On this Earth Day Special episode of Voices For Local, Monisha speaks to Nikita Barmecha, the co-founder of EcoRight, a brand that, in their own words, makes products that make the planet happy. They use organic materials to create sustainable, trendy bags of all kinds – from totes and crossbody bags to backpacks and grocery bags. Nikita tells Monisha about how the brand’s co-founder, her husband Udit, grew up in a household that put the Earth first, how affordability and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, and how, in a world of greenwashing, they believe in being sustainable from the ground up by putting in the work and doing it right.

To check out EcoRight’s work, log onto www.ecoright.com or follow their journey on Instagram @ecorightbags. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

On the 20th episode of Voices For Local, we’re celebrating a brand that’s commemorating its very own 20. This year marks 20 years of Kama Ayurveda, a brand that promotes India’s age-old practice of wellness through its authentically-made, luxurious products. Monisha sits down with CEO & Co-Founder Vivek Sahni, who takes her through the genesis of the brand, the extensive R&D process for Ayurveda products, how the motto for staff and marketing strategy alike is being helpful but not overbearing, innovating smartly through the move to online during the pandemic, maintaining a personal sense of balance, and taking Kama Ayurveda to shelves abroad! 

To check out Kama Ayurveda, log onto www.kamaayurveda.com or follow their journey on Instagram @kamaayurveda. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Today, on Voices For Local, Monisha takes to the hills, as she speaks to Vasanthi Veluri whose brand Peoli is based in Almora, Uttarakhand. Peoli works with artisans and farming communities of the Kumaon region, using hand spun, naturally dyed pure materials to make premium hand knit apparel. Vasanthi talks to Monisha about always putting the artisan’s needs first, reviving the craft of hand-spun wool, using natural dyes from sources like walnut hulls and flowers, and how Peoli used only harvested rainwater for an entire year.

To check out Peoli’s work, log onto www.peoli.in or follow their journey on Instagram @peolidesign. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

This week, on Voices For Local, Monisha gets chatting with Ritu Oberoi, the founder of ForSarees, a saree brand that works to revive indigenous crafts and weaves across India. Ritu tells us about her journey giving up a job in media to start her own passion project, how ForSarees works with over 300 weaver families, how she wants to keep discovering new styles and weaves across India, and how the Ekla Cholo Re collection was a milestone for her.

To check out ForSarees’ work, log onto www.forsarees.com or follow their journey on Instagram @forsarees. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Today, on Voices For Local, Monisha is joined in the studio by the Co-Founder and Head of Product Development of Veedaa, Dhruv Kohli. Dhruv tells us how Veedaa is a brand that spends practically nothing on marketing and lets the products speak for themselves. He also tells Monisha the process of developing candles that are modern renditions of traditional, familiar desi fragrances, what it’s like to compete with huge global brands, the emphasis they lay on design and data, and he explains the value of fragrance for businesses.

To check out Veedaa’s work, log onto www.veedaa.in or follow their journey on Instagram @veedaacandle. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

Partners: Shure

These sessions were recorded using Shure mics and headphones and if you think we sound good, you now know why. When it matters most to you, rely on Shure to deliver an amazing sound performance, whatever stage you’re on. Here is a list of some of the equipment we used that you may consider adding to your shopping bag. :)

MV7 - Podcast Microphone

MV7X - Podcast Microphone

SRH440 - Professional Studio Headphones

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

This week’s Voices For Local episode features Karishma Kajaria, the Founder of handmade ceramics brand Nitara. Karishma tells Monisha about her move from fashion to ceramics and how Nitara is a one-woman team. If that’s not inspiring enough, she also shares some practises at Nitara that prove how fair-trade and sustainability are not just buzzwords for her, and how she overcame people underestimating her as a young woman in business.

To check out Nitara’s work, log onto www.shopnitara.com, or follow their journey on Instagram @nitaraindia. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

On this Women’s Day Special episode of Voices For Local, Monisha gets into conversation with the Vice Chair of iconic brand Nalli Silks, Lavanya Nalli, who opens up about what it was like to grow up in a house with the Nalli legacy, and the challenges, external and internal, of taking Nalli online and replicating the Nalli in-store experience. She also talks about bridging the perception gap for younger generations and first-time sari buyers, and shares her advice to women entrepreneurs, as the first woman in the family to join the business.

Check out Nalli’s online store at nalli.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @nallisilksarees. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

On this episode of Voices For Local, Monisha chats with Gauri Malik, the founder of Sirohi, a brand supported by her non–profit, the Skilled Samaritan Foundation. Gauri speaks about Sirohi’s mission to provide income opportunities to women from marginalised communities, the resistance she faced while reaching out to these women, how she connects these artisans to designers from around the globe, and many more aspects of her journey.

To check out Sirohi’s work, log onto sirohi.org or follow their journey on Instagram @sirohi.in. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Today’s episode of Voices For Local features sister duo Kavisha & Mahima Doshi, who are not just fulfilling their mother’s dream but taking it forward with a brand they created during the lockdown. Listen to them talk to Monisha about their vision for Meghstudio, which specializes in beautiful hand-painted sarees, how they apply data science to their brand, and their advice to young, budding entrepreneurs like themselves.

To check out Meghstudio’s work, follow them on Instagram @meghstudio. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Today, on Voices For Local, we dive into the world of leather with Smriti Sain, the Founder & Creative Lead at Chiaroscuro, that makes pure leather bags and accessories. Smriti tells Monisha about their one maker, one product philosophy, using upcycled, ethical leather from tanneries across the country to reduce wastage, and the challenges of working in a male dominated industry.

To check out Chiaroscuro’s work, log onto chiaroscuro.in or follow their journey on Instagram @chiaroscurobags. And to keep up with Monisha Singh Katial, follow her on Instagram @monishasinghkatial. We would love to hear from you and your recommendations for homegrown brands that you think we should feature on our lineup of Voices For Local, so reach out to us @voicesforlocal on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host: Monisha Singh Katial (Twitter & Instagram)

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor: Kartik Kulkarni

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala