Fable and Mane, a brand launched in early 2020, sees siblings Akash and Nikita Mehta bring their Indian heritage and tradition to western consumers in a beauty brand. As an Indian myself, I am quite familiar with the practice of hair oiling, something many South Asians do to keep their hair healthy and protected from the harsh conditions of our environment. In an interview, the siblings said that the branding is heavily inspired by the architecture of India and their grandparent’s cultural home.
The brand is now sold at Sephora, a very popular chain beauty store in America – see products here
As designs students, it is interesting to explore how to bring our own personal stories and culture into the work we produce. Learning how to appeal to viewers who have no relation to these traditions is part of the challenge, as we want our work to be widely exposed and not just limited to those who can relate. Are there any ways on how artists can properly navigate these challenges? Is it better to focus on producing artwork for a limited population segment, or something more abstract that can appeal to a wider audience?
