The IKKIVI Podcast: Exploring Fashion, Culture and Values

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 12 of The IKKIVI Podcast, where we sit down with Poonam Thimmaih, the creative force behind Maalicious Jewelry, a brand that beautifully weaves together heritage, community, and craftsmanship. From her Kodava roots to her life as a New Yorker and immigrant entrepreneur, Poonam shares how her personal journey, motherhood, and cultural inspirations shaped Maalicious into...

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 11 of The IKKIVI Podcast, where we sit down with Priyanka Khanna, author, art, design, and fashion writer, and speaker based in Mumbai. After beginning her career at Hearst Magazines in New York, Priyanka went on to spend 15 years as Fashion Features Director at Vogue India, where she played a key role in shaping how Indian fashion, culture, and design are represented...

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 10 of The IKKIVI Podcast. In this episode, we’re joined by Ramya Reddy, a visual storyteller, photographer, and founder of Coonoor&Co, a place-based creative studio rooted in the Nilgiris of South India. Through her work across photography, publishing, and craft, Ramya explores the deep connections between art, ecology, and community. Her thoughtful, collaborative...

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 9 of The IKKIVI Podcast, a space for meaningful, slow, and intentional conversations on how we live, create, and connect. In this episode, we speak with Ankita Shah, an Indian-Nepali writer and poet whose work explores the tender landscapes of grief, love, longing, and memory. Her deeply personal poetry and essays featured in Vogue India, Soup Magazine, Firstpost, and...

Welcome to The IKKIVI Podcast. I’m your host, Nivi Murthy. Today, I’m in conversation with Esha Gupta, the founder and editor of Design Pataki, a leading voice in India’s design and architecture landscape. With over two decades of experience and a design education from Parsons School of Design, Esha brings a global outlook that remains deeply rooted in Indian culture and craftsmanship. Through Des...

Welcome back to The IKKIVI Podcast, where we explore conscious living through the lens of culture, craft, and creativity. I’m your host, Nivi Murthy, and today we’re joined by Sakshi Gupta, the creative force behind The Girl With Ideas, a wedding design and floral styling studio known for its poetic, intimate, and story-driven celebrations. Sakshi’s work draws deeply from the everyday: family trad...

Welcome back to the IKKIVI Podcast! In this episode, we’re joined by Daribha Lyndem, civil servant, writer, and storyteller, whose debut book Name Place Animal Thing weaves together memory, place, and identity with striking intimacy and nuance. Set in Shillong, the book captures the quiet complexities of growing up in a world marked by cultural transitions and personal awakenings. We talk to Darib...

Welcome back to the IKKIVI Podcast —  In today’s episode, we speak with Nishant, founder of Oshadi Collective, a regenerative fashion initiative based in Tamil Nadu, India. Oshadi is building a new system for fashion that begins with the soil, centering nature, community, and craft in every step. We talk about the vision behind Oshadi, what it means to go beyond sustainability, and how regeneratio...

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 4 of the IKKIVI Podcast! In this episode we are joined by Sukhraj Singh—founder of the Indenium School of Responsible Design and a leading voice in denim, indigo, and sustainable fashion. With over 20 years of industry experience, Sukhraj shares how he's transforming fashion education by centering process, craft, and hands-on learning. We explore what sustainabilit...

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 3 of the IKKIVI Podcast! The reality of plastic use is something we can’t escape—it's embedded in almost everything we use on a daily basis. From packaging to clothing, electronics to beauty products, plastic is everywhere. For years, we’ve been told that recycling is the solution, but the reality is far more complex. So, how big is the plastic waste problem really? Wh...

Welcome back to The IKKIVI Podcast! I’m your host, Nivi Murthy, and today, we’re joined by Karishma Shah, the founder of Paeony —a brand that blends intuitive design with sustainability. With a background in fine arts and years of curatorial experience, Karishma approaches fashion as a medium for self-expression, prioritizing emotion and connection over fleeting trends. In this episode, we explore...

For 14 years, artist Kirstie Macleod brought together 380+ artisans from 51 countries to create The Red Dress —a breathtaking hand-embroidered gown that tells stories of heritage, resilience, and empowerment . Made from 87 panels of burgundy silk dupion , this extraordinary piece has now earned a place in Guinness World Records 2025 as the largest collaborative embroidery project ever. In this Sea...

Welcome to episode 20 of season 3 of the IKKIVI podcast. Today, we’re thrilled to sit down with Dominique Drakeford, an influential leader in sustainable fashion, environmental justice, and cultural storytelling. With over 15 years of experience, Dominique has transformed the conversation around sustainability, not just as an educator but as a cultural pioneer who bridges community, fashion, and j...

Welcome to episode 19 of the IKKIVI Podcast season 3. We’re thrilled to welcome Kavita Khosa, Founder and CEO of PUREARTH, whose passion for clean beauty, wellness, and social impact led her on a transformative journey from Banking and being a lawyer to the high-altitude Himalayas. Kavita embraced her Indian roots, building PUREARTH on the foundations of Ayurvedic tradition and sustainability. Her...

Welcome to episode 18 of 'The IKKIVI Podcast’ Season 3. Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by the incredibly talented Eina, a visionary jewelry designer and Creative Director who has been redefining how we view accessories for over two decades. Eina’s journey is a fascinating one—from leaving the corporate world after completing her MBA, to training at some of the world’s top contemporary jewelry...

Welcome to episode 17 of 'The IKKIVI Podcast’ Season 3. Today, we are excited to speak with Akshita M. Bhanjdeo , a visionary in luxury travel and media. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure South Asia and co-owner of the historic Belgadia Palace . Her unique blend of heritage and modern hospitality has earned her numerous accolades, including the CNBC She Shakti Award . In this episode,...

Welcome to episode 16 of The IKKIVI Podcast. Today we have with us Sanskriti Sharma, a 30-year-old visionary artist from Delhi. Sanskriti is the creative force behind  Paño , a character born straight out of her imagination. Paño, meaning 'a piece of cloth' in Spanish, represents much more than just a symbol—it's a form of escapism, a way to break free from the monotony of daily life a...

Welcome to episode 15 of The IKKIVI Podcast Season 3. This is a solo episode with our host Nivi Murthy, founder of IKKIVI. We’re celebrating 9 years of IKKIVI and in this episode I share with you stories from 2015 all the way up until now. I share our journey that has been nothing short of challenging, inspirational, educational, emotional and very very fulfilling. Thank you for listening to The I...

Welcome to episode 14 of The IKKIVI Podcast Season 3. In this episode, we have with us Priyanka Thaker, a multi-dimensional artist working with different mediums and narratives, from towering murals that dominate the urban landscape to intimate installations that beckon viewers into hidden realms of imagination. In this episode, Priyanka shares her journey from a childhood filled with imagination...

Welcome to episode 13 of The IKKIVI Podcast Season 3. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kavya Madappa, a coffee planter, a fierce eco-conscious entrepreneur and the visionary behind Amanvana, an eco-friendly spa resort in Coorg, and Bluecat Paper, a sustainable tree-free paper company. Her story is one of resilience, purpose, and unwavering commitment to creating a more beautiful and su...

Welcome to episode 12 of season 3 of 'The IKKIVI Podcast.' Today, we're thrilled to host Mahima Gujral, the inspiring founder of Sui—a brand we've proudly featured on the IKKIVI shop since our launch. Mahima, who fondly calls herself the "Brown Girl on the Run," has a deep passion for nature and travel. Growing up in a family with strong ties to the Indian fashion industr...

Welcome to episode 11 of season 3 of 'The IKKIVI Podcast.' In this episode, we have with us Tracy Gillett, an adventure-loving mum, writer, and natural parenting advocate. She is the founder of Raised Good, an award-winning blog and community that supports and empowers parents to trust and follow their instincts. Tracy is the author of The Lost Art of Natural Parenting and the host of the...

Welcome to episode 10 of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast’ Season 3. In this episode we have with us Shahili Gomes Mccoy, the co-founder of The Design Collective, a multi-brand clothing store in Colombo showcasing the work of 70+ South Asian designers, as well as Creative Director at Gandhara, the famous interiors store founded by her father in Sri Lanka.   Shahili divides her time between Sri Lanka where her...

Welcome to the ninth episode of The IKKIVI Podcast Season 3. Today we have with us Sundeep Rao, a partially sighted comedian, podcaster, radio presenter, keynote speaker and my dearest husband. With over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry and a speaker at several Tedx events, Sundeep joins us to share his valuable insights as we dive deep into the concept of the scarcity mindset...

Welcome to the eighth episode of The IKKIVI Podcast Season 3. Today we speak with the lovely Bandana Tewari, a vanguard in the world of lifestyle journalism and a fervent advocate for mindful consumption. As Vogue India’s former Editor-at-Large and a globally recognized speaker and writer, Bandana brings her profound insights and extensive experience to our discussion, exploring the dynamic interp...