Backstage with Blur the Border

Creating 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

In 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  

Nitya 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 

Each 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 

What 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

In the late 1990s, Vivek Sahni, the founder of Kama Ayurveda, discovered the efficacy of Ayurveda. Since then, his mission has remained steadfast: to bring traditional Indian remedies with proven efficacy to a global audience. In 2002, this vision culminated in the launch of Kama Ayurveda in India. However, behind this success lies a wealth of insights. In this episode, we delve into Vivek's journey, uncovering invaluable lessons on building a successful brand. He shares essential tips on establishing a successful store, staying connected with customers, perfecting your products, and maintaining uncompromising quality. For aspiring entrepreneurs, this discussion promises to be a masterclass in brand building and growth within India.Presented By: Blur the BorderHosted By: Aishwarya Avlani Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the BorderMusic: Licensed through Epidemic Sound Chapters: 00:00 - Opening00:47 - Intro 01:48 - Kama’s Launch in the UK 08:13 - Vivek’s Journey: From Graphic Design to Founding Kama 15:45 - On Simplifying Your Brand Messaging17:01 - Vivek’s Take on the Difficult Moments24:05 - Kama’s USP: Designing their Stores30:27 - The Power of Sampling31:35 - The Kama Store No One Would Enter35:28 - Vivek’s Thoughts on How the Industry has Evolved36:53 - Vivek’s Homegrown Brand Picks 38:40 - On Working with Regional Influencers for Marketing41:35 - Know the Founder 47:20 - Kama Over the Next 10 Years 

New Season! New Host! But we're still taking you Backstage for a series of insightful conversations; this time with the founders of India's leading homegrown labels. Season 1 drops very soon!

Vinita Makhija has taken up the baton of spotlighting and documenting India’s rich history with textiles as well as our legacy craftsmanship. She worked for nearly a decade at editorial publications as a fashion stylist and creative director. Now, she still wears these hats while balancing her time as a writer and editor. In this penultimate episode of the podcast, Vinita tells Surbhi about her beginnings in the fashion industry (00:57), how she found her visual language (4:39), about her extensive travels through India documenting Indian textiles (6:35), and a very compelling segue into ideas as currency (14:25). We pivot to Vinita's pick of homegrown labels (24:50) in the second half of the episode, ending with our AMA on staying inspired and her thoughts on the role of social media in this industry (34:26). Thanks for tuning in! For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com Follow this show and rate it wherever you’re listening to it.Find Vinita's pick of homegrown labels here: https://blurtheborder.com/unblur/backstage-with-vinita-makhija-fashion-stylist-and-writer/

Aastha Sharma hasn’t been afraid to follow her gut and take the leap when she feels inclined to it. Today, the role of a fashion stylist is a necessity but back when it was still hiding in obscurity, is when Aastha decided to explore this new space. In a way, she’s been at the forefront of the growth of this industry and has seen it evolve over the years, as she has made her mark across the entire styling gamut. She’s worked as an editorial stylist, a costume designer and a celebrity stylist. Today she’s the founder of two companies - Wardobist and the Wedding Style Project. In this episode, Aastha opens up to Surbhi about her decision to join the fashion industry (00:45), how she founded the Wardrobist (4:04), styling Aishwarya Rai Bachan for Cannes (5:18), her foray into styling for web series (7:43), and her tips on managing work as a stylist while raising a family (10:55). As always, in the second half of the episode we tease out Aastha’s go-to homegrown labels (17:14), her insights into the future of homegrown labels in India (21:57), and the AMA from the Blur the Border team (24:59). Thanks for tuning in! For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com Follow this show and rate it wherever you’re listening to it. Find Aastha's pick of homegrown labels across categories here: https://blurtheborder.com/unblur/backstage-with-aastha-sharma-film-wedding-stylist/