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 approach brings attention to indigenous wisdom, cultural preservation, and sustainable storytelling in a world that often overlooks these values.
We talk about her celebrated book Soul of the Nilgiris, a nine-year journey of listening to one of India’s most fragile and beautiful biospheres. The book, which features a hand-bound spine embroidered by Toda women, is more than a publication, it’s a living testament to slow publishing, conscious design, and the power of co-creation. Through this project, Ramya honors the voices of the indigenous communities and landscapes she has come to know intimately.
Our conversation dives into what it truly means to belong to a place, how traditional craft can serve as a bridge between the past and the present, and why sustainability is not just a concept but a relationship. We explore the quiet power of indigenous knowledge systems, the role of creative collaboration in community building, and how art can become a form of ecological engagement. Ramya’s practice invites us to consider new ways of being more rooted, mindful, and reciprocal in how we live, create, and connect.
If you’re passionate about slow living, cultural heritage, indigenous crafts, and sustainable design, this episode will resonate deeply. Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of culture, fashion, and conscious living.
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