Our First September Issue
Dear Reader,
A year ago, Sustain-A-Verse was born out of a dream to reshape the way we think about fashion and its impact on the world. We set out with a mission to amplify the voices of those who dare to imagine an industry that honours the Earth and its people. What started as a seed of hope has now blossomed into a vibrant community, united by a shared vision of sustainability and ethical innovation.
In this special 12th edition, we are honoured to showcase four incredible brands that are rewriting the rules of fashion. These pioneers are transforming a historically harmful industry into one of care, compassion and responsibility. They are crafting stories of integrity to respect the environment and empower the people who make our clothes.
As we celebrate this milestone, it’s more important than ever to uplift and champion brands that are leading with purpose. They remind us that fashion has the power to heal, rather than harm; to give back, rather than take away. By choosing ethical, sustainable fashion, we are collectively contributing to a narrative where creativity thrives without exploitation and beauty is born from mindful choices.
We invite you to join us in this celebration of transformation, as we continue to highlight the makers and innovators who are turning the tide towards a more thoughtful, inclusive and sustainable future.
Read the stories of these incredible brands below, and let their journey inspire you to make fashion a force for good.
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Vriksh Designs: 15 Years of Honouring India’s Textile Crafts
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Vriksh Designs, a distinguished name in the world of handwoven textiles, celebrates 15 years of pioneering innovation in Odisha and Indian textiles. Founded in 2008, Vriksh has earned a reputation for its unique experiments with handwoven Ikat and extra weft techniques, blending tradition with contemporary aesthetics to create textiles that resonate with cultural significance and modern sophistication.​​
A New Chapter: From Sarees to Apparels
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Marking its 15th anniversary, Vriksh is expanding its horizons beyond sarees into apparel. The brand's first apparel collection, "Kalaa," debuted on an international platform at the prestigious International Folk Art Market (IFAM) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from July 11-14, 2024. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Vriksh's journey, showcasing its dedication to evolving within the sustainable fashion landscape while preserving the rich heritage of Odisha's textiles.
The transition from sarees to apparel is a testament to Vriksh's commitment to innovation. The "Kalaa" collection is inspired by the philosophies of 15th-century Indian poet Kabir Das, who emphasized unity and equality, transcending caste and class divides. Gunjan Jain, the founder and designer of Vriksh, reflects on Kabir's teachings: "Naming the collection Kalaa was an obvious choice. Kabir's message emphasizes the importance of unity by urging us to look beyond superficial differences. This collection offers a dialogue on peace and unity in today's polarized social climate."
Celebrating Craftsmanship and Diversity
The "Kalaa" collection is a celebration of the diversity in craftsmanship, highlighting the bond between different communities through a blend of colours, textures, and weaving techniques. The collection's silhouettes are designed to be comfortable, including kaftans, shirt dresses, batwing sleeved tops, and relaxed jackets with kimono sleeves. Staying true to Vriksh's philosophy of not judging a person's body by its shape or size, the collection embodies inclusivity and freedom of self-expression.
Vera Jacket with Kimono Sleeve in 100% Tussar & Handwoven
Vriksh's dedication to sustainable practices is evident in the materials used for the "Kalaa" collection. Geometric patterns in silks and cottons are juxtaposed with ethnic motifs in Ikat and extra weft techniques, offering unique layouts with a dash of luxury. The collection's crowning jewel is the indigenous tussar silk, which is hand-spun into a zero-waste yarn by skilled women spinners. These women are experts in hand-reeling local tussar silk, also known as the wild silk of India, and employ traditional weaving techniques such as Jala (extra weft) and Ikat to craft the fabric. The natural golden hues and unique texture of tussar silk make it a prized material in the world of textile artistry.
Vriksh's Commitment to Sustainability
Vriksh's journey proves that it is possible to build and sustain a fashion brand that remains true to its roots while adapting to modern demands. For 15 years, Vriksh has adhered to its philosophy of "Creativity through Conservation," viewing textiles as living expressions of the craft communities' lives and culture. This commitment to sustainability is not just a trend for Vriksh but a guiding principle that has shaped its growth and success.
Jain's decision to transition from fast fashion to handcrafted textiles reflects her deep respect for the artisans and weavers she collaborates with. "Working with them is an exchange of stories, thoughts, ideas, and knowledge," she explains. "Weavers are the masters of their crafts. Through our collective efforts, we have brought back weaves that were nearly lost to the limelight and are now bringing them to the world at IFAM."
Honouring Tradition, Embracing Innovation
Over the years, Vriksh has garnered numerous accolades for its dedication to preserving and innovating traditional crafts. The brand's weavers have won a record-setting eight National Awards and Odisha State Handloom Awards. Vriksh has also been honoured with the UNESCO Award for Significant Innovations in Traditional Crafts in 2022 and the Vogue India Fashion Fund's "Designer of the Year 2016." These recognitions reflect Vriksh's ability to harmonise traditional crafts with modern aesthetics, creating textiles that embody luxury, elegance and meticulous attention to detail.
Vriksh has continuously experimented with various natural fibers like indigenous tussar silk, cotton, linen, and mulberry silk. The brand blends age-old and modern weaving and printing techniques, including Ikat, Jala Weaving, Tapestry Weaving, Woven Shibori, Eco Printing, Dabu Block Printing and Pattachitra hand paintings. These complex art forms have found new expressions in Vriksh's sarees and now in its apparel collection.
Iris & Ivy Jacket - with Iris featuring jala technique on its yoke and Ivy featuring a colour block and intricate Ikat motifs made in 100% handwoven Tussar
Expanding Beyond Clothing: Textile Art
In addition to clothing, Vriksh has ventured into the world of textile art, showcasing innovative wall art pieces at exhibitions such as "Sutr Santati" at the Melbourne Museum, "Entwined" at the Apparao Gallery in Chennai and "Entwined 2.0" in Bikaner house, New Delhi and several other prestigious events in other prominent cities. In August 2024, Vriksh presented its work at the “Feeling Through Fibre" textile art show in Mumbai.
Vera Jacket - Sarong design with Kimono sleeves in 100% handwoven Tussar
A Visionary Leader: Gunjan Jain
Gunjan Jain, the visionary behind Vriksh, has consistently innovated by collaborating directly with weavers and artisans. Her focus has been on reviving dying and lesser-known weaves of Odisha and other parts of India. Gunjan has worked as a freelance designer in several Indian states, collaborating with master artisans on regional handcrafted textiles.
Her work has been displayed internationally in the United States, Singapore, London, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Australia. Through Vriksh, Gunjan continues to push the boundaries of sustainable fashion, empowering artisans and preserving the rich heritage of Indian textiles.
Vriksh Women - with Founder Gunjan Jain
Sustaining a Long-Term Relationship with Sustain-A-Verse
The story of Vriksh Designs has been closely followed by Sustain-A-Verse, with the brand’s journey being featured in our inaugural edition in October 2023. As a testament to Vriksh's impact and innovation, Gunjan Jain was the very first guest on our Conscious Couture Podcast, where she shared her exemplary work with weavers in Odisha and the importance of preserving traditional crafts. Sustain-A-Verse is proud to maintain its long-term relationship with Vriksh Designs, continuing to support and celebrate the brand’s ongoing contributions to the world of sustainable fashion.
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As Vriksh celebrates 15 years of innovation and dedication to sustainable fashion, it continues to weave stories of heritage, elegance and timeless beauty. The brand's expansion into apparel with the "Kalaa" collection marks a new chapter in its journey, bringing the rich traditions of Odisha's textiles to a global audience. Vriksh's journey is a testament to the possibility of running a sustainable fashion brand that not only survives but thrives, proving that tradition and innovation can coexist beautifully in the world of fashion.
JIWYA by Aishwarya and Adhiraj
Think about plants. Now, think about fashion. Now, imagine combining the two. That’s exactly what JIWYA represents—a revolutionary blend of plant-based materials and luxury fashion.
Co-founded by Aishwarya Lahariya and Adhiraj Shinde, JIWYA is setting a new standard in sustainable fashion by creating bespoke, handcrafted pieces that are 100% plant-powered and ethically produced. JIWYA is a philosophy that reimagines fashion as an art form rooted in sustainability, tradition and innovation.
Celebrating Indian Heritage Through Textiles
JIWYA proudly celebrates its deep connection to Indian textile traditions. The brand collaborates with over 100 generational artisans across India, using authentic, plant-based materials making their clothes living pieces of cultural history. By integrating multiple fabric art forms with in-house garment design and manufacturing, JIWYA ensures that every piece is unique and irreplaceable, designed specifically for the individual wearer.
A JIWYA piece isn’t mass-produced; rather it's wearable art that tells a story, blending centuries-old craftsmanship with modern sustainability. When you wear JIWYA, you are supporting artisans, their families and an entire ecosystem that honours heritage.
Exclusive Preview of the Flamingo Handmade Jacket from JIWYA’s upcoming collection
From Soil to Soil: The Philosophy of JIWYA
Named after the Sanskrit word “Jeev” (life or soul), JIWYA embodies a philosophy of sustainability that goes beyond fashion. Every garment is designed to last a lifetime and, when its journey ends, to return to the Earth in a fully compostable, plant-based form. It’s the ultimate bio-circular fashion model.
Aishwarya and Adhiraj, both textile scientists, personally traveled 19,000 kilometers across India, meeting with over 150 artisans, to convince them to embrace plant-based materials. Their efforts have resulted in a collection that is 100% plant-based, right down to the last stitch, button, and embellishment. Nothing synthetic, no toxic chemicals, and no waste. Every garment is biodegradable, returning to the soil from which it came, ensuring that luxury doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense.
Ethical and Slow Fashion
Fast fashion’s destructive impact on the planet is well-documented but few of us are aware that the luxury industry has a role in perpetuating overconsumption and waste. JIWYA stands apart by adopting a slow fashion model, creating limited, made-to-order garments that are designed to last. This ensures that each piece is produced with intention and care, minimizing waste while providing the highest quality to its consumers.
More importantly, JIWYA is committed to ethical fashion. The brand works directly with artisnas by providing them plant-based raw materials (dyed in-house) to be converted into their heritage arts in fabric form. This is an attempt to preserve traditional craftsmanship and guarantee fair wages and safe working conditions for 100+ grassroot clusters.
By partnering with small communities across India, JIWYA ensures that their work positively impacts lives, while also keeping centuries-old art forms alive.
Exclusive Preview of Nisha Handmade Gown from JIWYA’s upcoming collection
The RE:JIWYA Program
JIWYA happily takes full responsibility for their garments throughout their lifecycle. The RE:JIWYA Program offers consumers a lifetime of repair, revamp, or reintroduction services. Instead of discarding a used or worn piece, consumers can send it back to JIWYA for free or low-cost repairs, creative revamps, or responsible upcycling. This ensures that JIWYA garments do not end up in a landfill.
This bio-circular approach redefines how we think about luxury fashion, urging us to see clothing as an investment to be cherished and cared for, rather than a disposable item.
Founders Driven by Innovation
Behind JIWYA’s groundbreaking approach are co-founders and scientists Aishwarya Lahariya and Adhiraj Shinde. With a decade of experience in textile science, both are deeply passionate about pushing the boundaries of what fashion can achieve for both people and the planet. Aishwarya has worked on projects ranging from aerospace to medical textiles, co-founding a startup for plant-based fur before committing fully to JIWYA. She oversees design, production, and creative direction at JIWYA, bringing a blend of scientific expertise and artistic vision.
Adhiraj, with a Master’s degree in textile processing, leads logistics, operations, and artisan collaborations. His passion lies in maintaining the technical and ethical standards that make JIWYA a leader in sustainable fashion.
JIWYA Founders - Aishwarya Lahariya and Adhiraj Shinde
100% Plant-Based, Zero Waste
JIWYA’s commitment to being fully plant-based is noteworthy. Unlike many brands that make partial sustainability claims, JIWYA ensures that every element of its garments is made from plants—down to the stitching thread and packaging.
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Plant-Based Fabrics: JIWYA uses renewable plant fibers like jute, linen and kala cotton. These fabrics are grown without pesticides and are softer, more breathable, and entirely biodegradable.
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Natural Dyes: JIWYA uses dyes made from plant materials like onion skins and pomegranate peels. These plant-based dyes require minimal water and leave no harmful chemical residue.
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Zero Waste Production: From fabric scraps to buttons, every material is upcycled or used efficiently. JIWYA even ships garments in biodegradable, compostable packaging, reducing its environmental impact at every stage.
A New Era for Luxury Fashion
Luxury fashion has traditionally been linked to wasteful consumption, but JIWYA is changing the narrative. By creating handcrafted, plant-based pieces that honour the earth and its artisans, JIWYA shows that true luxury lies in sustainability, quality, and ethical production.
Every JIWYA piece is a unique creation, one that connects the wearer to slow fashion, conscious consumption and a deep respect for the planet.
AKISO by Sonam & Ankit
Amid the noise of fast fashion and disposable trends, AKISO emerges as a brand dedicated to mindful living and a deep connection with nature. Founded by Sonam Sobti and Ankit Sachdev, AKISO is inspired by the ancient Indian philosophy of Sattva, blending traditional wisdom with contemporary needs to offer clothing that promotes both personal well-being and environmental harmony. Drawing from India’s rich heritage, the brand creates garments that are not only sustainable but also crafted with care, intention, and respect for the earth. AKISO’s Sattvik Yoga Wear collection embodies this vision, combining natural materials with thoughtful design to support a lifestyle rooted in balance and mindfulness.
Rooted in Sattva: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living
At the core of AKISO is the philosophy of Sattva, deeply rooted in Indian traditions and emphasising purity, balance and spiritual growth. Sattva has been a guiding principle in ancient Indian texts, from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali to Ayurveda, promoting a lifestyle in harmony with nature. AKISO draws upon this timeless wisdom to create clothing that fosters inner peace while nurturing the environment.
The concept of Sattva is a way of life. By creating garments that are natural, breathable and designed to support holistic living, the brand makes it easier for individuals to embrace a lifestyle that prioritises calmness and clarity. In a world that is often chaotic, AKISO’s Sattvik Yoga Wear is a return to simplicity and mindfulness, offering both comfort and a deeper connection to the self.
Conscious Living: A Lifestyle That Benefits All
As the global conversation around sustainability grows, AKISO champions the idea that true change begins with individual choices. The brand’s commitment to conscious living is reflected in every piece of clothing, starting with the materials. AKISO uses 100% cotton, which is soft and breathable. Cotton, when grown responsibly, is biodegradable, making it a perfect alternative to synthetic fabrics that harm the environment.
AKISO’s dedication to sustainability goes beyond just the garment. AKISO is an inventory-light business, where garments are made only after receiving an order, eliminating excess production and ensuring sustainability from start to finish.
While AKISO continues its efforts to remove plastic from the supply chain, recyclable plastic bags are currently used to protect fabric, ensuring it remains safe. This careful attention to detail helps maintain the quality of the products while being mindful of the environment.
The focus on natural materials isn’t just about sustainability; it’s also about fostering a deeper sense of connection between the individual and the world around them. Every time someone wears AKISO, they are making a choice to live in alignment with the earth, embracing a lifestyle that benefits all living beings.
Ethical Trade: Empowering Artisans and Communities
AKISO’s commitment to sustainability goes hand in hand with its dedication to ethical trade. The brand firmly believes that fashion should uplift both the wearer and the creator. AKISO employs skilled artisans who are paid fair wages for their craftsmanship, ensuring that they can support their families while preserving traditional crafts.
The fashion industry is often criticised for its exploitative practices, but AKISO stands apart by valuing human dignity and promoting ethical production. The brand maintains a strict policy against child labour, ensuring that every aspect of its production process is rooted in respect, fairness, and transparency. AKISO’s garments are the result of an ecosystem where both people and the planet are cared for.
By focusing on ethical trade, AKISO helps preserve age-old craftsmanship and provides artisans with the opportunity to practice their skills in a sustainable way. Each piece of clothing reflects the stories and hands behind its creation, embodying the values of respect and fairness that AKISO upholds.
Sattvik Yoga Wear: Breaking the Norm with Natural Fabrics
In today’s world, most sports and yoga wear is made from synthetic fabrics, with the assumption that high-performance activewear requires materials like polyester, spandex or nylon to provide flexibility, durability, and moisture-wicking properties. It’s widely believed that synthetic fabrics are essential for movement-intensive activities like yoga or exercise. But AKISO is challenging this norm.
AKISO’s Sattvik Yoga Wear collection is designed to break away from synthetic materials entirely. Made from 100% cotton, the collection provides the same comfort, flexibility and support as its synthetic counterparts while remaining environmentally friendly. Unlike synthetic fabrics, which can restrict airflow and trap sweat, natural cotton is highly breathable and soft against the skin, allowing the body to move freely and comfortably during yoga practice.
AKISO’s yoga wear is also designed with thoughtful details such as plastic- and metal-free fastenings that keep the garments secure during inversions or active poses, ensuring the garment stays in place without restricting movement. Collaborating with seasoned yoga instructors, AKISO has developed clothing that caters to the modern-day yogi, offering garments that not only align with the physical aspects of yoga but also resonate with its spiritual essence. By using entirely natural fabrics, AKISO ensures that prana, or life energy, can flow freely during practice, uninterrupted by synthetic barriers.
The result is a yoga wear collection that feels natural on the skin and supports mindful movement, proving that high-performance activewear can indeed be made from sustainable, natural materials.
The Future of Conscious Fashion
AKISO, led by Sonam Sobti and Ankit Sachdev, is showing us the path towards living with greater awareness, intention and care. As the world faces increasing environmental challenges, AKISO is paving the way for a new kind of fashion—one that is rooted in respect for the earth and its people. Through its carefully crafted clothing, the brand invites individuals to make more mindful choices in their daily lives, reminding us all that the power to create positive change begins with the decisions we make every day.
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Each piece of AKISO clothing is a symbol of this philosophy, offering a balance of comfort, sustainability and ethical craftsmanship. By embracing AKISO’s vision of conscious living, consumers are not only making a statement about their values; they are contributing to a more harmonious, sustainable world.
Evara By Raj, Veena and Tanaya
‘It is as though we have been able to give nature a second or extended life.’ - Veena
Imagine wearing something that not only feels incredibly soft on your skin but also carries the story of nature within its fibers. Picture fabrics dyed with fruit peels and printed with leaves from the wilderness, each piece a unique reflection of the Earth. This is Evara—a brand born from the love of three generations for all things pure, natural, and timeless. Evara takes the beauty of nature and transforms it into clothing that feels alive, blending tradition, sustainability, and craftsmanship in every piece. It’s a connection to nature, woven into every thread.
A Generational Bond Rooted in Fabric and Nature
The story of Evara is one of three generations of women—grandmother, mother, and daughter—each with a unique skillset but united by a shared passion for the beauty of natural materials. Evara’s journey began with the simple act of working with Mulmul, a soft, lightweight fabric, and dyeing it with fruit peels and printing it using leaves from the wilderness. What emerged from these organic processes was an unpredictable, one-of-a-kind pattern, each print a piece of nature’s artwork, never to be replicated.
This practice soon became the foundation of Evara. The joy and satisfaction of working with such materials, where no two outcomes are the same, sparked a passion that turned into a thriving brand. The grandmother, a seamstress since childhood, brought decades of experience to the table. The mother, a lover of mixed materials such as wood, metal, and stone, merged her skills with fabrics. And the daughter, with a deep understanding of texture and form, added her expertise in the structural beauty of textiles.
From Left to Right - Tanaya Paradkar (daughter), Raj Rawtani (grandmother), Veena Paradkar (mother)
The Process: Connecting with Nature
At the heart of Evara is a deep connection with the natural world. The materials used in their fabrics often come from discarded leaves, fallen fruit or weeds that have medicinal properties. This approach to sustainability wasn’t a calculated business decision, but something that evolved naturally out of a desire to work with what was readily available in the environment.
The process begins with collecting natural elements—broken branches, trimmings, and even insect-ridden leaves. These raw materials are then transformed into dyes and prints through an intuitive, hands-on approach. The tactile experience of working with the natural pigments, experimenting with different techniques, and learning from the unexpected results are all part of the brand’s ethos. There is a joy in the process of creation—each piece of fabric tells its own story and Evara’s designers never know exactly what to expect until the process is complete.
Pure silk stole dyed with catechu and resist printed with croton leaves and ferns using a blanket technique that was dyed in madder root
Pure Habutai silk dyed with mulberry fruit and printed with iron soaked leaves of castor and some bauhinia leaves
The Path to Sustainability
When Evara first started, they were unknowingly already on the path of sustainability. The raw materials—fruit peels, fallen leaves, and discarded plant parts—are sourced in a way that aligns with the natural world. There’s a sense of responsibility in using materials that nature provides without taking more than what’s needed.
The founders were always drawn to the organic feel of handmade materials. The lack of readily available skin-friendly, organic fabrics inspired them to explore deeper into natural dyeing and printing techniques. What began with plant powders soon evolved into using actual fruit peels, barks, and other organic materials to create rich, vibrant pigments. Each step in the process was a learning experience, where trial and error, guided by the grandmother’s practical know-how, eventually led to beautiful results.
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Crafting Textures and Patterns
With sustainability as their foundation, the Evara team continued to experiment with textures, patterns, and printing techniques. This is where the daughter’s expertise came into play, focusing on how the fabric would drape, its weight, and the overall feel. The team began to see each fabric not just as a canvas but as something that would become part of someone’s life.
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The art of leaf printing, where real leaves are pressed onto the fabric to create intricate, fossil-like impressions, became a central technique. The leaves, sometimes layered for depth, give the fabric a unique texture and dimension. Each print is distinct, making every piece a singular creation. The botanical elements, once printed, appear almost fossilised on the fabric, adding both visual and tactile interest.
Twill scarf dyed in myrobalan plant dye and printed with iron soaked castor leaves
Pure mul shrug dyed in a light wash of madder plant dye and printed with iron soaked leaves of guava, lemon, silver oak and some local leaves
A Natural Evolution
Evara’s design philosophy is centred on working in harmony with the seasons and the environment. Different plants, minerals, fruits and leaves are used depending on what nature provides at a particular time of year. This seasonal approach leads to an extraordinary variety of results, where each fabric reflects the characteristics of the natural materials used to create it.
As the brand evolved, they consciously discarded synthetic materials and processes in favour of organic ones. By doing so, they have managed to give nature a second life, imprinting its beauty onto fabric in a way that feels authentic and alive. The resulting textiles not only look unique but also feel uniquely natural on the skin, offering a sensory experience that connects the wearer with the Earth.
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Twill stole dyed with myrobalan plant dye and printed with iron soaked local leaves and creepers
Pure mul fabric dyed with eucalyptus bark and printed with iron soaked guava and croton leaves
Expanding Beyond Fashion
Evara’s commitment to sustainability doesn’t end with clothing. The same techniques used for their fabrics can be applied to a variety of other surfaces, including upholstery, soft furnishings, and even pre-loved garments. This opens up endless possibilities for expanding their craft into new areas while staying true to their core values of natural, sustainable design.
A Journey of Tradition and Innovation
The beauty of Evara lies in its seamless blend of tradition and innovation. The brand honours the past through its use of age-old techniques, while constantly pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with natural materials. Each fabric is not just a product but a story of three generations, of nature and of the joy that comes from working with what the Earth provides.
Evara’s journey continues to unfold, inviting more people to experience the magic of their fabrics. By wearing Evara, consumers become part of a movement that values authenticity, sustainability, and the undeniable beauty of the natural world.
As we close this special Anniversary edition of Sustain-A-Verse, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible brands who made it possible. Their passion and dedication to transforming the fashion industry have been nothing short of inspiring and we are deeply grateful for their contributions to this issue.
A special and heartfelt thank you to Gunjan and Shrestha from Vriksh Designs, Aishwarya from JIWYA, Sonam from AKISO and Veena from Evara. Your generosity, honesty and stunning product images have been the cornerstone of this edition. Thank you for trusting us to tell your stories and for showing the world that fashion can be ethical, sustainable and full of heart.
To our cherished readers, we hope this edition has touched you as much as it has touched us. These brands are leading the way toward a future where fashion doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet or its people. If their stories resonate with you, we invite you to subscribe to Sustain-A-Verse and join us on this journey. Together, we can continue to amplify the voices that are driving positive change in fashion.
Please support us by following our journey on Instagram and YouTube, and help spread the word about the good things happening in fashion. Your support allows us to keep sharing these incredible stories.
Let’s Make Fashion Beautiful Again!
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With Gratitude and Love,
Sumana & Sanchita Mukherjee
Founders, Sustain-A-Verse