Desi cool

Meld’s audience is the new-age Indian, those who cherish craft but want to wear it every day, not just on special occasions. “Our designs are for people who find desi cool,” she says. What truly sets Meld apart is its radical approach to sustainability. Instead of creating new textiles, the studio sources unsold deadstock fabrics from rural artisans and weavers, then designs around them. 

Psychotherapist Mansi Poddar believes that today’s youth are rewriting the rules of identity. “Young people today are not afraid to be who they are, and love what they love, irrespective of societal perspective,” she says. This unbothered authenticity has paved the way for a renewed love for all things desi-content, fashion, language, even the way we present ourselves. She points out how trends once dismissed or ridiculed, like oiled hair or draped dupattas are now having global moments, reframed as sleek Scandinavian scarves or avant-garde hair statements. This external validation, Mansi notes, has awakened “a sense of possessiveness and ownership” within Gen D.

She stresses that reconnecting with cultural roots through desi aesthetics is more than just a style statement- it’s a deeply healing process. “So much of mental health is tied to knowing who you are and feeling like you belong somewhere,” she explains. Reclaiming desi culture, Mansi says, “feels like reclaiming your power to be who you are, completely and proudly,” bringing with it a sense of security, pride, and inner calm.