Kala Curry Radio at Akané's Studio

1. Tell us a little about yourself—who you are, what you do, and how art became a part of your journey. 

We’re Juhi and Janhavi, sisters who are building Akané together. Natural dyes are at the heart of what we do - we create clothing and accessories, offer dyeing services, and also love sharing this craft through workshops.

Art has been part of our lives for as long as we can remember. As children, both of us were always drawn to colors, making things by hand, and finding joy in creativity. For me (Juhi), art was like a companion - I was a quiet child and creating always gave me comfort and peace. For Janhavi, art was a way to express her imagination - she’s always been drawn to experimenting, making, and finding joy in art. 

Over time we realized that we were both much more inclined toward creativity than anything else. That led me to study at NIFT in Bangalore, while Janhavi pursued her Master’s at Srishti. Those experiences shaped us, and eventually our love for art and sustainability came together through natural dyeing. That’s how Akané was born - an extension of both our journeys and something we continue to grow together.

2. Art isn’t just something we see—it’s something we live with. How does art seep into your daily life? And what does art mean to you?

Since we work so closely with colours and nature, it naturally seeps into our daily lives. Working with colours and nature has made us deeply aware of textures, shades, and the little details all around us.The way a flower slowly wilts and eventually dries up, the numerous shades a green in a leaf, the texture and composition of petals in a rose - all of these little things feel like reminders of how much beauty is hidden in everyday life. We love having flowers in our space - fresh or dried - collect fallen petals, feathers, branches, and seed pods during our walks. All of this inspires us endlessly.

Art shows up in other ways too - like when we cook, we enjoy making meals colorful and full of textures, or when we put together outfits, we play with layers and fabrics almost instinctively. To us, art is a form of self-expression, but it’s also about connecting to our roots and to nature. Working with textiles, dyes, and fibers means going back to the beginning of the process and really understanding it. It’s also deeply therapeutic - when you work with your hands, whether it’s dyeing, weaving, or stitching, it’s meditative, grounding, and very healing.

3. Why do you think handcrafted art matters today more than ever?

Handcrafted art has a strong connection with the creator. Each piece is unique, one of a kind, and full of character. In a world full of uniformity and repetition, handmade products feel truly refreshing. There’s so much more time, thought, and intention that goes into making something by hand, and that’s something we really value. The process naturally makes you slow down, creating and producing at a more mindful pace.

The same is true for textiles. Handwoven fabrics have a charm of their own, with small irregularities that add beauty and depth. They also absorb natural dyes far better than machine-woven textiles, which makes them special for us. We love working with handwoven fabrics and sourcing directly from weavers - it keeps us connected to both the craft and the people behind it.

4. How many years have you been practicing this craft?

Janhavi first discovered natural dyeing during her master’s at Srishti in 2016 and instantly connected with the process. What began as her graduation project slowly turned into her path - especially when she realized there weren’t many opportunities in the field and decided to create one for herself. For me, it started when after graduating, I realized the corporate world wasn’t for me. Around the same time, in 2019, I became deeply interested in sustainable fashion, and seeing Janhavi already working with natural dyes felt like the perfect fit. I began helping her build the brand, discovered the magic of natural dyeing along the way, and have been part of the journey ever since. So together, we’ve been practicing and growing in this space for about 7-9 years now.

5. What makes an artist an artist? (like who can call themselves an artist/what counts as being an artist) 

We believe that everyone has the potential to be an artist. Some people recognize and nurture their creativity, while others may not have explored it yet. Art doesn’t always have to mean painting on a canvas or creating something tangible - it can be as simple as putting together a beautiful plate of food, arranging flowers, or styling an outfit with colors and textures that feel expressive. To us, being an artist is about recognizing the creativity within yourself and allowing it to flow into your everyday life. It’s not about qualifications or labels - it’s about embracing the creative spirit that exists in all of us.

6. What does being an artist/brand that sells art mean to you? 

For us, being an artist and building a brand around art feels very special. It makes us genuinely happy to know that creating is not just something we love, but also something we get to do as our work. To be able to carve out a space and a livelihood where art is at the center of it all is something we feel deeply grateful for.

Of course, it isn’t always easy. Turning something so personal and fulfilling into a business can be tricky - especially when it comes to monetizing creativity without losing the joy that comes with it. But at the end of the day, the challenges feel worth it because we get to do what we love every day and share that with others.

7. How long does it usually take to create one piece from start to finish?

For us, the time it takes to create a piece really depends on the product, but to give you an idea, let’s take our bucket hats as an example. The process begins with preparing the fabric, which includes two important pre-treatment steps: scouring and mordanting. This alone takes about two days. Once the fabric is ready, we move on to dyeing. Depending on the design or technique, dyeing can take anywhere from one to two days - sometimes longer if we’re layering different natural dye processes. Since everything is hand-dyed, we usually work in small batches, which adds to the time but also ensures each piece is given proper attention.

After the fabric is dyed, it goes to our tailors for stitching. That stage can take anywhere from a couple of days to a week, depending on the quantities we’re producing. All in all, from start to finish, one piece can take about a week to ten days, though larger batches might take a little longer.

8. What drew you to the medium(s) you work with?

What really drew us to the mediums we work with is the deep connection to nature and the hands-on process. There’s something incredibly rewarding about creating with your hands and being fully immersed in the journey from raw material to finished piece. Living in a city, it’s easy to feel cut off from nature, so working with natural dyes and textiles has become a way for us to build that connection again. It feels almost magical to see how flowers, roots, seeds, and leaves can leave behind such vibrant pigments on fabric - and moments like opening a freshly dyed bundle or unfolding a shibori pattern never stop feeling special.

Textiles, too, have been a part of our lives since childhood. Our mother has always been passionate about handwoven sarees and weaves from across India, and we grew up surrounded by them. That early exposure definitely shaped our love for textiles. Now, working with fibers, weaving, and dyeing connects us not just to our craft, but also to our roots. It makes us more aware of the time, effort, and intention that go into handmade products.

9. How do you see art products being perceived in an Indian market?

I feel like in recent times, art products in India are being appreciated much more - not just as DIY items, but as valuable, thoughtfully made pieces. People are beginning to incorporate handmade and art-based products into their everyday lives, whether in their homes, wardrobes, or personal spaces. It’s exciting to see this shift, and it makes it a really inspiring time to be creating and selling art-based products in the Indian market.

10. What was the very first product you ever created under Akané, and how has your design philosophy evolved since then?

Our very first collection under Akane, around 2019, included handwoven cotton and silk scarves, tote bags, and handwoven silk kimonos. Scarves and tote bags were accessible, affordable, and a great introduction to natural dye products for people who had never experienced them before. The silk kimonos were a little more luxurious - handwoven silk takes natural dyes beautifully, and we wanted to create timeless, versatile pieces while minimizing fabric waste. These pieces were designed to feel like a form of self-care, something that makes you pause, value yourself, and enjoy the texture and beauty of naturally dyed fabrics.

Since then, our design philosophy has evolved, but those core values remain. We continue to offer a wide range of products at different price points - from small accessories like silk scrunchies, hair ribbons, and trinket pouches made from leftover fabrics, to silk kimono robes and silk shirts. Rather than following seasonal collections, we introduce new products organically, whenever we feel inspired and ready. It’s always about combining beauty, sustainability, and accessibility, making natural dye products approachable for everyone.

11. Natural dyeing can be unpredictable. Do you embrace those “happy accidents” or work towards precise results? Could you share a memorable story of when the dye surprised you?

We personally love embracing the happy accidents that come with natural dyeing. When we started, there weren’t many resources to learn from, so we experimented a lot and learned through trial and error. Over time, we’ve realized that natural dyeing is always a learning process - every batch is different, and you never stop discovering something new. Nature can’t be controlled, and we’ve learned to work with it rather than against it.

One memorable moment was with hibiscus flowers from a nearby temple. These bright pink-red flowers were usually offered and then discarded, and when we dyed with them, the fabric turned beautiful shades of green and blue - completely unexpected and magical. 

12. Upcycling is such a powerful aspect of your work. How do customers usually respond when you transform their old clothes into something new?

When we first introduced upcycling, we weren’t sure what to expect - but the response completely blew us away. People started sending their old or undyed clothes from all over the country, and it was so exciting to see these pieces arrive, knowing they were about to get a second life. Transforming them into something completely new and seeing them come alive again in someone’s wardrobe is incredibly satisfying. It’s a simple way to extend the life of clothing and make it more sustainable.

Of course, working with natural dyes on pre-loved clothing comes with its surprises. Body oils, wear, and past washes all affect how the fabric takes the color. That’s why we usually suggest prints over solid colors for upcycled pieces. Every piece turns out a little differently, and that uniqueness is part of what makes the process so magical - for us and for our customers.

13. Balancing sustainability and aesthetics can also be challenging. Have you faced moments where you had to choose one over the other, and how did you resolve it?

Running a sustainable, slow fashion business definitely adds layers of complexity - having a clothing business is already challenging, and prioritizing sustainability makes it even more so. 

There have been many moments where we had to balance aesthetics with sustainable practices. In these cases, we always try to prioritize sustainability, or find a compromise that respects both. The key for us is collaboration - discussing the challenge with our team, including the women who help with dyeing and our tailors, and combining everyone’s perspectives to find the best solution. With so many steps involved, having a collaborative approach ensures we maintain both integrity and quality in our work.

14. Is there a song that captures the spirit of your work or something you love listening to while creating?

That’s a really interesting question! There was a phase - and we still listen to it on and off - when we were doing a lot of bundle dyeing with flowers. It’s a very meditative and therapeutic process, and during that time we used to listen to Bamboo Forest by Deuter. The album uses natural and calming sounds, along with instruments like a Japanese bamboo flute and  gongs which really complemented the process. We also love listening to music by Marina Ray - her music is ethereal and atmospheric. It’s the kind of sound that gently guides your focus, making repetitive, hands-on work feel almost meditative.

Obsessed already? Same. Shop Akané's art and bring a piece of their world home on Kala Curry.