Beyond Streetwear: Dhruv Khurana’s Vision for Almost Gods

Almost Gods, founded by Dhruv Khurana, stands out in India’s streetwear space by weaving mythological, historical, and cultural narratives into its designs. With a vision to create globally appealing yet deeply rooted offerings, the brand is redefining homegrown streetwear.

Reviving Craftsmanship: Monica Shah on Jade’s Grassroots Vision

Episode 7 of Backstage with Blur the Border features Monica Shah of Jade, sharing insights on the Grassroots Artisan Project, blending India’s artisanal legacy with modern global relevance.

Craft, Community, and Storytelling: Sreesha Shetty, Founder of ShopLune

Sreesha Shetty, founder of Lune, has turned her passion for handcrafted jewelry into a leading female-run label, favored by stylists and celebrities. Unlike trend-driven brands, Lune reflects Sreesha’s artistic vision, offering timeless statement and everyday pieces. With stores in Mumbai and Goa and a strong online presence, Lune has grown from a passion project to one of India's top jewelry labels. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Sreesha’s journey is a testament to building a brand rooted in creativity.

Building a Belief-Led Brand with Raul Rai, Co-founder of Nicobar

Raul discusses his transition from investment banking to entrepreneurship, co-founding Nicobar with Simran Lal. The conversation explores the brand's commitment to mindful consumption, creating timeless designs, and balancing aspiration with accessibility. Raul also emphasizes learning from customers, the role of luck, and personal growth from taking risks. The episode offers insightful advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Creative Force Behind Valliyan: Nitya Arora

Nitya Arora, the founder of Valliyan, has been a pivotal force in India's homegrown brand revolution, showcasing her talents in curation, styling, and creative direction, with notable achievements in 2024 including a standout Lakme Fashion Week presentation and the opening of a new store in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.

People, Stories, and Collaboration with Pranav Misra, Co-founder of Huemn

Pranav Misra of Huemn shares insights on balancing creativity and business, emphasizing individuality and storytelling over transactions.

Making Luxury Matter with Shivam Punjya, Founder of behno New York

Shivam Punjya, an academic and researcher, founded the premium leather handbag brand behno New York with a strong focus on social impact at every stage of production. Born and raised in California, he launched behno New York in the US, and it has now become a favorite among Indian homegrown labels. Recently, behno New York signed Katrina Kaif as the brand ambassador for its Indian launch. This episode explores behno New York's growth and how Shivam has blended luxury with social responsibility.

Backstage with Vivek Sahni, founder of Kama Ayurveda

In this episode, the founder of Kama Ayurveda shares essential tips on establishing a successful store, staying connected with customers, perfecting your products, and maintaining uncompromising quality.

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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.

What We Discuss:

  • 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

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

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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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.

What We Discuss:

  • 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

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

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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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!

What We Discuss:

  • 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

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

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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In this episode of Backstage with Blur the Border, host Aishwarya Avalani 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.

What We Discuss:

  • 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  

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

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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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.

What We Discuss:

  • 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 

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

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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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 Misra, 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 business.

What We Discuss:

  • 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

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

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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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.

What We Discuss:

  • 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

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

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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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.

What We Discuss:

  • 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

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

As always, thank you for tuning in! 

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