The Black Sheep standing out,
never blending in!
Evolving to be a conscious artisan led design studio instead of a fashion brand, Kissa Goi is a celebration of life and its simple joys. They are also channeling this ethos into meaningful products that bring happiness and purpose as well as expanding into experiences, such as workshops, to foster connections, encourage interaction, and build a vibrant community.
What inspired the creation of Kissa-goi?
Kissa-goi was born from a shared longing to create something we wished to wear/use ourselves.
At its heart, Kissa-goi is a bridge between the nostalgia of traditional techniques and the accessibility of contemporary design. Each product—be it a shirt or a diary—carries a story, evoking the essence of hope and/or nostalgia, and the tactile joy of handmade creations.
What inspires your choice of fabric and embroidery?
Our fabric choice is at the intersection of sustainability, aesthetics and comfort. We work primarily with natural, plant-based fabrics like linen and organic cotton, prized for their breathability, softness, and eco-friendliness.Embroidery is where stories come alive—whether it’s lounging cats, biology lessons. Each piece aspires to be more than just their aesthetic- the possibility of a smile, a conversation, a memory.
Can you walk us through your process from ideation to execution?
The ideation and designing process is an ongoing process, because they are a derivative of our life and the living. For instance, our Dopahar edit is a collection of our own or heard memories of tranquil afternoons—birdwatching during statistics class or summers filled with mangoes and pimples.
Then we create samples to test viability of an idea on a product and also variations like the same design in 3 colors, or making a better informed choice of proceeding with a design in cotton or linen.
Our artisans bring the designs to life using traditional techniques, focusing on quality and detail and the final details like buttons or sleeve edges and a thorough quality checks are made.
What is the initial investment required to start a venture like yours?
Starting a venture like Kissa-goi involves investments in:
Research and Development: Understanding fabrics, sourcing sustainable materials, and ideating designs.
Marketing: Building a base level brand identity, creating relevant content, and reaching the people also looking for someone like us.
Production and Infrastructure: Establishing a network of skilled artisans and setting up a workspace.
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While the exact figure would vary based on scale and in-house skillset, a modest operation could begin with ₹5–7 lakhs.
​​1. Achieving circularity : The more we see and learn, the more we understand how little we need.The idea is make more from whats already existing, make that which can be decomposed, and keep products away from landfills by reuse and repair.
KOSHISH, our Zero-Waste Initiative repurposes fabric scraps into diaries, postcards, and more
KOMOREBOI, a tree-planting initiative with Gaia Grid to reverse our carbon footprint
OTHER INITIATIVES, Increasing product longevity by offering repair and upcycling options and a vision for 100% recycled or surplus fabric
We’ve observed that Kissa-goi is more than just a slow fashion clothing brand.
What other aspects define Kissa-goi?
Kissa-goi is evolving to be a conscious artisan led design studio instead of a fashion brand.It has been a learn-as-you-do model where our present focus is two fold.
2. Community building : Doing together is usually easier and more fun than in isolation.
CONSCIOUS LIVING, Kissa-goi has become our guide to live better. For example, we have strengthened our practise of minimalism where we buy very limited products and use them for the longest time but prior to Kissa, we would buy fast fashion but now with more awareness, we consciously get products from our contemporaries
EMPOWERING ARTISANS by preserving age-old embroidery techniques and reimagining them in contemporary designs
EMPOWERING WOMEN, up-skilling women from unregulated service jobs like housekeeping, providing them with opportunities for growth and independence
Favorite piece you’ve created so far?
The Black Sheep designs personally speak to us because they remind us of the beauty that emerges when one chooses to think, create and be.
A relevant example in the Kissa-goi context would be to introduce collections when we are confident about the designs than because of the change in seasons (AW/SS) or encouraging indiscriminate buying inspired by discounts.
What does the future hold for Kissa-goi?
- To deepen our ecological and community-driven initiatives while staying true to our roots in storytelling and artisanship.
- Diversifying offerings to include more long-lasting products like artworks.
- Strengthening Sustainability by repair and rental services and limiting virgin fabric usage
- Building a larger community of artisans and patrons through workshops and collaborations
Instagram - Kissa Goi