Voices for Local with Monisha Singh Katial

For this episode of Voices for Local, Monisha makes her way down the Malabar coast to Kerala, to speak to Sreejith Jeevan, the Founder and Head of Design, Rouka. He tells Monisha about how he started to look at a Kasavu sari through a global lens, how he aims to making it relevant in more ways than one, making Indian festivals his muse, and challenging narratives that craft should never change. Sreejith also reveals how the pandemic took him back to his roots while reaching more customers directly.

To check out Rouka’s work, log onto their website shoprouka.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @roukabysreejithjeevan. 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: Kartik Kulkarni

Audio Editor: Yash Hirave

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Today, on Voices for Local, Monisha is back with a brand that makes her favourite outfit ever - the sari. She speaks to the co-founders of Suta, Sujata and Taniya Biswas, who gave up their corporate life to pursue their passion. The sister duo tells Monisha what it was like to grow up in Odisha and West Bengal seeing women wear saris everyday, how they manage to work with around 16,000 weavers and artisans across the country, how they resolve fights between each other, and how creating a happy, inclusive and open work environment has been one of their biggest milestones.

To check out Suta’s work, log onto their website suta.in, and follow their journey on Instagram @suta_bombay. 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: Kartik Kulkarni

Audio Editor: Yash Hirave

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

On this episode of Voices For Local, Monisha gets into conversation with Shaan Shah, the co-founder of denim apparel brand FREAKINS. Shaan opens up about being an entrepreneur in his early 20s, entering the D2C (direct-to-consumer) space, and starting the brand to address the issue of denims from international brands not catering to the body type and skin tones of Indian women. He also tells us more about FREAKINS Art, a collection that is in collaboration with established and upcoming artists across India to translate their art into final wearable products, thereby monetizing their work. 

To check out FREAKINS’ work, log onto their website www.freakins.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @freakinsindia. 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: Kartik Kulkarni

Audio Editor: Yash Hirave

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

This week, Monisha is looking at walls. No, really. Voices For Local steps into the world of home decor on this episode, as Monisha speaks to the Founder & Managing Partner of Kalakaari Haath, Sahiba Madan. Kalakaari Haath is a design studio that makes beautiful wallpapers, wall arts and decals in traditional prints. Sahiba tells Monisha about using design as a medium of storytelling, the story behind her brand name, balancing her designers’ artistic freedom and her clients’ vision, and how she wants to make walls more spatial and interactive elements in peoples’ homes.

To check out Kalakaari Haath’s work, log onto their website kalakaarihaath.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @KalakaariHaath. 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: Kartik Kulkarni

Audio Editor: Yash Hirave

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Husein Haveliwala

 

On the show today, Monisha is in conversation with Saumya Somesh, the marketing coordinator of Ahilya, a hand-painted apparel brand established only last year by her mother Shalini Jain. Aiming to combine India’s century old weaving traditions with contemporary style, Saumya tells us the journey of setting up Ahilya – the brainchild of a non-profit with the aim of providing women with new skill sets and employment opportunities, making them self-sufficient.

To check out Ahilya’s work follow them on Instagram @shopahilya. 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 feature the first online custom shirt brand in India – Bombay Shirt Company. Its dynamic founder Akshay Narvekar speaks to Monisha about gamifying the process of custom-designing your own shirt using a unique algorithm, making it through a pandemic in which people were stuck at home not wearing shirts to work or parties, acquiring brands looking to scale up and giving them a platform, putting customer care and after sales service over digital marketing and content creation, and what keeps him going during trying times. He also opens up about his reading and splurging habits, and what kind of boss he is! To check out Bombay Shirt Company’s work, log onto their website www.bombayshirts.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @bombayshirts. 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 gets into conversation with dadi-poti duo from Delhi, Sheela & Yukti Bajaj, who started Caught Craft Handed during the lockdown. Sheela knits and crochets a whole range of “handcrafted with love” products, while her granddaughter Yukti runs the business through social media. They tell me about their most popular products, their biggest challenge, giving more Dadis and Nanis a new lease of life by working with them, and share their dreams of taking the brand international.

To check out Caught Craft Handed’s work, follow their journey on Instagram @caughtcrafthanded. 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 chats with Kena Shah, the founder of the Ahmedabad-based trendy clothing brand Inara. Kena shares stories of growing up always trying to upgrade her school uniform with folds and knots, which then manifested in doing a fashion-based project during her MBA, and finally in her own label. She also told Monisha about the emphasis on fabrics at Inara, following colour palettes, and how they adapted during the pandemic.

To check out Inara’s work, follow them on Instagram @inarabykenashah. 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 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