Backstage with Blur the Border

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...

How 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, histo...

It’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 read...

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 en...

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...

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 sign...

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 t...

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 br...

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 journ...

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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...

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...

Through a career in PR, Shreeja Rajgopal was introduced to the world of fashion styling and decided to take the leap and become a stylist. Soon, she landed her first gig, working with Alia Bhatt. As an outsider in the field, she began learning the ropes on the job, gaining confidence with each project. Now, over a decade later, she has worked with multiple celebrities including Mithila Palkar, Mas...

Talent, a sense of humor, and honesty is how we would describe Divyak D’souza. Divyak is a stylist, costume designer, and the host of Say Yes to the Dress India . He has worked with GQ, Elle, Femina and has been the Fashion Director for Harper’s Bazaar India. In his work as a stylist, he has been behind the looks of Kareena Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, and Tabu.  In this episode, Divyak talks to us...

As a celebrity stylist, Anisha Jain believes that her work should enable the celebrities she works with to be true to who they are. For Anisha, the world of fashion was always on her radar - she began working in the industry at the age of 18, her first job was assisting designer Kunal Rawal. Since then, she’s found her voice as a celebrity stylist having worked with Shahid Kapoor and Rajkumar Rao....

For Isha Bhansali, menswear styling was not part of the plan. Her roots lie in editorial styling. To this extent, she begins each project today with a moodboard – using it as a north star for the looks she curates on the celebrities she works with. Most notable is her work with Ayushman Khurana, whom she’s been styling on the regular from the time they began working together.  In this episode...

Prayag Menon’s work is distinct yet minimal, bold but subtle. As a creative director and editorial stylist, he creates visual identities that linger and resonate. You’ll notice this in his work for brands such as Gunam Beauty, Aroka, Popley Eternal, and for publications such as Vogue, Elle, and Verve, and Harper’s Bazaar. In this third edition of the podcast, we learn about Prayag’s journey from p...

What does it mean to be a celebrity fashion stylist? We often consume the final looks curated by stylists on social media but behind these looks is a process and approach that marries an actor’s personal style with looks that complement and elevate. Meagan Concessio is a master at this, particularly in her work with young Bollywood. She has been behind the looks of Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Pandey, an...

For Eka Lakhani, fashion is a medium for communicating stories. This finds its roots in her experience as a costume designer for films and web series. But it also translates to her role as a stylist, in the looks she curates for the actors she works with.   In this first episode of Backstage with BTB, we dive deep into both her work as a costume designer and stylist (1:12) and how she st...

Here’s a sneak peek into Backstage with Blur the Border. Hear from some of India’s leading fashion stylists on their perspective of the industry, homegrown labels they’ve come to love, collaborations they think need to happen, and how it all began for them!  Episode 1 drops very soon! Make sure to follow the podcast to be notified when it drops.  To discover more, head to: https://blurth...