Why Vyakti India Is Betting on Banana and Cactus for Sustainable Leather

In a market crowded with buzzwords like eco-friendly and conscious, Vyakti India positions itself quietly but firmly as a brand built on intent rather than trend. At its core, Vyakti is a sustainable bag business working with plant-based leather, but its philosophy runs deeper than materials alone. It is about questioning beauty, consumption and responsibility, and then designing products that respond honestly to those questions.

The idea for Vyakti India took shape at a moment of personal discomfort. “Vyakti began the day I realised that most ‘beautiful’ accessories were leaving behind an ugly footprint,” the founder shares. “I wanted a brand where design, values and material choices could exist in the same frame.” That realisation became the seed for Vyakti, a name rooted in the belief that one individual can create meaningful change. From the start, the brand set out to challenge the idea that luxury must come at the cost of the planet.

Plant-Based Leather as a Design Philosophy

What distinguishes Vyakti in the growing sustainable fashion space is its approach to plant-based materials. Instead of treating vegan leather as a substitute for animal leather, the brand sees it as a starting point for design. “We treat plant-based materials as a design philosophy, not a trend,” the founders explain. “For us, eucalyptus, olive, banana and cactus leather aren’t alternatives, they’re our primary canvas.” This mindset allows Vyakti to work with each material's natural strengths rather than forcing them into conventional forms.

The choice of plants, such as cacti and bananas, is both practical and philosophical. These plants require very little water, regenerate quickly and generate minimal waste. “They create materials that are surprisingly strong yet light,” the founders note. “For us, it was a balance of responsibility, performance and how beautifully they adapt to Indian design sensibilities.” The result is a collection of bags that feel modern, functional and rooted, without relying on excess or imitation.

Staying true to sustainability while scaling is a challenge many young brands struggle with, but Vyakti treats its principles as non-negotiable. “We stay rooted in the same discipline we began with,” the founders say. “Our entire production cycle is built on low-impact choices, from the materials we use to the way we manufacture.” Beyond the bags themselves, everything in the brand’s ecosystem is organically grown or naturally sourced, and the entire process is completely plastic-free. Growth, for Vyakti, does not mean dilution.

Building a New Supply Chain in India

Building a plant-based leather business in India has come with its share of operational hurdles. The biggest challenge, according to the founders, was creating a supply chain that could understand and adapt to new materials. “Everything from prototyping to stitching needed a learning curve because plant-based leather behaves differently from conventional materials,” they explain. While the early days required patience and experimentation, the brand sees encouraging signs. “It took time, but the ecosystem is evolving,” they add, pointing to a slow but steady shift in industry awareness.

From a market perspective, plant-based leather in India is still in its early stages, but momentum is clearly building. “The market is still young but growing fast,” the founders observe. Awareness has increased sharply over the last two years, particularly among urban consumers. Vyakti’s primary audience falls within the 20 to 45 age group, people who are informed, value sustainability and are willing to invest in products that align with their ethics rather than impulse trends.

Where Indian Philosophy Meets Modern Design

The brand’s differentiator lies in how it blends modern aesthetics with Indian philosophy. “Vyakti blends Indian philosophy with modern design,” the founder says. “We aren’t just selling cruelty-free products, we are building a mindset around mindful choices.” Storytelling plays a crucial role here, enabling the brand to create a design language that feels both contemporary and thoughtfully considered, without being overly preachy.

Looking ahead, Vyakti India is focused on expanding its universe while staying anchored to its core values. “The next chapter is about widening the world of Vyakti,” the founder shares. Plans include exploring new categories, from everyday carry bags to bolder, more expressive pieces. “With every new design, the goal is simple: make conscious choices accessible to more people,” they add, reinforcing the belief embedded in the brand’s name.

Designing for a World Beyond Fast Fashion

In an age of fast fashion and overflowing landfills, Vyakti’s commitment feels both timely and personal. “Sustainability matters because every product outlives us,” the founders say. “What we make today becomes someone else’s problem tomorrow.” Through Vyakti India, they aim to demonstrate that beauty can be both beneficial and sustainable, and that conscious design can be just as aspirational as traditional luxury. In doing so, the brand makes a quiet but compelling case for fashion that thinks beyond the present moment.