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8. Beyond Streetwear: Dhruv Khurana's Vision for Almost Gods
52:39||Season 2, Ep. 8How does a brand stand out in today’s competitive market? You differentiate, reveals Dhruv Khurana, the founder of Almost Gods, a brand that has steadily attracted a loyal following for their ability to breathe a fresh perspective into India’s burgeoning streetwear space. Almost Gods is, however, not only a streetwear brand. Through Dhruv’s creative vision, the brand draws from mythological, historical, and cultural symbols to tell stories through their offerings. The why behind the brand is answered as Dhruv reveals his background story and what drew him to this space. With a goal of making clothes that have global appeal but are rooted in India, Almost Gods is a homegrown brand whose journey has just begun. Presented By: Blur the BorderHosted By: Aishwarya Avlani Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the BorderAudio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media Location Courtesy: Canopy StudiosMusic: Licensed through Epidemic Sound Chapter Markers00:00 Intro02:01 How Almost Gods Has Built a Community 03:12 On Dhruv’s Entrepreneurial Bug 07:56 How Almost Gods Was Conceived 09:34 The Early Days of the Brand 11:14 On Building a Team13:20 On Stealing Ideas 13:58 On Not Being Afraid to Reinvent 16:54 On How to Stay Relevant 19:31 The Story Behind the Brand Name21:00 On How to Make Your Brand Ethos Connect with your Consumer 23:09 Balancing Commercial Success with Creative Integrity25:36 On Patenting & Trademarking28:04 Almost Gods Design Process32:23 When Ranveer Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, and Machine Gun Kelly Wore Almost Gods 33:33 On Challenging Retail Design 37:00 Almost Gods’ International Expansion38:33 Approach to Collaborations40:38 Dhruv’s Go-to Homegrown Brands & Advice for Budding Brands44:20 The Future of Almost Gods in the Phy-digital Space47:13 Know the Founder
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7. Reviving Craftsmanship: Monica Shah on Jade’s Grassroots Vision
39:02||Season 2, Ep. 7It’s episode 7 of Backstage with Blur the Border and in this episode, we have with us Monica Shah, one half of the dynamic duo who lead Jade, a brand that has gained recognition for blending India’s artisanal legacy with contemporary and modern-day ensembles. Most recently, Jade has launched the Grassroots Artisan Project, with a focus of showcasing indigenous craftsmanship techniques through ready-to-wear collections. Monica works closely with artisans who have gained expertise in a certain craft style and through their ingenuity, turns it into a motif through the Grassroots Project. For the brand, their mission is to preserve crafts and challenge the way in which we’ve worn them in India, while making it relevant to a global audience as well. In this episode, Monica speaks to host Aishwarya about the idea behind this project, Jade, and how they approach brand-building with this very important mission in focus.Presented By: Blur the BorderHosted By: Aishwarya Avlani Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the BorderAudio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media Location Courtesy: Canopy StudiosMusic: Licensed through Epidemic Sound Chapter Markers00:00 Intro00:37 Introduction to the Host and Guest00:57 Monica Dives Into The Grassroots Artisan Project03:15 Reinventing Traditional Crafts04:52 Cultural Sustainability and Modernization05:22 The Future of Indian Couture17:20 The Spirit of the Jade Woman19:50 Challenges in Growing a Brand21:28 Balancing Tradition and Modernity23:57 The Role of Digital Storytelling28:21 The Inception of Jade30:28 How Monica’s Background in Interior Design Informs the Brand31:42 On Collaborating with Museums 32:59 Go-to Homegrown Brands 33:35 Elevating Indian Design Globally34:49 Looking Ahead36:15 Know the Founder
6. Craft, Community, and Storytelling: Sreesha Shetty, Founder of ShopLune
39:08||Season 2, Ep. 6Creating came very naturally for Sreesha Shetty, the founder of Lune, a handcrafted female-run jewelry label that has become a favorite among stylists and celebrities. What we love about Sreesha’s journey is that she focused on creating a brand that isn’t trend-driven but is rather a result of her artistic vision. The brand believes in creating statement and everyday jewelry that is classic and enduring. Now with two stores in Mumbai and Goa, and a thriving online presence, Lune, which started out for Sreesha as a passion project has evolved into one of India’s leading jewelry labels for handcrafted concept jewelry. For budding entrepreneurs, who want to create a brand that is an extension of their creativity, this is a must!Presented By: Blur the BorderHosted By: Aishwarya Avlani Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the BorderAudio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media Location Courtesy: Canopy StudiosMusic: Licensed through Epidemic Sound Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:32 Sreesha’s Journey from Journalism to Jewellery02:59 The Birth of ShopLune03:40 Crafting Collections with Local Artisans06:59 Building a Community and Organic Growth08:49 The Growth of Celebrity Endorsements and PR11:48 Lune’s Foray into Retail14:33 Unique Jewelry Collections16:32 Impact of Environment on Creativity18:51 Finding Inspiration in Birmingham: The Founding Days of Lune20:39 Spotlighting Homegrown Labels22:00 Evolution of Jewelry Trends in India24:15 Creating Timeless Pieces with Lune26:22 On the Launch of Lune Fine27:41 On Her Mother Joining the Team30:24 Jewelry as Heirlooms: Personal Stories32:35 Quick Q&A: Know the Founder37:44 Future Plans and Final Thoughts
5. Building a Belief-Led Brand with Raul Rai, Co-founder of Nicobar
55:58||Season 2, Ep. 5In this episode of Backstage with Blur the Border, host Aishwarya Avlani sits down with Raul Rai, the co-founder of the lifestyle brand Nicobar. Raul shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey, beginning with his private equity and investment banking background to co-founding Nicobar with Simran Lal. The discussion delves into the brand's philosophy of mindful consumption, creating timeless designs, and maintaining a balance between aspiration and accessibility. Raul also touches on the importance of learning from customers, the role of luck in success, and the personal growth that comes from stepping outside one's comfort zone. The conversation is engaging, philosophical, and filled with valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Presented By: Blur the BorderHosted By: Aishwarya Avlani Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the BorderAudio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media Location Courtesy: Canopy StudiosMusic: Licensed through Epidemic Sound Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:51 From Ideation to Execution: The Birth of Nicobar05:10 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone and Embracing the Beginner’s Mindset 07:42 The Role of Design and Team in Nicobar08:26 How to Make Your Brand Stand Out 10:12 Raul’s Switch from Private Equity to Entrepreneurship13:33 A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur 16:30 The Role of Serendipity in Brand Success24:45 On Working with your Partner30:59 Hiring for Passion: The Nicobar Approach32:09 Key Insights from Launching an Omnichannel Brand 32:46 The Importance of Storytelling in Branding36:08 The Customer Perception of a Brand // On Becoming the Go-to Brand for Gifting 39:29 On Staying True to Your Brand DNA 42:11 Balancing Brand Identity with Customer Needs46:46 Future Vision for Nicobar51:30 Know the Founder
4. The Creative Force Behind Valliyan: Nitya Arora
43:01||Season 2, Ep. 4Nitya Arora founded Valliyan at just 21—one of the country’s pioneering concept jewelry brands. Over the past decade, she has been a key figure in the homegrown brand revolution. While Valliyan remains central to her work, Nitya’s talents span curation, styling, and creative direction across the fashion and beauty industries. In this episode, we explore her journey, industry insights, and the significant milestones of 2024, including a stunning Lakme Fashion Week presentation and a new store in Kala Ghoda, MumbaiPresented By: Blur the BorderHosted By: Aishwarya Avlani Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the BorderAudio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media Location Courtesy: Canopy StudiosMusic: Licensed through Epidemic Sound Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:40 The New Valliyan Speakeasy 03:18 Valliyan Show at Lakme Fashion Week 05:39 Relevance of Fashion Shows Today 09:21 Starting a Brand at 21 and Finding Early Success14:00 Managing Valliyan While Studying at Parsons 16:10 The Growth of Fashion Jewellery as a Segment in India 17:00 How Nitya’s Punjabi Heritage has Inspired the Brand 20:46 On Valliyan’s Sustainable Collection that was ahead of its Time 24:49 Valliyan’s Take on India’s Homegrown Label Industry33:12 The Importance of Building A Personal Brand for a Founder37:21 Know the Founder
3. People, Stories, and Collaboration with Pranav Kirti, Co-founder of Huemn
41:37||Season 2, Ep. 3Each brand founder wants to create a successful brand yet the formula to success is actually not formulaic at all. Case in point: Huemn. As a brand that has built a loyal community since its inception, Pranav Kirti, the co-founder explains that the brand has never been transactional. It has always been about embracing individuality and allowing stories and people to take center stage. Along with this, a poetic perspective on life can go a long way. This episode is different but just as insightful and serves as a masterclass on balancing creativity and its delicate balance with entrepreneurship.Presented By: Blur the BorderHosted By: Aishwarya Avlani Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the BorderAudio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media Location Courtesy: Canopy StudiosMusic: Licensed through Epidemic Sound Image Source (in order of Appearance): Websites of Huemn, Rahul Mishra, Amit Aggarwal, BodiceChapters: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Royal Enfield x Huemn Collaboration 03:02 On Building a Community and Loyal Following 04:47 How Huemn Approaches Collaborations + Collaboration with Pepsi07:35 We’re in the Golden Era for Homegrown Labels 10:25 Pranav’s Go-to Homegrown Labels11:35 How It All Began: The Journey of Discovering Your Brand 14:07 Embracing Versatility for your Brand 17:31 “Art is Always Bigger than the Artist; the Artist is Bigger than the Stage”19:23 Building the Right Team 21:22 Huemn’s Global Positioning and the Origins of Streetwear 26:06 Why Pranav Decided to Start His Own Label 29:53 Building a Poetic Point of View and Way of Being 31:15 On Fashion School and Early Dreams 35:07 Know the Founder
2. Making Luxury Matter with Shivam Punjya, Founder of behno New York
40:03||Season 2, Ep. 2What led Shivam Punjya, an academic and researcher to start a premium brand retailing leather handbags? From the outside, it may seem puzzling but it isn’t when you learn that social impact pervades every step of production at design at Behno. Born and raised in California, Shivam launched Behno in the US. Now a favorite among homegrown labels in India, Behno recently signed Katrina Kaif as the brand ambassador for its Indian launch. In this episode, we explore Behno's growth story and how Shivam has created a brand at the intersection of luxury and social impact.Presented By: Blur the BorderHosted By: Aishwarya Avlani Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the BorderAudio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media Location Courtesy: Canopy StudiosMusic: Licensed through Epidemic Sound Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:43 Behno’s Launch in India 02:26 Katrina Kaif x Behno05:25 Creating a Brand for Social Impact10:29 How Brands Can Adopt Conscious Production14:42 Challenging Design and Aesthetic Stereotypes 17:09 The Hidden Meaning in Behno’s Handbag Design 19:51 The Pivot from Ready-to-Wear to Handbags 21:01 Why the Brand was Named ‘Behno’22:59 Shivam’s Take on India’s Homegrown Industry25:59 On Collaboration & Go-To Homegrown Labels 30:27 How Brands Can Increase International Representation31:29 The Day-to-Day of Running a Brand 34:01 “I Never Thought I’d be the Founder of a Fashion Brand”36:54 Know the Founder