Uppekha

For the recent India Aisle launch, I wore a pantsuit crafted from an Indian sari.

Not because traditional South Asian clothing needs reinvention — in my opinion, a sari worn traditionally is still one of the most elegant silhouettes in the world.

But because culture can evolve in expression too.

I love seeing South Asian craftsmanship exist across different forms: traditional, contemporary, western, fusion, ceremonial, minimal, maximal - you name it - South Asian elements can be woven in if that's your thing!

None of it makes us “more modern.” It simply reflects the many ways identity can be worn.

And that’s what I loved about this piece: Indian craftsmanship and textile tradition, expressed through a different silhouette. I paired the look with a pop of white in my non-traditional earrings.

A reminder that culture is not something we have to dilute to integrate globally. It’s something we can carry with us — loudly, creatively, and with pride - in many different elements! Dealer's Choice!

Thank you to the beautiful ladies for this one!!
They made me do it! And I am so grateful to them for going the extra mile with me 💜🙏🏼

And a big thank you to for allowing her mama's sari to be reimagined!

South Asian Heritage Month kicks off with a milestone achievement for the Diaspora community🇮🇳🇨🇦

What happened the other night was bigger than a launch party.

For the first time, premium Indian spirits officially entered Canada’s duty-free marketplace across major international airports and border locations — creating the "India Aisle".

And standing there, hosting this historic unveiling, I felt incredibly proud of what this moment represents:

🥻Representation
🥻 Recognition
🥻 Integration
🥻 Global visibility for Indian excellence

For so long, Indian products were often seen through a limited lens. Tonight proved something different.

Indian craftsmanship now stands beside global legacy brands in some of Canada’s most prestigious travel and retail spaces — not as a trend, but as a category worthy of global respect.

There is something so special about going through Duty Free Shops and now seeing names that carry your own heritage - Jaisalmer, Rampur and more

This evening was a reminder of what happens when heritage and innovation move together.

A huge congratulations to the entire team for building bridges between India and Canada through culture, commerce, and community. Thank you for trusting me with your iconic launch

This is more than alcohol entering airports.
This is Indian excellence taking up space globally. ❤️

Thank you for the recap!!
You ladies are the best!

CulturalPride LuxurySpirits IndianCraftsmanship Mississauga TorontoEvents SouthAsianCommunity GlobalIndia Indri Rampur IndianSingleMalt WomenInMedia HostLife UppekhaJain CanadaMeetsIndia BrownGirlMagic

5 things I do in the morning
4 essentials I need in my closet
3 tips Ive learnt from other women
2 things that inspire me
1 my one obsession -- always and forever . But it also cha he's constantly.

I'm a living breathing oxymoron most days... Welcome to my life 😉

So many of you resonated with this so deeply that a story wasn’t enough… so here it is as a post you can come back to. Or send to someone currently stuck in the sh*t.

There’s a saying:
“You can’t convince a fly that honey is better than sh*t.”

And honestly? That explains so much about life.

So much of our energy gets wasted trying to convince people to see what we see.
Our perspective.
Our intentions.
Our way of thinking.

But not everyone wants growth.
Not everyone wants peace.
Not everyone wants better.

Some people are deeply committed to the chaos they complain about.

And the hard truth is: it is not your job to drag people toward healing, self-awareness, or evolution. Especially people who are determined to misunderstand you anyway.

Protect your energy.
Stop over-explaining yourself.
Stop trying to save people who enjoy staying stuck.

Your energy is sacred. Spend it building your life, not debating with people committed to dysfunction.

What’s one lesson you learned the hard way about protecting your energy?

We were taught to give. To sacrifice. To hold it all together.

But receiving? That was labeled selfish.

And that’s exactly where so many South Asian women learned to shrink.

Here’s the reframe:
Receiving is not indulgence. It’s alignment.

When you’re constantly pouring out without allowing anything back in, you’re not being noble—you’re being disconnected from your own fullness.

This is where Kamalatika energy comes in.
Rooted in the symbolism of the lotus—she rises, she opens, she receives. Effortlessly. Without apology. Without proving her worth first.

Gratitude isn’t something you unlock after you achieve the life you want.
It’s the frequency that creates it.

Not “I’ll be grateful when I have more.”
But: “I’m grateful now—and I trust there’s more coming.”

That shift? It changes everything.

So ask yourself honestly—
What feels uncomfortable about receiving?

Compliments? Support? Ease? Love without conditions?

Because that discomfort isn’t truth.
It’s conditioning.

And you’re allowed to outgrow it.

Let’s talk about it👇
What’s one thing you struggle to receive without guilt?

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I’ve been thinking about this a lot…
Why does joy feel so hard for so many of us?

Because growing up Desi - Joy was never the priority.
Being “good” was. We were also taught that happiness always comes after responsibility. After achievement. After everyone else was taken care of.

So for many Desi women, joy feels… unfamiliar.
Not because we don’t deserve it — but because we were never taught how to hold it without guilt.

So now, even when life gives us something beautiful…
there’s this quiet voice asking,
“Have you earned this?”

So when life finally softens… we don’t know how to.

Joy shouldn’t feel like something we have to justify.

Yet here we are.

The reframe: Joy is natural, it's meant to be the vibe and the basis of all the greatest decisions!

Added bonus - joy is the state where manifestation is the easiest.

Be honest - does joy feel natural to you?

Creative Producer & Stylist
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