Urvashi is a Former journalist and communications specialist turned entrepreneur. She is the founder of The Handmade Edit, a Tokyo-based online curated marketplace showcasing slow, ethical fashion from India.
The Handmade Edit currently has their own collections, items curated directly from weavers and artisans, co-branded limited edition items, and showcase the work of over 10 homegrown ethical fashion brands, which in turn work directly with artisans, craftsmen and weavers as well. Most of their partner brands are women-led businesses. They exclusively curate and create styles made using handwoven or hand printed natural textiles.
Their vision is to create a space that allows customers in Japan to discover Indian fashion, as interpreted and presented by young Indian designers and craftspeople, rooted in heritage crafts and techniques but with a global, and fresh design sensibility.
Her upbringing across the country as an Indian military child came with exposure to many different regions of the country and gave her a deep love and appreciation for Indian textiles and traditional crafts. Her past work life in communications taught her storytelling and the art of connecting with people. Together these two gave her the basis from which she could attempt to bootstrap her current micro brand venture after moving to Japan. This fascinating and beautiful country is a uniquely challenging market and that makes this the toughest assignment of her career yet, but also the one most deeply satisfying
