Voices for Local with Monisha Singh Katial

What does it take to build a fashion brand rooted in Indian heritage? In this episode of Voices For Local, we speak with Gayathri Iyer, the founder of Banarasi Baithak, a homegrown label dedicated to preserving the legacy of Banarasi weaves. She shares her journey of building the brand across generations, working closely with artisans in Banaras, and adapting traditional craftsmanship for a modern...

What does it take to build a fashion brand rooted in Indian heritage? In this episode of Voices For Local, we speak with the founders of Sobariko, a homegrown label known for blending traditional Banarasi fabrics with modern silhouettes. They share their journey of building a brand from scratch, working with artisans in Banaras, and creating fashion that stands for quality, authenticity, and timel...

When someone says “Made in India design,” Pinklay is a brand that truly lives up to that promise. Founded by Daisy Tanwani, Pinklay started as a passion project and evolved into a thriving lifestyle brand with 7 stores, a presence in 100+ Indian cities, and customers across 33 countries. In this episode of Voices for Local, Daisy opens up about: •⁠  ⁠Leaving a stable journali...

Restaurants look glamorous, but behind every successful plate is relentless pressure, razor-thin margins, and brutal reality. In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with a seasoned hospitality professional AD Singh to uncover what truly goes into building and sustaining restaurants in India — beyond food photos, fancy interiors, and opening-day hype. From why most restaurants shut...

ndian weddings look magical, but behind every seamless moment is absolute madness. In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with Nemish Sanghvi, Founder of WE Hospitality, a pioneer who has spent over 28 years building some of India’s biggest weddings and celebrations across the world. From pulling chairs for grandparents to managing global celebrities, from preserving Indian traditi...

In this episode of Voices for Local, we explore the reality of Indian luxury fashion through an honest, grounded conversation with designer Seema Singh, founder of SS by Seema Singh. From a small-town upbringing in Bihar to building a luxury brand in Mumbai, Seema shares how culture, craft, and lived experience shape authentic design beyond trends, labels, and hype. She speaks about working with I...

In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with Nachiket Barve, one of India’s most celebrated fashion designers, known for seamlessly blending heritage craftsmanship with contemporary global design. 🧵✨ What began as a curiosity for form, fabric, and culture evolved into a design philosophy rooted in authenticity, intuition, and respect for Indian artisans. From couture to costume de...

In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with Parthip Thyagarajan, the visionary force behind Weeding Sutra a brand that is redefining how India plans, celebrates, and preserves the magic of weddings. ✨💍 What began as a simple intention to make wedding planning meaningful, stress-free, and deeply personal has evolved into a movement that empowers couples to honour tradition while embraci...

In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with Shraddha Sawant, the passionate founder of Massakali, a brand dedicated to celebrating Indian handwoven sarees and empowering women entrepreneurs. 🌸✨ What started as a love for traditional textiles has grown into a movement that brings the elegance of handwoven sarees to modern wardrobes, while keeping the artistry, heritage, and craftsmanshi...

In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with Gagan Sharma, the torchbearer of the iconic Shegaon Kachori a delicacy that began as a humble prasad and grew into one of Maharashtra’s most loved food legacies. ✨ What started with a grandfather’s simple recipe in a small town has today transformed into a flavour that travels across cities, homes, and generations, carrying history...

In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar, the inspiring founder of Tea Culture of the World, a brand rooted in wellness, purity, and Indian heritage. 🍃 What started as a mother’s search to heal her child transformed into a passion that birthed one of India’s most thoughtfully curated tea brands offering 80+ blends crafted to nourish mind, body &...

In this episode of Voices for Local, we meet Manav Danda, the passionate founders of D'Moksha a sustainable home fashion brand redefining how India decorates. From eco-friendly fabrics to empowering girl child education, this is the story of how purpose and design came together to create beauty that gives back. 👉 Discover how a couple turned their love for mindful living into a global Indian bran...

What if a single bite could take you back in time? What if street food could become a legacy loved across generations? In this episode of Voices for Local, we meet Jasmeet Tibb, the face behind Tibbs Frankie the iconic wrap that has been winning hearts since the 1960s. From a humble food cart near Vihar Lake to a nationwide favorite, this is the story of how passion and family values turned a simp...

Thaely isn’t just a sneaker it’s a step towards a greener world. Made from recycled plastics, each pair transforms waste into style while inspiring sustainable living. ✨ Voices for Local – stories that inspire, fashion that matters.

Weirdough isn’t just bread; it’s Pallavee Duggal’s story of turning passion into purpose, patience into perfection, and ideas into reality.

Ever wondered how a small idea can turn into something huge? Meet Sujata & Tanya, the sisters behind Suta Sarees. They started in a tiny garage during Covid with just one employee, dreaming of making malmal sarees that are simple, fun, and affordable. Today, their brand reaches women across India, empowering artisans and changing the way people wear sarees. 👉 How did one online batch spark a...

What if retirement was the start of your boldest chapter yet?  Meet Prakash Baid, the Marwari entrepreneur who turned India’s most loved after-meal ritual - Mukhwas into a refreshing new brand: After Eats. From spicy, tangy twists to classic family flavors, every mix is 100% natural and made to keep traditions alive. Why did he refuse to “retire”? How did a simple mouth fres...

What happens when two Bangaloreans in Mumbai decide they can’t live without their favorite childhood dosa? They don’t just crave it… they create a revolution. In this episode of Voices for Local, host Monisha Singh Katial sits down with Akhil and Shreya, the couple behind Benne – Mumbai’s newest obsession where queues wrap around the block for a plate of butter-soake...

We’re heading down to Kochi this episode, as Monisha speaks to Zuzana Gombosova, a material researcher and designer from Slovakia, who is the co-founder of Malai, a company that designs and develops bio-based materials from Bacterial Cellulose that they grow. Zuzana tells us about the challenges of working with biodegradable materials, the fascinating production process of Malai’s material made fr...

Voices for Local turns 50! Well, not 50 years – but 50 episodes, and we think that’s something to celebrate! It’s been a fun, fascinating, and fulfilling journey across the length and breadth of the country, getting to know the stories behind some incredible brands. What better way to mark the occasion than to look back at some of our favourite episodes and listen to what our favourite brands have...

This week, on Voices for Local, Monisha gets talking to Saarus Nirhali, the founder of Glasshopper, a Bangalore-based stained glass studio that creates suncatchers, panels, lamp-shades, tea light holders, and jewellery. Monisha asks her what it was like to leave behind a career in criminal law, how she got into stained glass, and how she sources her designs. Saarus also explains the difference bet...

Monisha chats with sibling duo Tarveen Kaur Vohra & Jasjyot Singh Hans, the co-founders of fashion brand Tappa, whose first collection features gender neutral clothes in sizes that fit all body types. They chat about how the brand started, the reaction they’ve received, the effectiveness of fashion as a medium of queer representation, and how their sibling relationship has improved due to the...

We’re featuring a brand on Voices for Local this week that is creating quite a buzz in the beverage space with their unique catalogue of mead, the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with various fruits and spices. Nitin Vishwas, one of the co-founders and self-proclaimed ‘Benevolent Overlord’s of the Pune-based Moonshine Meadery, joins Monisha on the show to chat about the...

On Voices For Local this week, Monisha chats with the Co-Founder, Creative Director and Executive Chef of La Folie – Sanjana Patel herself, who opens up about her grandmother being the spark in her life and her cooking inspiration, and what it’s like to marry and work with your childhood sweetheart. She also speaks about returning to India after studying abroad, being very loyal to her thoughts, a...

Monisha gets into conversation with cheesemaking brother duo, Prateeksh & Agnay Mehra, the co-founders of The Spotted Cow Fromagerie, a small creamery based in Mumbai that make handmade artisanal cheeses which are 100% vegetarian and preservative free. They tell Monisha how they went from brewing beer to making cheese, their stinky first few batches of cheese gone wrong, making Bombay versions...