In our latest issue, we examine the efforts of people at the forefront of the sustainability movement, striving to reclaim Earth and its resources from the clutches of extinction. Cover personality and environmentalist Gaytri Bhatia, who left a job in the US to take care of the lush Vrindavan Farm and her growing bank of rare seeds, is proof that it’s possible to reorient our outlooks and modern consumerist lifestyles permanently. Inside the issue, we learn from individuals like Goa-based Clinton Vaz, who through vRecycle, has been recalibrating the state’s waste-management system since his twenties; Arshiya Bose, who has designed Black Baza Coffee's supply chain to support the coffee-growing Adivasi communities around Bengaluru and Arati Kumar Rao, an environmental writer and photographer, who is spreading awareness about the human-inflicted ‘slow violence’ on South Asian ecosystems through her images and words. We also zoom in on clothing labels like Sui by Sue Mue, Ayurganic by Lecoanet Hemant, and Upasana that are experimenting with all-natural and organic Ayurvedic garments, infused with soothing herbs.
Going towards its 17th year now, Verve has been at the vanguard of the lifestyle industry in India since its inception. Being India's first fashion and luxury monthly and targeted as the spirit of today’s woman, it celebrates the interests of the multifaceted contemporary global Indian, including fashion, beauty and style, glamour, arts and culture, travel and wellness. The editor and publisher, Anuradha Mahindra, has received top billing in Avenue Asia's list of Indians involved in the media. More than just a magazine that reports and interprets, Verve is a catalyst for conversations around contemporary Indian culture in the world, and these conversations take place between the pages of the magazine, on the internet as well as through several Verve-organized offline event initiatives: Our theme-based Verve Lounges held in different Indian cities have become the talk of the arts, culture and fashion world; being the first of its kind in India. Among the new activities, Verve had a starring role in the Bollywood blockbuster film Dostana, featuring Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra where the magazine was organically integrated into the film's storyline and was the focus point of a significant part of the film’s narrative. Verve has, for three years running, been a premier partner of the Indian International Film Awards (IIFA) fashion extravaganza, bringing behind-the-scenes news and coverage. Verve is also a member of the International Council of Altagamma, the Italian Luxury council and the magazine’s continuous success has been closely watched and studied, including at the Harvard Business School. Verve holds premium partnerships across industries and in the arts, culture and fashion fields. It has partnered Louis Vuitton with the Albert Kahn show and hosted a dinner for artists at Zodiac Grill, Taj. Verve was the magazine partner for the Toofles CEO fashion show and trunk show of Stella McCartney with Priya Chatwal and for ‘Women Mean Business’, a Cherie Blair initiative. Verve and Muse launched New York’s Breakthrough in Mumbai. Verve also ties up with several tourism boards and designs special evenings for the same.
