In this episode, Stephanie speaks with Sandeep Kumar, an Indian entrepreneur who transformed his family’s traditional silk business into a cruelty-free vegan silk brand.  

Guided by his Jain values of non-violence, Sandeep closed all contracts with silk weavers in 2018 and launched a store offering plant-based and artificial silk alternatives, later expanding into natural dyes and sustainable techniques.

Despite criticism and early challenges, his business now serves customers worldwide, earning PETA and Beauty Without Cruelty certifications. Sandeep shares his mission to educate consumers, challenge industry myths like “peace silk,” and inspire entrepreneurs to prioritize ethics, sustainability, and transparency over short-term profit.

This is a powerful, must-hear story for every vegan entrepreneur who has faced significant challenges.

Quote:

So my message to all the entrepreneurs is that yes, we need profits to run our business, you know, for our livelihood.  But we should make sure that we take care of the ecosystem, both the environment and other living beings, as well as the fellow human beings who deserve a better life. 

-- M. Sandipkumar

Show Notes:

🧵 [3:22 ] M. Sandipkumar’s family background, why he wanted to start a more ethical practice of production.

💡 [6:06 ] Why new generations are more conscious and why they started looking for his brand.

🧶 [10:07 ] The difference between plant-based and man-made fabrics.

🎨 [17:44 ] Why people are interested in natural dyes.

🚚 [22:58 ] The obstacles he had to overcome when opting for plant-based silk.

👩🏻‍🏫 [26:16 ] How his store was built like a school.

💎 [31:59 ] The importance of creating a business that gives value and emotions, not just a product.

👨‍🔧 [33: 21] Why we should support all artisans whose craft comes from generations before.

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Thanks for listening to Pivot, our vegan business interview podcast. This is recorded as a live-streaming session, so I hope you’ll join us for future interviews as well! If you are feeling inspired but unsure of how to take actionable steps to improve your business, I invite you to explore our two premium paid podcasts, Going Solo and Fix It.