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For our second season of the Weaving Legacies series, we speak to five notable businesswomen whose stories reverberate a passion for fabrics, technique, and craftsmanship rooted in India’s artisanal heritage and culture.
WeaverStory is inspired by the myriad cultures, traditions, textiles, and crafts spanning across the nation's diverse regions. We're also inspired by women who proudly uphold these traditions, honouring their heritage while embracing the possibilities of tomorrow. In our ongoing endeavour to expand our network and ignite conversations around Indian crafts, handwoven textiles, cherished family traditions and passed-down heritage, we indulge in enlightening conversations with Ms. Arti Kochhar, Executive DirectorBNI Gurgaon and Faridabad; Ms. Ridhima Moudgil, founder of Stripes Interiors; Ms. Saumya Shharma, Emotional-Mental Wellbeing Therapist and Coach; Ms. Vidhi Thakkar Singh, partner at Karmaa Chocolates and Confections; and Ms. Nalini Seth Malhotra, founder of Aayka Concepts.
All five women have charted their own paths, exploring how their ancestral roots, cultural influences, cherished teachings, and heirlooms shape their personal and professional journeys. They reflect on the enduring impact of these legacies and articulate their aspirations for preserving and evolving them into the future.
Below, we spotlight these extraordinary creatives who are decrypting Indian codes and traditions driven by their innate individuality, ancestral heritage, and professional journeys—reshaping the spaces and industries they inhabit.
Find excerpts from our conversation:
Ms Arti Kochhar; Executive Director of BNI Gurgaon and Faridabad
With an upbringing rooted in the belief of social service, Arti Kochhar witnessed her grandmother spend a lot of time helping others and giving back to society. In our conversation with her, Ms. Kochhar reminisces about wonderful memories from her childhood and shares little anecdotes from her grandmother. Her naani would often tell her, “Whatever you do in life, you have to give back or give forward, because we are the blessed ones; we are the lucky ones who have a lot,” recollects Ms. Kochhar. Now, it is a practice that she wholeheartedly embraces and continues to live her life guided by this noble principle. She believes that 10% of what you get should be given back to society. If you don’t have the monetary funds, you give back the time, but you give back something.
“And that’s something that has stayed with me right through. It’s something that I practice even now, and it’s something that has become a part of my life,” smiles Ms. Kochhar.
Click here for - Arti’s video
Saumya Shharma, Emotional-Mental Wellbeing Therapist and Coach
Coming from a family with roots in different pockets of the country, Saumya Shharma was brought up with the idea of “acceptance.”
“I come from a family that has roots in various parts of the country. My great-grandparents come from Multan, which is now a part of Pakistan. My grandfather, my nana, comes from Uttar Pradesh and met my Nani in Haridwar. My father has his roots in Rajasthan, and my parents met in Delhi,” smiles Saumya Shharma, sitting comfortably in a beautiful yellow Banarasi Kora Silk Saree at the WeaverStory studio in Delhi.
From a very young age, Ms. Shharma was exposed to diverse traditions and instilled with the importance of embracing differences. “I may not always understand, but I’ll make space for it. I think that was the most profound thing I grew up with, and that is something that I’ve carried with me in my life.”
With a deep-rooted belief in tolerance and respect, she learned to apply these values in her professional life as an emotional and mental well-being coach and therapist. Regardless of the individuals she works with, Ms. Sharma has an innate ability to wholeheartedly accept them for their unique identities and the rich culture they carry along.
Click here for - Saumya’s video
Ridhima Moudgil, Founder of Stripes Interiors
“Sab kuch ithe hi milta hai,” said Ridhima Moudgil’s grandfather, and it stuck with her for life.
Ridhima Moudgil was instilled with the idea of promoting local craftsmanship from a very young age. Her grandfather was born and brought up in Peshawar, Pakistan, and believed in celebrating Indian culture by supporting indigenous crafts and textiles. Her family’s unwavering dedication to supporting swadeshi brands and preserving our rich heritage helped shape her values. Today, Ms. Moudgil upholds their legacy through her interior design label, which pays homage to the exquisite artistry of traditional Indian crafts and textiles.
Click here for - Ridhima’s video
Vidhi Thakkar Singh, Partner at Karmaa Chocolates and Confections
“In embracing diversity and celebrating our differences, we find our strength. And in doing so, we not only honour our past but also shape our future, where diversity is not only tolerated but also celebrated,” smiles Vidhi Thakkar Singh.
While Ms. Singh was born into a Gujarati family, her parents instilled in her a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and traditions. Together with her mother, she explored jewellery and weaves from across the country, like Kanjeevaram, Parsi Gara, Banarasi silks, Bandhini, and Phulkari. So when it came down to putting together her wedding trousseau, it was a symphony of age-old crafts, each whispering a different story from every corner of India.
Later, in her married life she finds herself part of a Sikh family. Her mother-in-law who spent a significant time growing up in South-India, particularly in Vizag and Bangalore, shares a wealth of her cultural heritage with her. Through this exchange, they both embrace diversity and celebrate the differences, recognising that strength lies within their varied backgrounds.
Click here for - Vidhi’s video
Nalini Seth Malhotra, Founder of Aayka Concepts
“I’ve been blessed with a huge pitarah of sarees by my Dadi, Nani, and my mother, but I could never really wear them because I didn’t know how to drape a saree. I feel I have blossomed and evolved into a true Indian, confident woman only once I finally learned how to wear a saree,” says Nalini Seth Malhotra as she gracefully seats herself in a vibrant pink Ikat Patola Saree from WeaverStory.
Raised in the bustling city of Kanpur, Ms. Malhotra grew up watching her family’s fondness for sarees. During the summer months, she witnessed her mother and her aunts come together to do ‘kadhai’ on fabrics that would later be elegantly draped as sarees. She feels blessed to have such heirloom pieces, and while she adores them, she is overwhelmed with gratitude for the profound heritage they represent.
Click here for - Nalini’s Video
Author - Haiqa Sidiqqui
