Hello!
Compassion for people, our environment, and seeking wisdom are the guiding values of my life and work. Read below to learn more.
I’m happy to connect on LinkedIn or via email. While I rarely use Instagram, I sometimes share my work there.
More about me
Currently, I’m pursuing an MSc in Environmental Anthropology at University College London (UCL) to deepen my understanding of human-environment intersections and build qualitative and quantitative research skills.
My journey in the textile industry is deeply rooted in my paternal family history with cotton ginning mills and trading. For generations, we contributed to the textile supply chain, but the 1947 Panjab divide and displacement, and later the Green Revolution, dramatically altered that landscape, negatively impacting our business, physical and mental health, and livelihood of our whole community of Panjabis. Despite these challenges, I have spent the last 15 years as an ethical textile and clothing designer and educator, built a triple bottom line practice that aims to positively impact people, the natural environment, and profits throughout the supply chain.
Along the journey so far, I’ve learned from a diverse array of people and fields: rural craft sector, liberal studies, creative and cultural business management, parents and other elders, industry veterans (scholars, artisans, designers, development sector leaders, businesspeople) NGOs, government bodies, and my students.
I believe that since evolution is inevitable, innovation is indispensable. By learning from the past and present, we can discern what to retain and what to change for the benefit of individuals, society, and the natural environment.
These principles shape both my life and my work.
Testimonials
Design with Purpose
My mission has been to not just design aesthetically pleasing products but also to continuously learn and educate others about the socio-cultural and ecological implications of ethical sourcing and production. I have used my expertise to create high-quality products that showcase the beauty of Indian handicrafts while advocating for, and involving, socially and environmentally responsible practitioners.
In my career so far, I worked in design jobs, built Sedhantik and planned a Punjabi extension that has since been left on the back-burner, and instead engaged with design consulting, teaching and skill development projects realising that I am more passionate about research—driven by my curiosity and inquisitive nature—brand building, and advisory/education than retailing products or the administrative work of running a business. As I navigate my next steps, I am exploring opportunities for a job and pursuing a PhD to further deepen my expertise and impact.
Lifestyle Brands
In 2016, I began my independent design journey with Sedhantik. I stopped evolving it due to personal circumstances. In 2022, at IIM Ahmedabad, I planned its transformation into Vehra Panjab Da (Courtyard of the Land of Five Rivers) but that finds a place now as my personal passion project stemming out of my curiosity to learn about my homeland Panjab.
I urge you to take a glimpse into what Sedhantik was. I also have created the 'Vehra' logo.