What does it take to build a fashion brand that challenges the fast-paced fashion system while reimagining the value of what we discard? For Ritwik Khanna, founder of Rkive City, the answer lies in treating post-consumer textile waste not as refuse, but as raw material for storytelling, innovation and design.
In this episode, Ritwik walks us through his journey from growing up in a textile family in Amritsar to studying at FIT in New York, and how time spent working in Gujarat’s wastehouses led to the founding of Rkive City. More than just a fashion label, Rkive City functions as a research and design house committed to circular systems, responsible production and garments that carry meaning.
With thoughtful collaborations such as the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation and Karthik Research, and recent milestones like Milan Fashion Week, Rkive City offers a model for how India can lead the global shift toward a more intentional and regenerative fashion industry.
Presented By: Blur the Border
Hosted By: Tahira Chawla
Produced By: Blur the Border
Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: SpacePepper Studios
Chapter Markers
03:45 Where do you envision Rkive City?
04:50 On collaborating with PDKF and Kartik Research
10:20 On working with denim
22:17 The over burden on supply chain
23:52 Navigating growth while maintaining a zero waste model
27:37 Remanufacturing as a future for India
30:11 Industry support for young designers
35:47 Rkive City's collection at the Lakme Fashion Show
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