Author: Roots & Leisure

Meet the Creators of Gentlewasher – Manual Washer for Delicate Clothes

Today on Roots and Leisure, we have two really talented entrepreneurs – based out of Gujarat. Meet Coen and Kathak – the creators of gentlewasher – a beautifully crafted, manual washer for delicate clothes. About the Founders : Kathak and Coen Coen Vermeer has a post-graduation from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Kathak Mehta has a masters in Technology and Innovations Management from the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad. She is also pursuing PhD in Management from Institute of Management, Nirma University. Both Coen and Kathak are currently based in Ahmedabad. Tell us a little bit more about yourselves. Coen : Both Kathak and I love to create things – especially physical products that actually solve a problem. As a kid, I would spend hours playing with Lego. From building underwater palaces to castles in the sky; building things was my passion. During my studies, this untamed optimism grew stronger. After watching a documentary on India, I had made up my mind. So after graduating, I came all the way from Amsterdam to Ahmedabad. Once here, I …

King Chilli Chutney – Naga Style

Published by Roots & Leisure

Recently we had a customer from Delhi, who bought dried king chilli (Raja mircha), from the R&L Shop. We got so excited that someone out there is adventurous enough to try one of the hottest chillies in the world! So we sent him a sampling set of our other spices as well – which are all available to purchase HERE. And today, we are sharing a very simple recipe of one of the most popular chutneys in Nagaland – the raja mircha chutney. Dedicating this recipe to all those customers – who have dared to try the king chilly 🙂 Ingredients you’ll need: 1 king Chilly 1 large tomato 1 glove of garlic Salt to taste Directions to Make: Roast the tomatoes and chilies over a fireplace. If you have a fireplace at home, then roast the tomato by placing it on top of the hot ash (from the firewood) facing the fire. Keep turning to cook it evenly. Same way, bury the chili inside the hot ash and keep it for about 8-10 mins …

These Naga Entrepreneurs Are Bringing Indians Closer to Korean Beauty Products

Published by Roots & Leisure

A little introduction to the people behind the brand ‘Skin Concepts’ Skin Concepts is the brainchild of two budding entrepreneurs, Tina and Vivo. Tina is an Arts graduate from Delhi University who returned to Dimapur after a brief stint in Delhi at Jupiter Capital. Tina is currently fully invested in Skin Concepts. While Vivo, who hails from Kohima, is also an Arts graduate (from Delhi University) and has an MBA degree from James Cook University, Singapore. She has worked in Singapore for two and half years at Glutz Singapore, and is currently working full time as a planning assistant in the Planning and Coordination department for the government of Nagaland. Let us have a chat with the ladies and find out more . . . So what is ‘Skin Concepts’ all about? Skin Concepts is an e-commerce website selling authentic, carefully curated Korean skincare and beauty products. We officially launched our online store on the 1st of July this year . We currently have over 23 brands, and we are constantly adding more.Thing is, there are just so many amazing …

Visiting Nagaland | People, Sunsets and More

Published by Roots & Leisure

“We are visiting Nagaland for a friend’s wedding. We’re on our way to Noune resort* and had to stop for a shot of the sunset. So beautiful . . . just like the people here – so calm, warm . . . and in a quiet beautiful world of their own” *Check out details about Noune resort here. Chilling in the Longchen Homestay (which is like super homely and everything there is made with bamboo and wood) – before heading out to explore Nagaland 🙂

My Experience at Nagaland Hornbill Festival 2014

Published by Roots & Leisure

Our reader Priyanka Mhatre from Mumbai, shares her Hornbill festival with Roots and Leisure. In December 2014, one of my friends Radhika asked me to join her on a trip to Nagaland. It was a random plan with a fleeting mention about a festival called Hornbill. I always loved impromptu plans, so I agreed to go with this one as well. Luckily, we had a friend from Nagaland, who helped us book our tickets to reach the festival through a convenient route. With just a week left for the trip, I thought of looking up the web to learn more about Nagaland and the Hornbill festival. My Google search results threw up pictures that looked amazing. Apparently, the festival was organized in a hilly area where the local tribes participated to showcase their culture and lifestyle. I also came to know that our Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi was scheduled to grace the festival with his presence. This wasn’t some obscure festival after all. I was going to be a part of something big! I …

Come, Be a Part of Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival 2016

Published by Roots & Leisure

Hello there! It’s time to set sail on a journey to discover the undiscovered. The “festival of festivals”, Hornbill Festival 2016 is set to enthrall visitors from across the globe in the mystical North Eastern state of Nagaland. About the festival The Hornbill festival is named after the Hornbill bird, one of the state’s most venerated bird species that finds mention in a number of tribal cultural expressions. As one of the largest celebrations of indigenous warrior tribes of Nagaland, it is only fitting that the festival draws its name from Hornbill. The Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village at Kisama near Nagaland’s capital city, Kohima. The Nagaland state government organizes the Hornbill festival every year from December 1 – 10. The first festival was held in the year 2000. This year, three other districts in the state : Dimapur, Mokokchung, Phek– will be given the opportunity to host the mega festival this year – so the festival will be spread across multiple districts this time. The aim of the festival is to revive and protect …

Meet Anen | ‘The Little Baker’ from Nagaland

Published by Roots & Leisure

Today we chat up with Anen Imti – the baker behind ‘The Little Baker‘ in Dimapur, which is quite the talk of the town with its assortment of cakes, breads and doughnuts. Tell us something about ‘The Little Baker‘ The Little Baker (TLB) was started in the summer of 2016 and is based out of Dimapur. TLB is all about baking. Every item in the menu is baked with love. It is also the perfect creative outlet for someone like me, as I have been passionate about the culinary arts and baking for as long as I can remember! We serve all kinds of freshly-baked comfort food like breads, cakes, doughnuts, cupcakes, cookies, pies, desserts, etc. How did it all start? Did you get any formal training? Well yes, I got a formal training in culinary arts from New Delhi, post which I completed an industrial training from one of the top hotels. Then I got the opportunity to work full time in a 5-star resort in Goa – which sort of helped me kick off my career in baking. “After having …

Playing with Grandpa and my Cat

Published by Roots & Leisure

“Grandpa is playing the dog and I’m playing the cat! I love cats! cats cats!!!!” **Gives a big smile, and kisses Grandpa**

Meet Ankita from Unees Bees | Textile Artist from Gujarat

Published by Roots & Leisure

We are super delighted to feature Ankita from Unees Bees – as our first artist from Gujarat. Unees Bees is an independent clothing label from Vadodara. They make beautiful handcrafted sarees, stoles and clothing using traditional methods like block printing and tie and dye, and combining them with contemporary prints. Here we chat up with the lovely lady to know more about Unees Bees. Hi Ankita! Super delighted to have you here as the first Gujarati artist on R&L. So tell us something about yourself. What was the inspiration behind the launch of the brand ‘Unees Bees’? I was brought up in Vadodara (in Gujarat) and had always been more creatively inclined than Academic. Plus, growing up, my mother would always take me along to fabric shops around the city as she had an appreciation for textiles and garments – and that I picked up my my interest in garment making . When the time came to choose a career, clothing design was a clear choice. So I did my Bachelors in Fashion Design from M.S. University Vadodara, which …

Catching up with an old Classmate during Navratri

Published by Roots & Leisure

“Alumni Night [at CEPT,Ahmedabad] is something I always look forward to – since it happens during Navratri.Friends from from all over come together to attend this one night of dancing. It’s like you never left. . . . and to be back here again in the same campus – catching with an old friend is just perfect.” “I had a long day but I’ll never be too tired to dress up for the night. It’s like the best thing about Navratri – wearing a chaniya choli! 🙂 Law garden (in Ahmedabad) have an amazing collection of traditional stuffs – especially the jewellery!”