Fashion That Connects People and The Planet with WeAreLabeless

“It takes a collective mindset to fix it.” - Anjana Aravind 

We all feel the weight of climate change from time to time (or daily!) as we try to take in the size of the problem and how to solve it. Now imagine being in it, everyday, as a climate researcher and seeing first hand what’s really going on with our planet.

In this episode, Anjana Aravind joins the Curated Consciously podcast to break down the misconceptions about climate change, and how our systems, consumer choices, and the media play vital roles in the health of our planet.

Anjana works as a climate researcher for a wind energy consultancy where she studies how large-scale climate phenomena affect client sites, which are mostly focused on the global tropics, and wind farm performance and associated risks. She has previously worked on Antarctic ice shelf modelling at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, worked within the Climate Change Research Center in Germany, and studied the effects of southern ocean warming on global rising sea levels in Sydney, Australia. 

Anjana’s love for the oceans has led her to work at the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa. Last year, she was the only person of Indian nationality who was selected for a marine research expedition across the Atlantic Ocean organized by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany. 

Aside from her corporate job, she is a columnist for Law & Order, an online academic publication where she posts articles on the relation between socio-economic systems and climate change.

In this episode, Anjana and Jazz dive into:

• Three common misconceptions about climate change.
• Identifying the many diverse and systemic issues that impact the future of our planet.
• How we, as individuals, can do our part in tackling climate change.

Connect with Anjana on LinkedIn and Instagram, and read her work on Law & Order.

Continue the conversation with us on the Conscious Bad Asses Facebook group and follow along at @curatedconsciously.

Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.

In episode 31 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Jitendra and Shivani Sinha, co-founders of SAI Sustainable Agro.

SAI Sustainable Agro is a social venture working to improve the livelihoods of tribal and marginalized farmers in Odisha, India, using agroforestry to redevelop degraded land.

The goal: to develop a truly inclusive and sustainable business model that uplifts marginalized people and farmers worldwide. 

Jitendra is a veteran of the agricultural industry in India and a passionate social entrepreneur. His diverse career has included serving as International Chief Technical Advisor to UNDP/GEF and Ministry of Agriculture to the Government of Iran. 

In 2019, he co-founded SAI-Social Purpose Corporation (SAI-SPC) in America, and has been replicating his agroforestry model across Africa in Uganda, Ghana and South Africa.  

In his spare time, he mentors entrepreneurs in resilient agriculture supply chain development across Asia and Africa. 

Shivani has been working passionately on women and children issues since 1999. She initially worked as Vice Principal of an educational institution before moving working in the NGO sector to focus on healthcare for women and children. She currently leads SAI Sustainable Agro’s initiatives to improve healthcare and education for the tribal communities they work with in Odisha.

Prepare for a fully packed episode as Jitendra helps simplify how SAI’s agroforestry model operates, and how their framework continues to support marginalised farmers and be self-sustainable (even during COVID-19).

In this episode, Jitendra, Shivani and I dive into:

• The disconnect between levels of government, nonprofits, and NGOs working with marginalized communities.
• The need to create sustainable jobs in tribal and marginalized communities that foster localization.
• Reconnecting city dwellers to where their food comes from and the people who fuel our agriculture system.

Connect with Jitendra and Shivani, and learn more about SAI Sustainable Agro, at sai-agro.org and on YouTube and Facebook.

In episode 30 of the Impact India podcast, I welcome back Kriti Tula, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Doodlage.

Doodlage is a fashion brand based in New Delhi working with post-production and post-consumer textile waste to curate womens, mens, and accessory collections.

During the pandemic, Doodlage has been working to partner with homegrown brands aligned with their upcycling and zero waste values. Their most recent collection Indigo Chronicles was curated with Iro Iro, a zero waste B2B textile brand based in Jaipur. Together, these two leading conscious fashion brands have come together to deepen their efforts to reinvent the fashion supply chain.

In this episode, Kriti and I dive into:

• How Doodlage was able to support their artisans during this uncertain time
• Pivoting your marketing to connect more meaningfully with your audience when operational priorities are constantly changing
• What to expect from the Indigo Chronicles collection and future collaborations from Doodlage

To shop the Indigo Chronicles collection, click here. Be sure to follow their journey on Instagram as well @doodlageofficial.

A little about the collection: Indigo chronicles tells the story of the vast textile industry of Jaipur through its waste. Indigo is a commonly used natural dye with a distinctive blue hue. No where it is as visible as it is in the lanes of the Pink City: running through the drains, blotted on walls, widely used in fabrics, sarees and tunics flaunted by not just the people in the city but across the country, in rugs, Jaipuri blankets, and Rajasthani turbans. They all narrate the story of arguably the oldest known natural dye.

Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.

CauseartistPRO - We’re building a global community of impact founders, impact investors, and impact professionals. Apply Here

We are powered by:

Impact Recipe – Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

Podcast Made with Transistor
Podcast cover design Made with Canva

In episode 29, I sit down with fellow co-founder of Sustainable Travel Network, Kelsey White.

Sustainable Travel Network is a community of sustainable travel leaders breaking the silos of the industry and fostering collaboration across the sector.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on India have been devastating, especially as we have watched our beloved tourism industry crumble before us.

​

However, as travel begins to open up in India and around the world, this is our opportunity as leaders in travel to create the new normal and a sustainable base for the tourism industry to thrive. 

As we prepare to open registration for our 2020 Tourism Shala, we wanted to come together again to discuss the current challenges India’s tourism industry is facing, and how STN is focused on collaboration for creating sustainable solutions to rebuild the industry post-pandemic.

Listen in as Kelsey and I dive into:

• The need for diverse voices to be heard during a time of rebuilding
• The advantage we have right now to build a sustainable industry
• What to expect from the 2020 Tourism Shala for domestic and international organizations working in India’s tourism industry

To learn more about the 2020 Tourism Shala on September 26 & 27, visit www.sustainabletravelnetwork.com/tourismshala or follow along on Instagram @stn.india.

Sustainable Travel Network’s Manifesto

Tourism is a powerful platform for experiential learning and sustainable development. In India, it is also a catalyst for opportunities that can eradicate poverty and preserve culture and heritage, while instilling a need to nurture our earth by connecting its diverse landscapes with citizens, both domestic and global.

Tackling injustices and carving new paths of discovery starts with leveraging diverse voices and levels of experience and knowledge from leaders in both rural and urban communities.

Ultimately, travel is a learning platform and through Sustainable Travel Network, we are building a community of lifelong learners who are consistently striving to do better. Through virtual and in-person educational experiences, policy creation, and community building, help create the future of travel, where people and the planet are placed first, helping the industry scale sustainably. 

Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.

CauseartistPRO - We’re building a global community of impact founders, impact investors, and impact professionals. Apply Here

We are powered by:

Impact Recipe – Affordable Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

Podcast Made with Transistor
Podcast cover design Made with Canva

In episode 28 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Pallavi Yadav and Mehak Tariq Beigh of WeAreLabeless, an eco-conscious brand aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals led by the United Nations. Working closely with craftspeople across India, with a focus on employing women, their goal is to help achieve SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production. 

Pallavi has always been passionate about incorporating sustainability into the fashion industry. She has worked with organizations such as Upasana in Auroville, Doodlage in New Delhi, and also participated in the The Copenhagen Fashion Summit in 2018 as a student candidate from India.

Mehak’s main focus is cultivating the human aspect of business. She has worked with INTACH Srinagar and women-led projects in Kashmir, and had the opportunity to showcase her Phirkath collection at Vancouver Fashion Week in September 2018.

Through WeAreLabeless, the power duo create womenswear, menswear, and accessories from upcycled and handloom fabrics including handwoven cotton, chanderi, silk and linen.

Since COVID-19, WeAreLabeless has focused their production on creating masks from upcycled textiles. So far, they have donated over 500 masks to vulnerable communities across several states in India.

In this episode, Pallavi, Mehak, and I dive into:

• The story behind their brand name.
• Zero waste production and sourcing handloom fabric from Bihar.
• The current challenges Indian weavers are facing in connecting with designers.
• The challenges of sourcing sustainable packaging as a start-up.

Connect with WeAreLabeless at wearelabeless.com and on Instagram @wearelabeless.

“We need to do more than just make clothing. We need a solution towards the problem.”

Listen to more Causeartist podcast here.

We are powered by:

Impact Recipe – Affordable Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

In episode 27 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Nidhi Lodha of June, a homegrown brand reviving the crafts of Gujarat by making wearable art.

Nidhi is a copywriter by profession with a passion for working with textiles and colors. After her short stint in advertising in Mumbai, she returned home to Gujarat to specialize in working with Kutch handwork. This led to the launch of June.

June is led by a team of female artisans reviving Kutch handicrafts, native to Gujarat. The team uses vintage and contemporary materials—from old coins and mirrors, to shells and bharat handwork—to create unique and beautiful accessory collections.

In this episode, Nidhi and I dive into:

• The challenges of wearing too many hats in your business 
• How she ensures her team always has work, by partnering with like-minded brands that her team can also lend their skills to
• The need to connect more meaningfully with the items we buy
• How June is supporting the wild elephants of India

Connect with Nidhi at studiojune.in and on Instagram.

“Creativity needs its own space to breathe.”

Listen to more Causeartist podcast here.

We are powered by:

Impact Recipe – Affordable Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

In episode 26 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Shradha Kochhar, a knitwear designer, textile artist, and the co-founder of LOTA India.

Shradha’s work combines sustainability and craftsmanship, and although based in New Delhi, is being recognized globally for her talent. Her latest works were seen at London Fashion Week 2019, which featured her knitted ‘khadi’ fabric, using Kala cotton, and knitted sweaters for the ASHISH AW19 collection.

LOTA India is an exploration into the intersection of sustainability, fashion, and visual identity, creating a parallel economy to the mainstream fashion model. LOTA aims to give a new life to the thousands of tonnes of fabric waste that are discarded every hour by the mainstream fashion industry. 

In this episode, Shradha and I dive into:

• The history of Kala Cotton and its connection to colonization
• Changing the beauty standards in South Asia by creating “virtual models” 
• The connection between mental health and the art of making by hand

Connect with Shradha at shoplota.com and on Instagram @shradhakochhar and @lotaindia.

--

“There is a need to recolonize design and art...and reclaim what works for our country, our land, and our farmers.”

--

Listen to more Causeartist podcast here.

We are powered by:

Impact Recipe – Affordable Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

In episode 25 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Kush Sharma of Rural Odyssey. This incredible social enterprise promotes sustainable tourism as an additional livelihood opportunity for rural communities, by building community-owned and community-lead tourism models.

Kush is a naturalist at heart with a passion for promoting and preserving the Indigenous cultures of India using sustainable tourism as his platform. Kush is a firm believer of learning from native wisdom and nature, and works actively with young children as an Outdoor Educator.

Rural Odyssey handpicks culturally rich villages in India and brings the community together to open up their houses for travelers and open a gateway to mutual learning. While travelers get to learn from the native wisdom of various indigenous communities of India, locals get to acquire new skills from the travelers, while generating an additional livelihood for themselves. Aligning his work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Rural Odyssey is using tourism as a tool to connect the rural and urban economies and help in preserving India's rich culture, craft, and ecology.

“There are two sides to sustainable tourism: business and ethics”

Connecting on our mutual love for experiential education through travel, Kush and I dive into:

• The need for more knowledge exchange between urban and rural communities
• The impacts of “Instagram” travelers on vulnerable destinations
• Why small group travel is best for exploring culturally rich destinations

Plus, learn about Rural Odyssey’s incredible geology and astronomy travel programs for youth in India.

Connect with Kush at ruralodyssey.com and on Instagram and Facebook.

Listen to more Causeartist podcast here.

We are powered by:

Impact Recipe – Affordable Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

In episode 24 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Jitna Bhagani, founder of Shakti.ism and she will survive.

Shakti.ism is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers and employs disadvantaged women in India. She will survive is a global gender-equality advocacy project that provides resources to women around the world facing gender-based violence.

Jitna is a survivor of sexual violence. Her lived experiences and knowledge of eradicating gender-based violence has led her down a unique journey in navigating her trauma, and healing herself by building platforms that empower marginalized women and survivors of violence.

In this episode, Jitna and I dive into:

• The systemic issues that perpetuate gender-based violence
• How technology is changing the way we empower marginalized communities
• How she launched her social enterprise during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Addressing gender-based violence with young children

Connect with Jitna at shaktiism.com and shewillsurvive.com, or on Instagram at @shaktiismproject and @shewilsurvivedotcom.

Learn how you can play a role in eradicating gender-based violence in this follow-up article by Jitna on our sister platform, Curated Consciously.

“The more you normalize these topics, the less stigma will be around them”

Listen to more Causeartist podcast here.

We are powered by:

Impact Recipe – Affordable Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

In episode 23 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Arushi Aggarwal of The Initiative, a social enterprise providing sustainable livelihoods to low-income craftspeople through a nationwide platform selling their handcrafted products.

Arushi Aggarwal is a designer for social good, connecting the stories of handmade products and their makers with consumers. Combining handicraft processes and design, with a focus on the consumer experience, Arushi is creating social impact and consumer value through The Initiative. 

In this episode, Arushi and I dive into:

• The customer experience of product development and services, from crafts to waste management
• Her experiences working with craftspeople in Mumbai and across India, and the current challenges and opportunities facing the crafts industry
• The challenges of running a retail platform during and post COVID-19

Connect with Arushi at theinitiative.in and on Instagram and Facebook.

“With the current COVID situation, you either embrace technology or you disappear.”

Listen to more Causeartist podcast here.