I stumbled upon this brand Murshmallow while (obviously) geeking out on (researching/trying to find) rose waters because I had not found one which I loved, yet! But then I did and here I am writing about it so you get one too!
By far it is the best, quote me in capslock, "THE BEST" rose water I have used! The formulation is so mindful, it impressed me waaaaaay before I started using it. I wrote to the brand after reading the description of this product and they happily agreed, rather swiftly sent the product to me!
I have to confess, from the day I received the product till today, I religiously use it in my AM and PM routine, sometimes even during the day just to refresh my senses! What can I say, you have to use it to believe the subtlety of its magic.
The ingredients really wooed me! Consciously formulated with a coconut water base, topped with super-healers like lavender and damask rose. But Murshmallow didn't stop at that, they took it up a notch by adding the ultimate hydrator - hyaluronic acid. Their decision to add niacin amide(brightening and pore minimising), witch hazel(astringent) and willow bark (excellent alternative for salicylic acid) makes this nothing short of an award winning formulation for me! It is soothing, clarifying, brightening and above all refreshing!
The second most impressive thing is, and imma copy this line from their website, read on..
NO GMO’S, NO Parabens, NO Propylene Glycol, NO Synthetic Fragrances, NO Artificial Dyes, NO Aluminium, NO Phenoxyethanol, NO PEGS, NO Animal Derivatives, NO SLS/SLES, NO PEGs, NO Palm Oil, NO Mineral oil, NO Alcohols, NO Formaldehyde, NO BHT. *
Yes, all the ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced. They are natural, organic and cruelty free. Imagine the thoughtfulness in producing something as simple as rose water. Simply the best!
I would politely request you to drop all the other rose waters and give this one a shot! You will go back for more and will tell more people about it!
I spray it all over my face after a mild cleanser and then layer my serum, moisturizer and sunscreen on that.
P.S. - I am writing this review after diligently using the product for over a month. This is not a paid review.
*If you want to know more about harmful or toxic ingredients, please read the toxin list.
Cheetah is the only living being we think of when anyone mentions speed! It is undoubtedly the fastest feline! It's small round head crowns it's perfectly slender chassis with a muscular toned body to suit the feat. Lean mean machine, is what a speed lover would say!
But their speed sadly couldn't outrun the detrimental claws of human habitat, hunting and other illegal activities and biggest yet, CLIMATE CHANGE! Cheetah already lives in hot regions. With climate change increasing the temperatures in these regions, it makes it unfavourable for life like plants and other animals and disrupts the ecosystem.
Even with their speed they tend to miss their prey. As we all know faster machines heat-up sooner! With a legendary speed of 70-75 miles per hour, the cheetah tends to slow down every 100 meters. Their strategy of sprinting before the kill is not always fruitful!
With climate change affecting their habitat and humans encroaching their lands and killing them to protect their cattle, survival is a challenge for this breed.
Most of the cheetahs are only found in African regions in todays time. They became extinct in India in 1952. South and East African regions host the only living generations of this big cat.
These wandering creatures seldom form a coalition or live together. That although only comes naturally to the males. The females however live in solitude unless its the mating season. Climate change has deeply affected their reproduction as cheetahs are reported with low testosterone levels and low sperm counts ever since the rise in temperatures.
As India translocates 20 Namibian cheetahs, it will be worthwhile to watch how their foster their growth and if this move is indeed efficient.
The ideal and sustainable move would be favourable for both the humans as well as the animal and the environment! I think as long as we plan based on these, it can assure more of a positive impact than a negative one. There needs to be clarity in planning procedures when it includes translocating animals internationally or moving villages full of humans locally, instead of just displacing them. They need to do all required groundwork. have these procedures approved and monitored by the conservationists to be sure of its efficacy. This situations demands a call to arms for the conservation community. We don't have enough data that supports these strategies. Most of them being flawed, they are a bigger risk to species extinction. Spending crores of rupees on translocating animals without understanding the prospects of their survival or considering that of the civilisation around is poor planning and in no way sustainable or boosting anything but the economy.
Having lived and gathered most of life experiences with people at home, starting anew can seem like a daunting thought at first. Specifically when your mind and bodies are just recovering from the prolonged lockdowns, the unknown may not seem appealing. But nevertheless, a new start, a fresh one at it, a new chapter to write, a new set of people to pick the favourites from, these thoughts can be pacifying much! Being fully aware of the culture and the weather conditions of that city are amongst other things you ideally should know before moving. As humans we check all things to know if a place will be favourable for our growth. Even when we are born adaptable!
Picture this, you are unaware of where you are going, how you will like it there, who will you be with, will it be favourable for your growth, the weather conditions, the food, will you make money enough to survive, and support your family? Can you imagine? You cant right? What if someone gave you 15 lakhs and told you to leave the life you have behind and move to another city or village? Would you? Do you think thats enough capital to move, let alone with your dependants?
Not sure what exactly are the authorities trying to achieve under the 'development' banner! They uproot ecosystems like weeds in a farm and reorganise everything as if its child's play. Boosting eco-tourism at the cost of thousands of villagers who will now have to think about restarting life. Raising new employment opportunities while the same villagers are unsure about how the new land they have been allocated will be favourable or ready for farming immediately. Spending crores on the set-up for the cheetahs while not keeping the houses or any establishment ready for the villagers to move to. This is nothing new that the villagers in Kuno have seen. 25 years ago, in a similar but worse pattern, 1500 families were relocated for another feline! those villagers, till date, are struggling to form a stable livelihood where once their farms flourished. The fact of the matter being, the Gir lions never reached Kuno but thousands of lives were shackled for the same. The fact that marginalised communities and forest tribes do not have much of a say or support in these decisions is unfair. They are the true inhabitants and heirs of the forest lands, as they have successfully figured how to co-exist with their animals. Their lifestyles and values are the biggest examples of those and should be valued.
It is okay to reintroduce a project to focus on sustainability and climate action but mindless application of processes where you are neither sure of human welfare or the animal's adaptability is mere torture for both. Call it the capitalist move!
Not debating the biodiversity enhancement ideas however even the doctors at the park did not support this move, of having tigers, lions and cheetahs in the same environment. So, the question being, what is the actual achievement here? We need to be able to co-exist and thrive, isn't that what sustainability is all about?
Bringing in Namibian cheetahs to Kuno and disassembling an entire village could be one of the most insensible moves made by far in the name of conservation.
In
Conscious Fashion,
Interview
Palkan Parikh - Founder LOLITA Eco Resort wear talks about her brand, sustainable fashion and on being inspired by nature.
Being a lifestyle photographer, a wellness and sustainability blogger and conscious creator I am always scouting brands who deliver a difference ! While I do so, I come across not just products but the revolutionary mindsets of those entrepreneurs and their passion to make an impact.
Such is the story of Palkan Parikh - Founder of LOLITA - An Eco Resort Wear. Come get to know her and the brand a little better in this interview.
Kimaya : Thank you for agreeing to do this interview. My name is Kimaya and I write a humble blog called ‘The Meliorist’. It mostly covers sustainability and wellness along with other social movements close to my heart.
I loved your brand! Love the designs! What caught my attention was your brand values! When I read the description I think of a fierce yet gentle, confident yet kind, maybe ambitious woman. Is that what the name suggests?
What is in the name LOLITA?
Palkan : LOLITA is inspired by the true female form. Lolita is confident and does not shy away from embracing her female form and celebrating her body and self. She is liberated and breaks cultural norms in all aspects, especially when it comes to fashion.
Kimaya : What inspired you to start this brand? Was it your love for ocean and diving? Was sustainability always the fundamental pillar of this business idea?
Palkan : I was on a scuba diving live aboard in Maldives two years ago, where I went with a bunch of strangers, all from the city of Bombay, belonging to different age groups and backgrounds, all connected and brought together by their love for the ocean and diving.
Two things happened on that boat that sparked the idea to start my own swimwear line. The first reason - Three girls on that boat, including me, showed up on a boat in Maldives with the same exact swimsuits, in the same size, from the same brand. I was in my early 20’s and the other two girls were in their mid thirties. I was the only one on that boat who did not reside in Mumbai, but instead in Vadodara, GJ. I was surprised to know that people in a metropolitan city like Bombay, have extremely limited swimwear options. The swimwear options that they do have are from fast fashion houses, they produce in a very high quantity and are exploiting workers and labourers doing so. The swimwear we buy from these brands do not have the best fabric quality and they will only last the user for so many years, before the quality and fabric starts to wear, rip and fade off.
The second reason - On the boat with us, we had another member that was born a man, but identified as a female. She had undergone a few basic surgeries to remove her male reproductive parts. She was a Gujarati, living in Bombay and was in her mid forties. To my surprise, she was the only one on the boat who had a new pair of bikini for every single dive. We had a total of 18 dives throughout the trip. I was awestruck to see her confidence and how liberated she must feel. This is when I learnt that the culture and mindset in India is slowly changing, especially in the bigger metropolitan parts of the country.
“I finally decided to become a scuba diving instructor and started my journey in the summer of 2021, on a live-aboard in Maldives. Over there, I met 21 strangers and we were going to be living on a boat together for 7 days, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Somewhere along bumping into two other girls who got the same exact pair of bikinis as me, who were also much older than me and spending time with a beautiful human being who was born a man, but all she wanted was to be a girl. I was blown away just looking at her rocking a new pair of bikini every day with such grace and confidence. That’s when I got inspired and Lolita was born in the middle of the Indian Ocean, far far away from any kind of land.”
Kimaya : Tell us the something people don’t know about sustainable fashion?
Palkan : Sustainable fashion is the future of fashion and every brand eventually will explore sustainable fabrics to keep up with the societal requirements and obligations. Tons of fabrics and clothes are wasted every year. An environmental crisis is being caused due to the amount of textile waste that happens annually around the globe and it's only increasing day by day. In times like this, its important to stand out and give back to the environment in any capacity.
Kimaya : What are your challenges as a sustainable business?
Palkan : As Lolita, as a brand does not compromise on its fabric quality, and as we use 100% sustainable fabrics from one of the leading fabric suppliers in the world, the fabric is more expensive than normal swimwear fabrics. Here at Lolita, we also do not believe in fast fashion or producing in higher quantities, as it is not sustainable or good for our environment. We release exclusive collections, in smaller quantities. Amounting to all this, our products are priced fairly and can be justified. In comparison to our competitors, we provide the most premium swimwear fabric and quality in timeless designs and silhouettes, yet keeping our prices fairly lower than other home grown swimwear businesses.
Kimaya : What are your ideas on ‘degendering’ fashion?
Palkan : “GENDER NEUTRALITY IS NOT THE DEATH OF FASHION, IT IS THE RENAISSANCE OF FASHION.”
While every aspect of the fashion system — from mainstream media and fashion weeks to e-commerce and retail spaces — is beholden to the segregated categories of "menswear" and "womenswear", clothing has no inherent gender. Clothing is only gendered insofar as we've assigned our own binary gender perceptions to specific styles of clothing. In other words, individual garments have no intrinsic gender to them, but societal conditioning creates the perception that certain clothing is gendered. And, it's the movement to degender fashion that aims to undo this arbitrary binary in the fashion industry.
Like previously mentioned, Lolita was inspired by two events that happened on my trip to the Maldives and one of them was inspired by a human who was born a man, looks like a man, but identifies as a female. Watching her wear a new pair of bikini everyday and with such grace and confidence inspired me so much.
Kimaya : Swimwear is mostly considered to be a female indulgence. Would you be open to using a male model for your swimwear?
Palkan : Yes, we would definitely want to be more inclusive as a brand within our sizing options and the genders and age groups we serve and cater too. Our first priority is to first break through in the industry with keeping our focus on women’s wear right now but we will definitely expand our gender range in the upcoming future.
Kimaya : Do you still shop fast fashion? If so, which brands and why?
Palkan : I try to avoid shopping fast fashion as much as I could but the fact of the matter is that the major brands in the industry right now only do fast fashion and not slow or sustainable. Fast fashion is also more affordable than slow fashion is because producing in bulk is always more cost effective than producing in smaller quantities.
Kimaya : What are your favourite sustainable fashion brands apart from yours?
Palkan : Currently, In the Indian market, there are not many brands that do sustainable swimwear or resort wear that I know of.
I only wear Lolita swim pieces because they flatter my body perfectly and I haven’t found anything other swimwear brand in India that looks on my body or is made with a premium quality fabric
Kimaya : Talk about the importance of women empowerment in sustainability. Maybe tell us how this connects to your brand mission of supporting women around the globe.
Palkan : By instilling this strength in our beachwear models, distinguishing you from the crowd, making you unique, different, highlighting that unique power that resides in us! Offering a range of products that empowers you.
Each of these swimsuits features an unique cut that by itself individualizes us anywhere. Using any of these pieces of beachwear, on any occasion, we will distinguish ourselves, stand out. Since, as all the pieces have an unique design, they are timeless and flattering to any body they are worn on.
Kimaya : Message to the readers.
Palkan: We created Lolita as our passion for swimwear comes from our love for the ocean, and we noticed a lack of sustainable swimwear options in India that were stylish, affordable, and inclusive in size.
With that in mind we wanted to create timeless, sustainable and fashionable swimwear that women feel empowered in.
The thing we love the most about Lolita is the magic it brings. We have seen women who continuously say "I wouldn't normally go for this, but it looks amazing and I feel great in it!", so that keeps us motivated to push further and keep bringing beautiful styles to you all.
We hope you enjoy your Lolita pieces as much as we do and feel amazing in them!
With Lolita, I hope I can create confidence and power within our female audience. Our effort to do this is by making sure every Lolita piece is timeless and crafted perfectly to flatter and compliment the female form.
Lolita is designed for the stylish girl, who is confident, minimalistic and carefree. Whether she is lying on the beach somewhere in the tropics, soaking up the sun, sitting poolside with her friends, or swimming in the ocean, she is happy and glowing because she is comfortable and confident in her own skin.
Lolita has a tedious design and development process, where every clothing piece is sampled and fitted several times, before it is approved. Nothing is added or released into the collection, unless we feel it is an absolute perfection and something we know our Lolita’s customers will not find any where else, while ultimately giving them the confidence to wear it.
The line features bold prints and colour-ways, chosen specifically to flatter every skin tone. Our fabrics are buttery soft and of the best quality, made for countless never ending summers. Adjustable ties and straps are featured in every suit, making them easy and comfortable to wear according to your body type, with no digging or cutting in. Lolita’s tries to incorporate minimal hardware into the effortlessly crafted products and complimentary cuts, leaving you feeling sexy, confident, happy and ready to hit the beach or go on your next vacation.
Xoxo,
Lolita
In
Conscious Closet,
Conscious Fashion
Decluttering your wardrobe & utilising clothes you do not wear - A Simple Guide to a Conscious Closet
The path to sustainable, rather mindful living is never an easy one. One such obstacle for me was, decluttering my wardrobe.
Decluttering your wardrobe does not mean throwing old clothes out. It is more of an opportunity to connect with the clothes that “spark joy” and letting go of the rest mindfully. And sustainable fashion does not mean you need to buy new sustainable clothes from kindred brands. It also means, repurposing your pre-owned garments efficiently and disposing them mindfully.
Do you know, we barely use 21% (approx.) of the entire 100% of our wardrobe?
It is estimated that more than 1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources.
Even though nearly 100 per cent of clothing is recyclable, about 75 to 85 per cent of textile waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated instead of being reused, thereby polluting the environment, according to the ITJ. - indiantextilejournal.com
The future of India, can lie in one of world's biggest landfill if we continue to consume at the current rate. The rich Indian culture of using a garment from 'riches to rags' (literally) is somehow diminishing. I am sure you all will have memories of waiting for a sibling to hand-down their fave t-shirt to you once they have outgrown it, of your fave dress being used as a wash cloth, or simply giving away old clothes in exchange of steel utensils. We did it all, recycled, reused and repurposed.
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
- Fast fashion brands entering the Indian textile market, making garments cheaper than buying dinner.
- Convenience of shopping online and easy returns.
- Faster developing trends
- The need to follow those trends emerging from developed countries.
'A conscious closet journey begins with a clean-out. There is just no way around it. Our closets are meant to hold all the beautiful things that we are excited to wear. But they have been hijacked! And turned into dark recesses for impulse buys and fashion regrets, and clothes that we don’t like and don’t work and don’t fit. supposed to hold all pretty things you need
My overstuffed wardrobe contained hundreds of items and yet I wore only a sliver of what owned. Each morning I opened the door and reached far enough to grab the same tops and bottoms again and again. I am not alone!' -
Could not relate more to this excerpt from 'The Conscious Closet'.
If you feel the same, read on…
I never empty my wardrobe at once. That can feel overwhelming, specifically if you are not the type who shops every month. I decided to do it in a certain way - I have one bag of a certain size and I would only give away the volumes that fit in that bag. That way, it did not feel like I was emptying my cupboard all at once.
Important tip : Keep the clothes you love! (be realistic)
You may have some clothes with sentimental values, like your teenage t-shirt, or something that is ancestral. There is no way, someone else is going to understand and value that item as much as you will. So keep it!
Closet cleansing should be about mindfully handing down or re-using the clothes your already own, instead of buying new. Limiting your purchases to a few sustainable outfits and maximising the use ability of each outfit.
So, take sometime out…play your fave record…and start the task with a calm mind.
Segregating is a mammoth of a task. If you need help on segregating or think all your items “spark joy” and it is hard for you to part ways with your garments, I suggest you buy The Conscious Closet. It is a “the Michael Pollan of fashion,” as defined by Newsweek .
It is not just a fashion guide but a revolutionary book to better understand the art of dressing well without harming the environment.
Once you are done segregating, celebrate with the glass of wine ;P . You did well!
 |
ASK FRIENDS - The first thing I do is ask my friends if they would like to own some of the clothes I do not need and we seldom swap.
That is a great way of revamping your closet without having to buy. You can swap clothes with your sisters, brothers, besties, etc. for a brand new look.
REPURPOSE OLD CLOTHES : Go to your tailor and discuss the possible ways to either revive or repair or renew an old outfit.
DONATE to house-help or people you know, in need - We have a culture of donating old clothes to our house-help, here in India. Similarly, if you know anyone who may need the clothes, please do the honours
DONATE TO CHRISTIAN CHARITIES - It is an easy task to find any church or foundation accepting donations of clothes for the needy as they do a lot of social work and are networked well.
I also suggest you look at these institutes which make donating easier, where you don't have to go and find people or foundations. They do the work for you.
SHARE AT DOOR STEP -
Not only do they make sure your donations reach the right place, they even reward you! The actual reward is however, the fact tat they keep your clothes out of landfills and in the hands of someone who really requires them. The best part, you don’t move a muscle! You schedule a pick up according to the volumes of clothes. You pay a basic transportation fee and donate items of your choice.
Another such is Clothes Box Foundation. They both follow pretty much the same working model.
Another thing I used to do personally, is exchange a bag of clothes for 15% discount at H&M, but again, they are a fast fashion brand. I am not fully supportive of their conscious strategies yet.
You can find your own places to donate. I am posting this because there are people who do not know where to donate clothes or how to reach out to the needy. If you personally know people or places who ethically do this then donate there.
Remember you can also repurpose your old clothes with some DIY. But I do not prefer that because if it does not turn out good, it is a wasted garment.
Anyway…if you know more organisations or textile collectors, please do comment!
Hope this helps and sending more love to you for making the right decision of creating a conscious closet. May all your donated clothes find a happy new home!
XO
Kimaya
In
Sustainable Living,
Wellness
7 ways, Bo and Ruth from the movie - The Star , are giving us some serious friendship goals
A friend in need is a friend in deed - I am sure most of us saw this on the school boards and many other places. But what do we really know about friendship? I am being honest in saying that I have, in recent years, understood the true meaning of a good friendship. I am not going to hide the fact that I have faultered, in many ways, in maintaining some beautiful relations by being ignorant about the fundamentals of the same. But time and again I have been reminded about the purity and the unconditonality of loving as a friend and not just being loved. Almost like divine grace. There have been and are people who have led by example and continue to lead with love and strengthen my ideology about being a good friend
I would like to talk about a movie, that does exactly what I said! The Star, is a beautiful animated Christmas movie, with a different perspective, that of Boaz - a donkey, who is irresistibly compelled to follow the North Star and how he sets out on a mission with a friend but ends up being a witness to the most magical event on the planet. I would recommend you watch the movie
Bo has a vision and shares that vision with a friend , sets out fearlessly - You find people with a similar vision and fearlessly follow it in partnership. This teaches you to BELIEVE in your vision and the partnership ie your friend who shares it with you
Bo befriends a sheep - Ruth who is has left her flock with a vision - Even if your friends don’t believe in your vision, you courageously set out on your own for you will make friends on your way, you will find your tribe
Bo treats Mary special even with her simplicity as against the riches of the royal caravan , merely in the basis in how much he is loved and how much he loves her. Goes back to help her even when his dream was in front of her eyes, speak about a friend in need and in deed - NO greater Love than that of friendship . What makes your friends special is not their royalties but their qualities and their love for you and yours for them
Being available for a friend in need and in deed is the true essence of a friend
Bo says mean things to the sheep and comes back and apologises to which the sheep accepts him gracefully and non judgementally with the same excitement - Even when you fight , have the courage to apologise and as a friend have the grace to forgive without judgement
The sheep trains Bo to wedge on the hills to maintain balance , talk about sharing knowledge - Share your knowledge
They always stayed together despite of their differences on the basis of their vision and were compassionate and helpful through the struggles - Being together through the glory and the struggles, being compassionate and celebrate the difference and the similarities.
So what is your take on friendship? Comment on this article to tell me your perspective or views! Hope you enjoyed this post.
Thank you for reading!
XO
Kimaya
I would like to talk about a movie, that does exactly what I said! The Star, is a beautiful animated Christmas movie, with a different perspective, that of Boaz - a donkey, who is irresistibly compelled to follow the North Star and how he sets out on a mission with a friend but ends up being a witness to the most magical event on the planet. I would recommend you watch the movie
Bo has a vision and shares that vision with a friend , sets out fearlessly - You find people with a similar vision and fearlessly follow it in partnership. This teaches you to BELIEVE in your vision and the partnership ie your friend who shares it with you
Bo befriends a sheep - Ruth who is has left her flock with a vision - Even if your friends don’t believe in your vision, you courageously set out on your own for you will make friends on your way, you will find your tribe
Bo treats Mary special even with her simplicity as against the riches of the royal caravan , merely in the basis in how much he is loved and how much he loves her. Goes back to help her even when his dream was in front of her eyes, speak about a friend in need and in deed - NO greater Love than that of friendship . What makes your friends special is not their royalties but their qualities and their love for you and yours for them
Being available for a friend in need and in deed is the true essence of a friend
Bo says mean things to the sheep and comes back and apologises to which the sheep accepts him gracefully and non judgementally with the same excitement - Even when you fight , have the courage to apologise and as a friend have the grace to forgive without judgement
The sheep trains Bo to wedge on the hills to maintain balance , talk about sharing knowledge - Share your knowledge
They always stayed together despite of their differences on the basis of their vision and were compassionate and helpful through the struggles - Being together through the glory and the struggles, being compassionate and celebrate the difference and the similarities.
So what is your take on friendship? Comment on this article to tell me your perspective or views! Hope you enjoyed this post.
Thank you for reading!
XO
Kimaya
