Voices for Local with Monisha Singh Katial

We're heading down to Kochi this episode, as Monisha speaks to Zuzana Gombosova, a material researcher and designer from Slovakia, who is the co-founder of Malai, a company that designs and develops bio-based materials from Bacterial Cellulose that they grow. Zuzana tells us about the challenges of working with biodegradable materials, the fascinating production process of Malai's material made from coconut water, the experience of working with coconut processing units, and what it's like working in the sustainability space at international platforms vs in the Indian market. Check out Malai at malai.eco, and follow their journey on Instagram @malai.eco. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Voices for Local turns 50! Well, not 50 years – but 50 episodes, and we think that's something to celebrate! It's been a fun, fascinating, and fulfilling journey across the length and breadth of the country, getting to know the stories behind some incredible brands. What better way to mark the occasion than to look back at some of our favourite episodes and listen to what our favourite brands have been up to since they featured on the show?And we had to include you in our celebrations, of course! So, keep an eye out on our Instagram handle @voicesforlocal, for some special offers that these brands have got exclusively for our loyal listeners. Use the coupon code on our Instagram to avail some awesome discounts with these brands! On this episode:Nafisa Rachel William Studio Metallurgy (Advaeita Mathur) Studio Beej (Arundhati Kumar) Veedaa (Dhruv Kohli) Caught Craft Handed (Yukti & Sheela Bajaj) Bombay Shirt Company (Akshay Narvekar) Rouka (Sreejith Jeevan) Pinklay (Daisy Tanwani) Quirksmith (Divya & Pragya Batra) Subko (Rahul Reddy) 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 Engineers: Kartik Kulkarni & Lakshman Parsuram Audio Editor: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

This week, on Voices for Local, Monisha gets talking to Saarus Nirhali, the founder of Glasshopper, a Bangalore-based stained glass studio that creates suncatchers, panels, lamp-shades, tea light holders, and jewellery. Monisha asks her what it was like to leave behind a career in criminal law, how she got into stained glass, and how she sources her designs. Saarus also explains the difference between original and Tiffany style stained glass, and the challenges of working with expensive, breakable raw materials like stained glass. Check out Glasshopper at www.glasshopper.in, and follow their journey on Instagram @glasshopperindia. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Monisha chats with sibling duo Tarveen Kaur Vohra & Jasjyot Singh Hans, the co-founders of fashion brand Tappa, whose first collection features gender neutral clothes in sizes that fit all body types. They chat about how the brand started, the reaction they've received, the effectiveness of fashion as a medium of queer representation, and how their sibling relationship has improved due to the brand.  Check out Tappa at tappa.in, and follow their journey on Instagram @tappa.india. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

We're featuring a brand on Voices for Local this week that is creating quite a buzz in the beverage space with their unique catalogue of mead, the world's oldest alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with various fruits and spices. Nitin Vishwas, one of the co-founders and self-proclaimed ‘Benevolent Overlord's of the Pune-based Moonshine Meadery, joins Monisha on the show to chat about the challenges of setting up India (and Asia)'s first meadery, what's is like working with your best friend, how they support local farmers all across the country, how wild they can get while coming up with new flavours, and their plans for their newly raised capital of $2 million. Check out Moonshine Meadery at www.moonshinemeadery.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @moonshinemeadery. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

On Voices For Local this week, Monisha chats with the Co-Founder, Creative Director and Executive Chef of La Folie – Sanjana Patel herself, who opens up about her grandmother being the spark in her life and her cooking inspiration, and what it's like to marry and work with your childhood sweetheart. She also speaks about returning to India after studying abroad, being very loyal to her thoughts, and her commitment to work with Indian farmers despite the challenges. Check out La Folie at lafolie.in, and follow their journey on Instagram @lafolierealchocolate. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala Recording Engineer: Aria NanjiRecorded at Island City Studios

Monisha gets into conversation with cheesemaking brother duo, Prateeksh & Agnay Mehra, the co-founders of The Spotted Cow Fromagerie, a small creamery based in Mumbai that make handmade artisanal cheeses which are 100% vegetarian and preservative free. They tell Monisha how they went from brewing beer to making cheese, their stinky first few batches of cheese gone wrong, making Bombay versions of Camembert, Brie and Tomme de Savoie, and how the pandemic turned out to be good for business. Check The Spotted Cow Fromagerie out at www.thespottedcow.in, and follow their journey on Instagram @spottedcowfromagerie. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala Recording Engineer: Aria NanjiRecorded at Island City Studios

This week, on Voices For Local, we have Mandavi Kanchan, the Founder and Creative Head of Bruijn on the show. Bruijn offers nourishing, gourmet delights which are modern interpretations of classic dried fruits & nuts. Mandavi tells Monisha more about growing up around her family's homegrown small business, her key learnings like perseverance, adapting her father's traditional sweet treats for Bruijn, getting inspired by global cuisine such as Iran's ranginak while supporting local farmers, and the impact of sociopolitical and environmental issues on business. Check Bruijn out at bruijn.in, and follow their journey on Instagram @bruijn.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: Kartik Kulkarni Audio Editor: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

On this episode of Voices For Local, Monisha continues her foray into the F&B industry, by speaking to the founder of a brand that's been on everyone's mind, everyone's lips and everyone's Instagram feeds. We have Rahul Reddy, Co-Founder of Subko Specialty Coffee Roasters on the show this week, and he opens up to Monisha about Subko was created to be a bigger movement than just a business for him, he shares the story behind the name Subko, how he travelled to Auroville to find his co-founder Daniel Trulson, the challenges of starting in Bombay, falling in love with an old Goan-Portuguese house in Bandra, and he give Monisha an exclusive hint at a new line of Subko delicacies coming soon. Check Subko out at www.subko.coffee, and follow their journey on Instagram @subkocoffee. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

We're travelling in a new direction on this episode, and not just because the brand we're featuring on the show today is based in Kashmir. Happy to announce that Voices For Local will now be eating and drinking its way into the food & beverage industry! To kick this off, Monisha speaks to Chris Zandee, the founder of Himalayan Products, who makes natural artisan cheese from fresh Himalayan milk. It's a story of a Dutchman who combines Dutch and local cheesemaking traditions to empower communities with their own skill-sets. Chris gives us a background on the kinds of cheese he makes, the lessons he learnt while setting up a business as a foreigner in India, and how the pandemic impacted his business in the mountains. To check out Himalayan Products' work, log onto their website himalayancheese.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @himalayancheese. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

This week, on Voices For Local, Monisha gets into conversation with Samriddh Burman, founder of The Burlap People, that works with third and fourth generation indigenous craftspeople to develop aesthetically pleasing, high quality, sustainable-crafted products made out of natural fibres such as jute and cotton, combined with salvaged leather. Samriddh gives us a background on jute and how they use it, how they involve customers in the creative process, how their artisans are like family to them, and how “sustainable”, “organic”, “fair trade”, “biodegradable”, and “green” are not just buzzword for them, as they learn and improve their eco-friendly journey every day. To check out The Burlap People's work, log onto their website www.theburlappeople.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @theburlappeople. 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: Lakshman Parsuram Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Today, on Voices For Local, Monisha speaks to Santanu Das, the founder of Maku Textiles, a textile and clothing label that has its roots in the slow fiber movement and the use of handwoven cloth. Santanu explains his emotional connect to jamdani and Dhakai, creating a global community of clients, why he wanted to revive an artform like Tangail, having a collaborative working relationship with weavers, and how Maku fabric found its way onto Game of Thrones. To check out Maku Textiles' work, follow their journey on Instagram @makutextiles. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

On this episode, Monisha chats with Tanvi Agarwal, the Founder and Creative Head at House of Ekam, that curates a catalogue of one of a kind, handcrafted home furnishings & decor directly sourced directly from artisans across India. Tanvi tells us about how her father instilled the importance of financial independence in her, on her sourcing experiences travelling across the country, encouraging the value of handmade products in India's price sensitive market, the journey of taking her products international, the importance of celebrities supporting local brands, and a lesson she learnt the hard way. To check out House of Ekam's work, log onto their website www.houseofekam.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @houseofekam. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Monisha gets into conversation with Poornima Garg, the owner and creative head of Home Neera, a brand that creates handwoven art dhurries inspired by everyday narratives, on this episode of Voices For Local. Poornima gives us a background on what these traditional handwoven rugs really are, the moment she got her first dhurrie made, the birth of Home Neera as a brand, convincing the women of Punjab to weave dhurries professionally, and a turning point in her life as a mother. To check out Home Neera's work, log onto their website www.homeneera.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @home.neera. 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: Aditya Arya Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

This week, on Voices For Local, Monisha gets into conversation with Mallika Reddy, who believes cancelled plans lead to the best outcomes. Naturally, she named her sustainable streetwear fashion brand… you guessed it – Cancelled Plans. She tells Monisha what it's like experimenting and using unconventional materials, like the time she created a jacket made out of condoms. Monisha asks her how her artisans adapt to new, unfamiliar materials, why she loves collaborating, and how to be truly sustainable while running a viable business.  To check out Cancelled Plans' work, log onto their website www.cancelledplans.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @cancelledplans.club. 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 Dhruva Patel. She is the founder of Studio Wildflower, a home decor and accessories studio based in Ahmedabad, that hand crafts ceramicware, rugs, scarfs, glassware, and tableware, inspired by nature. Monisha asks her about how her tryst with ceramics began, and feeling connected to nature by using the four elements in her ceramics production process. To check out Studio Wildflower's work, log onto their website www.studiowildflowerbydhruva.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @studiowildflowerbydhruva. 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

Voices For Local heads (virtually, of course) to the Northeastern state of Mizoram on this episode, as we meet Patricia Zadeng, the founder of Lapâr, a contemporary textile brand. Patricia tells Monisha more about the meaning behind the name Lapâr, the significance of the Mizo puan and how long it takes to weave one, the challenges local Mizo weaver women have to go through, and how she aims to make traditional weaves reach a wider market. To check out Lapâr's work, follow them on Instagram @laparclothing. 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 Voices for Local this week, Monisha is joined by Kevisedenuo Margaret Zinyu from Kohima Nagaland. She is the founder of Woven Threads, a design initiative to encourage, support and mentor the women of Nagaland to sustain their roots by preserving the unique tradition of weaving. Margaret opens up to Monisha about her move from the corporate world to home decor, gives us a look into Nagaland's handicrafts, reveals one thing interior design borrowed from the automobile industry, and shares her appeal for people to appreciate the amount of effort behind the loin loom. To check out Woven Threads' work, log onto their website woventhreads.in, and follow their journey on Instagram @woventhreads.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: Kartik Kulkarni Audio Editor: Yash Hirave Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Husein Haveliwala

Monisha speaks to mother-daugher duo Indu Menon and Chitra Gopalakrishnan on this episode of Voices for Local. They are the co-founders of Kara Weaves, a social enterprise working with co-operatives in Kerala to create fair-trade handwoven textiles. They share what it's been like working with over 800 weavers from these local weaving co-ops across the state, how they reinvented the traditional Kerala thorthu by going back to its properties, and the importance of finding a global market for local products. To check out Kara Weaves work, log onto their website www.karaweaves.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @karaweaves. 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, on Voices for Local, Monisha has sister duo Divya & Pragya Batra on the show to talk about their handcrafted silver jewellery brand Quirksmith. They narrate the story behind their design philosophy "Apne jazbaat peheniye", and why Divya zeroed in on working with silver. Pragya tells us more about their best-sellers, and they share some advice for art-oriented and creative entrepreneurs. To check out Quirksmith's work, log onto their website quirksmith.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @quirksmithjewelry. 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, let's see how a Delhi-based design studio takes the humble chair and makes it into a signature piece of art for your very own living room. Monisha chats with the founder of limón, Aradhana Anand, who tells her what got her thinking about upholstering Indian handloom saris onto chairs, how she decides which weaves to patch together onto a chair, where she sources them from, and takes us through her production process. To check out limón's work, log onto their website limon-design.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @limonstory. 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, on Voices for Local, Monisha is in conversation with Daisy Tanwani, the Founder & CEO of Pinklay, a brand dealing in comfortable clothing and striking home furnishings. Daisy tells Monisha what it's like to work with the director of her company (who also happens to be her husband), facing regressive gender roles and prejudice from suppliers, vendors and artisans while starting Pinklay, how entrepreneurship is a lonely journey, and the balance of being patient while having ambitious impatience. To check out Pinklay's work, log onto their website pinklay.com, and follow their journey on Instagram @pinklayindia. 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

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

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

On this episode of Voices For Local, Monisha speaks to the CEO of handloom luxury brand Ekaya, Palak Shah, who comes from generations in the textile industry. She tells us how her family has maintained close relationships with weavers and their families for generations, how she maintains the balance between customer demands and showcasing her own creativity, how to promote traditional fabrics to younger consumers, and innovating with a young team to promote an age-old artform. To check out Ekaya's work, log onto www.ekaya.in or follow their journey on Instagram @ekayabanaras. 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 a very special story from the small town of Bhujodi, one of the major textile and craft centres of the Bhuj region in Kutch. Here, Ashok Siju, brings together his family heritage of weaving with his newfound love for indigo dyeing. He tells Monisha about how he got into natural dyes, the process of indigo harvesting & dyeing, putting fabric & stitch quality first while creating hand-stitched indigo-dyed clothes, and how he uses social media to keep the indigo dyeing tradition alive by encouraging people to try it out themselves.   To check out Jeevan Indigo's work, visit their Instagram handle @jeevan_indigo_clothing and follow Ashok's indigo journey on Instagram @siju_7. 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

The guest on this episode of Voices For Local chose to follow her passion of showcasing the weaves of her home state Assam to the world, in turn giving local weavers the opportunity to earn a livelihood. Shravanti Borah speaks to Monisha about her brand Enajori, her fascination with the thread and the sound of the looms, the significance of weaving in Assamese society, how the pandemic forced weavers to find other sources of income, protecting the age-old tradition of weaving, and how international buyers understand the value of handmade weaves. To check out Enajori's work, log onto enajori.co.in or follow their journey on Facebook. 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