What does it take to build a fashion brand that challenges the fast-paced fashion system while reimagining the value of what we discard? For Ritwik Khanna, founder of Rkive City, the answer lies in treating post-consumer textile waste not as refuse, but as raw material for storytelling, innovation and design.

In this episode, Ritwik walks us through his journey from growing up in a textile family in Amritsar to studying at FIT in New York, and how time spent working in Gujarat’s wastehouses led to the founding of Rkive City. More than just a fashion label, Rkive City functions as a research and design house committed to circular systems, responsible production and garments that carry meaning.

With thoughtful collaborations such as the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation and Karthik Research, and recent milestones like Milan Fashion Week, Rkive City offers a model for how India can lead the global shift toward a more intentional and regenerative fashion industry.

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Tahira Chawla

Produced By: Blur the Border

Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: SpacePepper Studios

Chapter Markers

03:45 Where do you envision Rkive City?

04:50 On collaborating with PDKF and Kartik Research

10:20 On working with denim

22:17 The over burden on supply chain

23:52 Navigating growth while maintaining a zero waste model

27:37 Remanufacturing as a future for India

30:11 Industry support for young designers

35:47 Rkive City's collection at the Lakme Fashion Show

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How does a brand stand out in today’s competitive market? You differentiate, reveals Dhruv Khurana, the founder of Almost Gods, a brand that has steadily attracted a loyal following for their ability to breathe a fresh perspective into India’s burgeoning streetwear space. Almost Gods is, however, not only a streetwear brand. Through Dhruv’s creative vision, the brand draws from mythological, historical, and cultural symbols to tell stories through their offerings. The why behind the brand is answered as Dhruv reveals his background story and what drew him to this space. With a goal of making clothes that have global appeal but are rooted in India, Almost Gods is a homegrown brand whose journey has just begun. 

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Aishwarya Avlani 

Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the Border

Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media 

Location Courtesy: Canopy Studios

Music: Licensed through Epidemic Sound 

Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro

02:01 How Almost Gods Has Built a Community 

03:12 On Dhruv’s Entrepreneurial Bug 

07:56 How Almost Gods Was Conceived 

09:34 The Early Days of the Brand 

11:14 On Building a Team

13:20 On Stealing Ideas 

13:58 On Not Being Afraid to Reinvent 

16:54 On How to Stay Relevant 

19:31 The Story Behind the Brand Name

21:00 On How to Make Your Brand Ethos Connect with your Consumer 

23:09 Balancing Commercial Success with Creative Integrity

25:36 On Patenting & Trademarking

28:04 Almost Gods Design Process

32:23 When Ranveer Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, and Machine Gun Kelly Wore Almost Gods 

33:33 On Challenging Retail Design 

37:00 Almost Gods’ International Expansion

38:33 Approach to Collaborations

40:38 Dhruv’s Go-to Homegrown Brands & Advice for Budding Brands

44:20 The Future of Almost Gods in the Phy-digital Space

47:13 Know the Founder

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It’s episode 7 of Backstage with Blur the Border and in this episode, we have with us Monica Shah, one half of the dynamic duo who lead Jade, a brand that has gained recognition for blending India’s artisanal legacy with contemporary and modern-day ensembles. Most recently, Jade has launched the Grassroots Artisan Project, with a focus of showcasing indigenous craftsmanship techniques through ready-to-wear collections. Monica works closely with artisans who have gained expertise in a certain craft style and through their ingenuity, turns it into a motif through the Grassroots Project. For the brand, their mission is to preserve crafts and challenge the way in which we’ve worn them in India, while making it relevant to a global audience as well. In this episode, Monica speaks to host Aishwarya about the idea behind this project, Jade, and how they approach brand-building with this very important mission in focus.

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Aishwarya Avlani 

Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the Border

Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media 

Location Courtesy: Canopy Studios

Music: Licensed through Epidemic Sound 

Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro

00:37 Introduction to the Host and Guest

00:57 Monica Dives Into The Grassroots Artisan Project

03:15 Reinventing Traditional Crafts

04:52 Cultural Sustainability and Modernization

05:22 The Future of Indian Couture

17:20 The Spirit of the Jade Woman

19:50 Challenges in Growing a Brand

21:28 Balancing Tradition and Modernity

23:57 The Role of Digital Storytelling

28:21 The Inception of Jade

30:28 How Monica’s Background in Interior Design Informs the Brand

31:42 On Collaborating with Museums 

32:59 Go-to Homegrown Brands 

33:35 Elevating Indian Design Globally

34:49 Looking Ahead

36:15 Know the Founder 

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Creating came very naturally for Sreesha Shetty, the founder of Lune, a handcrafted female-run jewelry label that has become a favorite among stylists and celebrities. What we love about Sreesha’s journey is that she focused on creating a brand that isn’t trend-driven but is rather a result of her artistic vision. The brand believes in creating statement and everyday jewelry that is classic and enduring. Now with two stores in Mumbai and Goa, and a thriving online presence, Lune, which started out for Sreesha as a passion project has evolved into one of India’s leading jewelry labels for handcrafted concept jewelry. For budding entrepreneurs, who want to create a brand that is an extension of their creativity, this is a must!

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Aishwarya Avlani 

Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the Border

Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media 

Location Courtesy: Canopy Studios

Music: Licensed through Epidemic Sound 

Chapters: 

00:00 Intro 

01:32 Sreesha’s Journey from Journalism to Jewellery

02:59 The Birth of ShopLune

03:40 Crafting Collections with Local Artisans

06:59 Building a Community and Organic Growth

08:49 The Growth of Celebrity Endorsements and PR

11:48 Lune’s Foray into Retail

14:33 Unique Jewelry Collections

16:32 Impact of Environment on Creativity

18:51 Finding Inspiration in Birmingham: The Founding Days of Lune

20:39 Spotlighting Homegrown Labels

22:00 Evolution of Jewelry Trends in India

24:15 Creating Timeless Pieces with Lune

26:22 On the Launch of Lune Fine

27:41 On Her Mother Joining the Team

30:24 Jewelry as Heirlooms: Personal Stories

32:35 Quick Q&A: Know the Founder

37:44 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Backstage with Blur the Border, host Aishwarya Avlani sits down with Raul Rai, the co-founder of the lifestyle brand Nicobar. Raul shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey, beginning with his private equity and investment banking background to co-founding Nicobar with Simran Lal. The discussion delves into the brand's philosophy of mindful consumption, creating timeless designs, and maintaining a balance between aspiration and accessibility. Raul also touches on the importance of learning from customers, the role of luck in success, and the personal growth that comes from stepping outside one's comfort zone. The conversation is engaging, philosophical, and filled with valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Aishwarya Avlani 

Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the Border

Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media 

Location Courtesy: Canopy Studios

Music: Licensed through Epidemic Sound 

Chapters: 

00:00 Intro 

00:51 From Ideation to Execution: The Birth of Nicobar

05:10 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone and Embracing the Beginner’s Mindset 

07:42 The Role of Design and Team in Nicobar

08:26 How to Make Your Brand Stand Out 

10:12 Raul’s Switch from Private Equity to Entrepreneurship

13:33 A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur 

16:30 The Role of Serendipity in Brand Success

24:45 On Working with your Partner

30:59 Hiring for Passion: The Nicobar Approach

32:09 Key Insights from Launching an Omnichannel Brand 

32:46 The Importance of Storytelling in Branding

36:08 The Customer Perception of a Brand // On Becoming the Go-to Brand for Gifting 

39:29 On Staying True to Your Brand DNA 

42:11 Balancing Brand Identity with Customer Needs

46:46 Future Vision for Nicobar

51:30 Know the Founder  

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Nitya Arora founded Valliyan at just 21—one of the country’s pioneering concept jewelry brands. Over the past decade, she has been a key figure in the homegrown brand revolution. While Valliyan remains central to her work, Nitya’s talents span curation, styling, and creative direction across the fashion and beauty industries. In this episode, we explore her journey, industry insights, and the significant milestones of 2024, including a stunning Lakme Fashion Week presentation and a new store in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Aishwarya Avlani 

Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the Border

Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media 

Location Courtesy: Canopy Studios

Music: Licensed through Epidemic Sound 

Chapters: 

00:00 Intro 

01:40 The New Valliyan Speakeasy 

03:18 Valliyan Show at Lakme Fashion Week 

05:39 Relevance of Fashion Shows Today 

09:21 Starting a Brand at 21 and Finding Early Success

14:00 Managing Valliyan While Studying at Parsons 

16:10 The Growth of Fashion Jewellery as a Segment in India 

17:00 How Nitya’s Punjabi Heritage has Inspired the Brand 

20:46 On Valliyan’s Sustainable Collection that was ahead of its Time 

24:49 Valliyan’s Take on India’s Homegrown Label Industry

33:12 The Importance of Building A Personal Brand for a Founder

37:21 Know the Founder 

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Each brand founder wants to create a successful brand yet the formula to success is actually not formulaic at all. Case in point: Huemn. As a brand that has built a loyal community since its inception, Pranav Kirti, the co-founder explains that the brand has never been transactional. It has always been about embracing individuality and allowing stories and people to take center stage. Along with this, a poetic perspective on life can go a long way. This episode is different but just as insightful and serves as a masterclass on balancing creativity and its delicate balance with entrepreneurship.

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Aishwarya Avlani 

Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the Border

Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media 

Location Courtesy: Canopy Studios

Music: Licensed through Epidemic Sound 

Image Source (in order of Appearance): Websites of Huemn, Rahul Mishra, Amit Aggarwal, Bodice

Chapters: 

00:00 Intro 

01:30 Royal Enfield x Huemn Collaboration 

03:02 On Building a Community and Loyal Following 

04:47 How Huemn Approaches Collaborations + Collaboration with Pepsi

07:35 We’re in the Golden Era for Homegrown Labels 

10:25 Pranav’s Go-to Homegrown Labels

11:35 How It All Began: The Journey of Discovering Your Brand 

14:07 Embracing Versatility for your Brand 

17:31 “Art is Always Bigger than the Artist; the Artist is Bigger than the Stage”

19:23 Building the Right Team 

21:22 Huemn’s Global Positioning and the Origins of Streetwear 

26:06 Why Pranav Decided to Start His Own Label 

29:53 Building a Poetic Point of View and Way of Being 

31:15 On Fashion School and Early Dreams 

35:07 Know the Founder 

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What led Shivam Punjya, an academic and researcher to start a premium brand retailing leather handbags? From the outside, it may seem puzzling but it isn’t when you learn that social impact pervades every step of production at design at Behno. Born and raised in California, Shivam launched Behno in the US. Now a favorite among homegrown labels in India, Behno recently signed Katrina Kaif as the brand ambassador for its Indian launch. In this episode, we explore Behno's growth story and how Shivam has created a brand at the intersection of luxury and social impact.

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Aishwarya Avlani 

Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the Border

Audio-Video Production & Post-Production: Canopy Media 

Location Courtesy: Canopy Studios

Music: Licensed through Epidemic Sound 

Chapters: 

00:00 Intro 

01:43 Behno’s Launch in India 

02:26 Katrina Kaif x Behno

05:25 Creating a Brand for Social Impact

10:29 How Brands Can Adopt Conscious Production

14:42 Challenging Design and Aesthetic Stereotypes 

17:09 The Hidden Meaning in Behno’s Handbag Design 

19:51 The Pivot from Ready-to-Wear to Handbags 

21:01 Why the Brand was Named ‘Behno’

22:59 Shivam’s Take on India’s Homegrown Industry

25:59 On Collaboration & Go-To Homegrown Labels 

30:27 How Brands Can Increase International Representation

31:29 The Day-to-Day of Running a Brand 

34:01 “I Never Thought I’d be the Founder of a Fashion Brand”

36:54 Know the Founder

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In the late 1990s, Vivek Sahni, the founder of Kama Ayurveda, discovered the efficacy of Ayurveda. Since then, his mission has remained steadfast: to bring traditional Indian remedies with proven efficacy to a global audience. In 2002, this vision culminated in the launch of Kama Ayurveda in India. However, behind this success lies a wealth of insights. In this episode, we delve into Vivek's journey, uncovering invaluable lessons on building a successful brand. He shares essential tips on establishing a successful store, staying connected with customers, perfecting your products, and maintaining uncompromising quality. For aspiring entrepreneurs, this discussion promises to be a masterclass in brand building and growth within India.

Presented By: Blur the Border

Hosted By: Aishwarya Avlani 

Produced By: Rhea Bhambhani and Blur the Border

Music: Licensed through Epidemic Sound 

Chapters: 

00:00 - Opening

00:47 - Intro 

01:48 - Kama’s Launch in the UK 

08:13 - Vivek’s Journey: From Graphic Design to Founding Kama 

15:45 - On Simplifying Your Brand Messaging

17:01 - Vivek’s Take on the Difficult Moments

24:05 - Kama’s USP: Designing their Stores

30:27 - The Power of Sampling

31:35 - The Kama Store No One Would Enter

35:28 - Vivek’s Thoughts on How the Industry has Evolved

36:53 - Vivek’s Homegrown Brand Picks 

38:40 - On Working with Regional Influencers for Marketing

41:35 - Know the Founder 

47:20 - Kama Over the Next 10 Years 

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Vinita Makhija has taken up the baton of spotlighting and documenting India’s rich history with textiles as well as our legacy craftsmanship. She worked for nearly a decade at editorial publications as a fashion stylist and creative director. Now, she still wears these hats while balancing her time as a writer and editor. 

In this penultimate episode of the podcast, Vinita tells Surbhi about her beginnings in the fashion industry (00:57), how she found her visual language (4:39), about her extensive travels through India documenting Indian textiles (6:35), and a very compelling segue into ideas as currency (14:25). We pivot to Vinita's pick of homegrown labels (24:50) in the second half of the episode, ending with our AMA on staying inspired and her thoughts on the role of social media in this industry (34:26). 

Thanks for tuning in! For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com 

Follow this show and rate it wherever you’re listening to it.

Find Vinita's pick of homegrown labels here: https://blurtheborder.com/unblur/backstage-with-vinita-makhija-fashion-stylist-and-writer/

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Aastha Sharma hasn’t been afraid to follow her gut and take the leap when she feels inclined to it. Today, the role of a fashion stylist is a necessity but back when it was still hiding in obscurity, is when Aastha decided to explore this new space. In a way, she’s been at the forefront of the growth of this industry and has seen it evolve over the years, as she has made her mark across the entire styling gamut. She’s worked as an editorial stylist, a costume designer and a celebrity stylist. Today she’s the founder of two companies - Wardobist and the Wedding Style Project. 

In this episode, Aastha opens up to Surbhi about her decision to join the fashion industry (00:45), how she founded the Wardrobist (4:04), styling Aishwarya Rai Bachan for Cannes (5:18), her foray into styling for web series (7:43), and her tips on managing work as a stylist while raising a family (10:55). As always, in the second half of the episode we tease out Aastha’s go-to homegrown labels (17:14), her insights into the future of homegrown labels in India (21:57), and the AMA from the Blur the Border team (24:59). 

Thanks for tuning in! For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com 

Follow this show and rate it wherever you’re listening to it. 

Find Aastha's pick of homegrown labels across categories here: https://blurtheborder.com/unblur/backstage-with-aastha-sharma-film-wedding-stylist/

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Through a career in PR, Shreeja Rajgopal was introduced to the world of fashion styling and decided to take the leap and become a stylist. Soon, she landed her first gig, working with Alia Bhatt. As an outsider in the field, she began learning the ropes on the job, gaining confidence with each project. Now, over a decade later, she has worked with multiple celebrities including Mithila Palkar, Masaba Gupta, Sayani Gupta, and Chitrangada Sing. 

In the 7th episode of Backstage with Blur the Border, Shreeja opens up to Surbhi about her switch from PR to fashion styling (0:49), her role as a wedding stylist and the inception of her own venture, Draping Dreams (6:12) and on setting standards for fair pay in the industry (11:09). In the second half of the episode, Shreeja shares her pick of homegrown labels (15:45), her thoughts on memorable collaborations, as well as those she hopes to see in the future (21:22), culminating with our AMA from the Blur the Border team (24:46). 

For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com 

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed the episode, follow or rate us on your go-to podcast player.

Find the full list of Shreeja's go-to homegrown labels here: https://blurtheborder.com/unblur/backstage-with-shreeja-rajagopal-stylist/

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Talent, a sense of humor, and honesty is how we would describe Divyak D’souza. Divyak is a stylist, costume designer, and the host of Say Yes to the Dress India. He has worked with GQ, Elle, Femina and has been the Fashion Director for Harper’s Bazaar India. In his work as a stylist, he has been behind the looks of Kareena Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, and Tabu. 

In this episode, Divyak talks to us about how his foray into fashion was serendipitous (0:45), the difference between styling for ad campaigns and editorial shoots as well as his approach to celebrity styling (7:36), on dealing with criticism (17:14), and advice for those who are just starting out (22:35). As always, we dive into the homegrown segment where Divyak tells us about his go-to labels (24:47), wrapping it up with our AMA (37:14), where we discuss trends Divyak predicts for the industry as well as his love for Asha Bhosle.

Tune in to a really fun yet insightful episode of Backstage with Blur the Border. 

For the full list of Divyak's go-to homegrown labels, visit https://blurtheborder.com/unblur/backstage-with-divyak-dsouza-stylist-and-costume-designer/

For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com 

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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As a celebrity stylist, Anisha Jain believes that her work should enable the celebrities she works with to be true to who they are. For Anisha, the world of fashion was always on her radar - she began working in the industry at the age of 18, her first job was assisting designer Kunal Rawal. Since then, she’s found her voice as a celebrity stylist having worked with Shahid Kapoor and Rajkumar Rao.

In this episode, Anisha takes us through the defining moment in her career (1:54), the difference between styling younger vs established actors (4:28), her process and approach to work (6:29), on hiring and building her team (10:56), and how she deals with the demands of the job (13:50). In the second half of the episode, we feature our signature segment where we spotlight homegrown brands (16:46) wrapping it up with the Blur the Border AMA (21:08). 

To find the full list of Anisha's go-to homegrown labels, visit https://blurtheborder.com/unblur/backstage-with-anisha-jain-celebrity-stylist/

For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com 

As always, thank you for tuning in! We have a lot more in store for you. 

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For Isha Bhansali, menswear styling was not part of the plan. Her roots lie in editorial styling. To this extent, she begins each project today with a moodboard – using it as a north star for the looks she curates on the celebrities she works with. Most notable is her work with Ayushman Khurana, whom she’s been styling on the regular from the time they began working together. 

In this episode, Isha talks about her days as an editorial stylist (1:11), how celebrity styling differs from editorial styling (3:50), and how menswear styling happened for her (9:24). Later in the episode, she speaks about over-sourcing as a pitfall of this industry (13:20), and of course, we fish for Isha’s go-to homegrown labels but this time (16:39), with a focus on her menswear picks! We conclude with Isha’s very pertinent advice for those starting out in the industry (26:01). 

For the full list of homegrown labels recommended by Isha, head to https://blurtheborder.com/unblur/backstage-with-isha-bhansali-celebrity-menswear-stylist/

For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com 

New episodes are out each week! Rate and review this show to let us know your thoughts and if you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend who may enjoy it as well. 

As always, thank you for tuning in!

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Prayag Menon’s work is distinct yet minimal, bold but subtle. As a creative director and editorial stylist, he creates visual identities that linger and resonate. You’ll notice this in his work for brands such as Gunam Beauty, Aroka, Popley Eternal, and for publications such as Vogue, Elle, and Verve, and Harper’s Bazaar.

In this third edition of the podcast, we learn about Prayag’s journey from pilot to self-taught stylist and art director (00:58), how he honed his aesthetic (4:32), his collaborations with his partner and photographer, Porus Vimadalal (8:25) and his thoughts on Indian fashion taking the stage globally (18:18). 

We have new episodes for you each week. Follow this show to stay updated when episode 4 drops. 

For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com 

Thanks for listening! 

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What does it mean to be a celebrity fashion stylist? We often consume the final looks curated by stylists on social media but behind these looks is a process and approach that marries an actor’s personal style with looks that complement and elevate.

Meagan Concessio is a master at this, particularly in her work with young Bollywood. She has been behind the looks of Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Pandey, and Tara Sutaria, among others. In this episode, she speaks to Surbhi about what the job of a stylist entails (4:50), the inflection point in her career as a stylist (6:39), dealing with criticism in this field (9:22), and of course, our signature Blur the Border segment where Meagan tell us about her go-to homegrown labels (13:10), wrapping it up with a short AMA (25:05).

We have new episodes for you each week. Follow this show to stay updated when a new episode drops. 

For feedback and suggestions, reach out to us at podcast@blurtheborder.com 

Thanks for listening!

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For Eka Lakhani, fashion is a medium for communicating stories. This finds its roots in her experience as a costume designer for films and web series. But it also translates to her role as a stylist, in the looks she curates for the actors she works with.  

In this first episode of Backstage with BTB, we dive deep into both her work as a costume designer and stylist (1:12) and how she started her styling company Team E (11:11). She speaks about the demands of the job and the need to slow down (14:33) and finally, we move into our signature Blur the Border segment, where Eka and Surbhi discuss the growth of homegrown labels (20:55), and what’s to come as Indian fashion takes the stage globally (26:45). 

We have new episodes for you each week. Follow this show to stay updated when a new episode drops.

Thanks for listening! 

For more visit https://blurtheborder.com/

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Here’s a sneak peek into Backstage with Blur the Border. Hear from some of India’s leading fashion stylists on their perspective of the industry, homegrown labels they’ve come to love, collaborations they think need to happen, and how it all began for them! 

Episode 1 drops very soon! Make sure to follow the podcast to be notified when it drops. 

To discover more, head to: https://blurtheborder.com/ or find us on Instagram @blurtheborder_ 

Reach out to us at hello@blurtheborder.com

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