in the cattle fields before discovering his true calling in weaving at the age of 12, apprenticing alongside his brothers in Mookanur. Eager to refine his craft, he moved to Bangalore at 24 to master silk saree weaving, harness building, and handloom techniques.

In 1977, he returned to Sirumugai with a bold vision. Starting with just one loom at home, he sourced raw materials from Bangalore and began selling his creations—at a time when Sirumugai had no handloom shops. His entrepreneurial spirit not only launched a personal journey but helped ignite the transformation of Sirumugai into the vibrant handloom city it is today.