Voices for Local with Monisha Singh Katial – Details, episodes & analysis

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 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