The new wave of ‘vocal for local’ proved to be a boost for Indian entrepreneurs. It has promoted local businesses during COVID-19 and given customers the ability and motivation to shop locally with ease. This rebranded version of ‘Made In India’ has our support, and every month, TC46 will spotlight small businesses and ventures you can champion and back easily through online and offline purchases.
Artists, entrepreneurs, visionaries and experts, Indian women are shattering glass ceilings and breaking out of boxes. Success, tied with skills and hard work, is what makes those featured in our list today an inspiration for many. And the journey, for these women of incredible talent, are stories that must be told.
This week, here are some brands we’re cheering on; check them out!
Sustainable Jewellery By Amukta
Nikhita Kabadi, an architect turned jewellery designer, is the founder of the homegrown brand Amukta. She started the brand in college and used to make just her own jewellery initially. Her friends, teachers and batchmates would notice and ask where she picked up the pieces from. With much appreciation, they encouraged her to start selling her jewellery, and that’s how Amukta was born. Amukta means something that is untouched and different from the rest.
Nikita’s mother knew crochet craft, and they would come across a lot of people making crochet jewellery. With her mother’s help, she came up with a fusion crochet collection, where crochet was used to add value to basic metal jewellery. She came up with the upcycled textile collection by procuring leftover fabrics from the artisans she met at various craft fairs. They also have a rosewood inlay collection in collaboration with the artisans of Mysore. And the brand’s Banjara collection is a result of their Kutch travels.
The jewellery is priced keeping in mind an average buyer’s budget and the pieces are pocket-friendly. Earrings range from Rs 300 to Rs 700 and neckpieces cost Rs 450 to Rs 2,200. You can buy her pieces via the brand’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
Handcrafted Soaps By Kadambari
Founded by Kadambari Gupte, Handcrafted Soaps by Kadambari is a brand in the bath and beauty space. The USP of the soaps is that they do not use any artificial fragrance or chemical. They are made from natural ingredients along with coconut oil and body essential organic oils. The soaps are mild on the skin and the body.
Kadambari is a mother of a 2-year-old son, a wife, and also a freelance PR professional along with being the founder of Handcrafted Soaps by Kadambari Gupte. Based in Mumbai all her life, she has done her Masters from London College of Fashion in Fashion Entrepreneurship.
By the end of 2019, she was reading through magazines and online portals where she stumbled upon soap making, and it piqued her interest. She started doing her research and study through online courses and YouTube videos to dive into soap making as a passion. She has always loved creating homemade packs for the face and body using kitchen ingredients and beauty recipes that have been passed down generations from her parents and grandparents. She began by making a few soaps using natural remedies to treat her skin, which she then shared with family and friends. With great reviews, she then gave birth to her brand Handcrafted Soaps by Kadambari in March 2020 when the nationwide lockdown was announced.
The brand uses natural ingredients like spices, fruits, vegetables, and flowers to make the soaps. Coconut oil is a key ingredient in the soaps, along with body essential oils. They also use castor, almond, and olive oil in some soaps.
They make soaps in a natural, transparent and shea butter base. People who believe in age-old skin remedies, natural ingredients and also want to adopt a sustainable way of living by giving up plastic will be delighted by this brand.
The average price of a soap is between Rs 150 and Rs 450. As some of the soaps are honey and aloe vera based, they do make soaps for kids as well. The brand ships products across India. The brand only makes soaps when ordered as they are freshly prepared. Since they don’t sell off the rack, they need 2-3 days advance notice and the minimum order is 2 soaps. You can connect and place orders via their social media accounts like Instagram and Facebook, or email the brand your requirements.
Online Education By Namah Education
Kanvika Nayar is the founder of Namah Education, a new learning initiative designed by the entrepreneur. She is a graduate from ISDI Parsons Mumbai, works as a graphic designer, and has also set up her own jewellery brand Erka.
Namah Education believes in the ancient Indian education system. It is highly driven by the deep-rooted education mantras from back in the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Namah is a Sanskrit term, commonly used in mantras as a gesture of greeting and refers to bowing down. It is considered as expressing humanity and devotion towards the divine or to whomever the salutation is offered.
Namah Education provides extraordinary teaching in the field of design, branding, business, communication and art. They also guide and help children with school and college work. The sessions are insightful and at the same time, fun. The fee structure of the curriculum is affordable as Namah Education believes in spreading valuable teachings and reaching as many people as possible amongst all age groups. You can connect with them via Instagram.
Want us to be VocalForLocal for your brand or know someone whose work you’d like to cheer on? Drop us an email to be featured on The Channel 46 at contact@anvilmedia.in.
