How Whitewater Kids is Exploring Natural Dyes and Traditional Textiles in Babywear

Cute bows, tulle skirts, dinosaur prints and animal-everything; is that all kidswear is about? Parents and guardians who take such meticulous care about the food their children eat and safeguard them from harm can sometimes overlook checking what their kids wear. Babywear and kidswear is more than just everything mentioned above; it’s choosing organic cotton that’s safe as well as soft and natural dyes that don’t irritate your child’s delicate skin. To learn more about the world of slow design, traditional textiles, and sustainable materials, Local Samosa spoke with Shweta Dhariwal and Ankita Dhariwal, founders of Whitewater Kids. Shweta and Ankita combine lived experience, design expertise, and a commitment to Indian craft to create babywear that is organic, inclusive, and rooted in tradition.

Determination to Design for Impact was the Inspiration

The movement of conscious parenting is changing the course for brands. Shweta shares, “During my student days at NID, I was introduced to India’s textile heritage—organic cotton, handloom weaving, herbal dyes, hand embroideries and prints. It was much later, after extensive research, that I connected the dots and realised how perfectly suited they were for babies. And that not many people were designing for babies in India. That’s when Whitewater was born.” Not as a fashion label, but as a quiet determination to design for impact, she mentions. It was a conscious choice to honour our roots, protect our children’s skin, and support the people who still hold generational knowledge in their hands.

“We didn’t just want to make 'cute baby clothes.' We wanted to help new parents begin their journey with mindfulness, intention, and a sense of connection—to the Earth, to artisans, and to what truly matters,” she adds.

Figuring out Alternatives to Polyester Threads

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Sustainability is a major ask from consumers. With Whitewear Kids focusing on organic cotton and herbal dyes, it was essential that they deliver on their promises. Finding reliable suppliers for organic cotton, who are willing to work with smaller quantities, can be a hurdle for such brands. 

“Finding the right artisans who understood the quality we wanted in terms of dyes, prints, stitching, and the design details was also another journey. It took longer, cost more, and wasn’t always scalable—but every small batch carried our values intact. While we are proud of the supply chain we have built over the years, we are still working to find alternatives to polyester threads and elastic so that we can truly say we are 100% plastic-free,” Shweta states. 

Drawing from Kolkata’s Folk Art Heritage

Shweta talks about growing up in Kolkata, as a Marwari Jain. With her grandparents around, she was constantly surrounded by colour, craft, chaos and simplicity “From the hand-beaded and stitched clothing and bags of my grandmother, to the morning rituals of wearing a crisp white dhoti by my grandfather, the authentic teak wood furniture, the colourful ghaghras and odhanis and the rich food traditions. That visual language, rooted in storytelling and simplicity, is deeply embedded in how we see the world—and how we design,” she reminisces.

At Whitewater, they’ve tried to channel that same spirit. They claim to draw from folk art, not in a literal sense, but in how it values function, symbolism, and soul. The prints often carry narratives – be it a fish from the Bengal kantha or a fish concerned about water pollution—but always rendered in a way that feels modern and minimal.

“The unisex silhouettes are a natural extension of that ethos—clothing that doesn’t box children into roles, but lets them play, grow, and just be,” she acknowledges. “It gives everyone an equal start. Our roots taught us that true design isn’t trend-led. It’s timeless, intentional, and made to be passed on—much like the traditions we grew up with.”

Artisan Empowerment, Humane Timelines and Collaborative Processes

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One story that stays with Shweta is of Geetaben from a small hand appliqué cluster in Ahmedabad. “I have seen her struggles to raise her daughter living in an environment where it is common for men to drink, abuse and while she was away.”

She insists, “When we began our partnership, we made sure our timelines were humane, and our processes collaborative. She wasn’t just a labourer - we were co-developing baby-safe clothing and textiles using hand skills and zero wastage. Through her consistent work and resilience, she managed to own a house and educate her daughter by herself. To me, this is a symbol of what dignity can do for women when the system is designed with empathy. We often say our clothes are made with love. But truly, they are made of love—layered with the hands, stories, and strength of women like her.”

No More ‘Buy More, Throw More’

To Shweta, slow design in babywear is about presence over pressure. It means designing not just for the moment, but for memory—for the nap times, the first steps, the hand-me-downs. Every stitch has a reason. Every fabric, a story. And every piece, the potential to last longer, feel better, and leave a lighter footprint.

She points out that in a world where babies outgrow clothes every three months, fast fashion has taught us to buy more, throw more. “Slow design flips that script. It’s not about resisting change, but about honouring growth—by using natural materials that age gracefully, silhouettes that allow movement, and designs that aren’t trend-led but timeless.”

To communicate this to fast-paced consumers, the brand focuses on storytelling. “Whether it’s showing the hands that made the garment or the natural process behind our dyes, we invite parents to slow down and ask: What is this touching my child’s skin? Who made it? And how did it get here?” she clarifies.

Because conscious parenting isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being aware. And slow design gives them a beautifully simple way to begin.

The Approach to Design and Production

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Both motherhood and living with Vitiligo have made Shweta acutely aware of sensitivity. “As a mother, I’ve felt that instinctual need to protect, to nurture, to choose what’s safe and real for my child. And as someone with Vitiligo, I’ve grown up learning to be gentle with my skin, to question what I put near it, and to tune into what’s underneath the surface.”

Whitewater is born from that intersection—of protection and sensitivity, of confidence and care, says the founder. “When I choose fabrics, I don’t just ask: Is this sustainable? I ask: Would I wrap a newborn in it? I rub it against my cheeks: do I want this against soft skin? That’s why we avoid synthetics, harsh dyes, and unnecessary embellishments, why we work with herbal and azo-free dyes and natural fasteners, why we build relationships, not transactions, with the people who make our clothes.”

Design, for her, isn’t just visual—it’s visceral. It’s about how something feels, how it breathes, and how it honours both the body and the maker. These experiences have taught her that true beauty doesn’t shout—it soothes. And that’s exactly what she wants every Whitewater garment to do – be beautiful inside out. 

Conscious of Representation

Local Samosa asked Ankita how her background and perspective helped shape Whitewater’s voice and visual identity. She mentioned that for her, design is not just about how something looks—it’s about who it includes, who it empowers, and what it says when no one is speaking. 

“Coming from a background in visual communication and living with a neuro-muscular disorder, I was always drawn to narratives that were layered, tender, and a little unexpected", she shares. “At Whitewater, my role is to make sure our voice feels human—not preachy, not precious. Whether it’s crafting a packaging that you might keep like a treasure or designing a tag that a child plays with, I try to bring warmth and clarity to everything we put out into the world.”

The co-founder is also very conscious of representation. “Babies come in all skin tones, all family structures, all abilities—and our brand should reflect that. So, whether it's our photography, typography, or product names, I strive to ensure that they feel grounded in love and honesty, not aspiration. Ultimately, I think of Whitewater as a place where storytelling and sustainability meet. Where what we make isn’t just seen—it’s felt. And that’s the space I try to hold through every pixel, print, and post,” she explains.

Ethical Production & Zero Waste; More than Just Check Boxes

Shweta emphasises that it’s definitely a tightrope—but one they choose to walk with intention every day.

“Ethical production and zero waste aren’t just checkboxes for us—they’re the foundation of our brand. And yes, it means longer lead times, more expensive raw materials, and constant conversations with our supply partners. But we’ve found that when you lead with transparency and purpose, the right kind of customers—and collaborators—stay,” she highlights.

From a business perspective, the brand has learned to design smarter, not just more. The founder mentions, “We don’t chase trends or overproduce. We create timeless collections in small, thoughtful batches, allowing us to minimise waste and respond better to real demand. Offcuts are turned into accessories or patchwork styles. Seconds are repurposed, not discarded.”

Whitewater also invests in long-term relationships with artisans and suppliers, which often leads to better pricing stability and trust over time. And when it comes to educating customers, they try to shift the narrative from “cheap and fast” to “conscious and lasting.” “Because when you explain the ‘why’ behind the price or the wait, most people understand—and some even become your strongest advocates,” Shweta points out. “Sustainability isn’t the fastest way to grow. But it’s the right way for us. And in the long run, that builds a brand that’s both resilient and respected.”

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How Indian Parents Approach Baby Clothing and Sustainability

Shweta and Ankita hope Indian parents begin to see baby clothing not just as a purchase, but as a value statement. Currently, there’s still a lot of emphasis on price, gifting aesthetics, and imported trends. Shweta shares, “But we’d love to see a shift toward more conscious questions—What is this made of? Who made it? Will this nurture my child’s skin and the world they’re growing into?”

“I also hope we can move away from fast, disposable fashion for babies. Children outgrow clothes quickly, yes—but that shouldn’t mean we treat them as throwaways. We want parents to embrace fewer, better garments. To care, repair, and even celebrate hand-me-downs,” she quips.

Another shift the brand is working toward is breaking gender stereotypes in babywear—offering colour palettes and prints that are playful, not prescriptive. Clothes that invite curiosity rather than conform to tradition. Ultimately, she believes Indian parents are ready. They’re seeking meaning in what they consume. They want to raise conscious kids. “And if Whitewater can help create that bridge—between tradition and intention, heritage and hope—then we’re doing more than making clothes. We’re helping shape a quieter, deeper revolution in parenting,” adds the founder.

Artisan Upskilling and Women's Micro-entrepreneurship

She states that this is a fascinating chapter for them. “Whitewater Kids has always been about thoughtful expansion, and now, we're growing with the children we've dressed since infancy. We are expanding our B2B business through daycares, hospitals, and schools. It’s our way of extending conscious design into daily life, not just special moments. We are also super excited to take our work global, and you should hear about our international adventures real soon.”

In addition to launching new poem collections this year, they are also deepening their work with artisan upskilling and women's micro-entrepreneurship—so that every purchase doesn’t just sustain a child’s comfort, but also an artisan’s livelihood and agency.

“Whitewater was never meant to be just a clothing brand. It’s always been a growing, breathing ecosystem of care—and the next phase is about scale with intention,” she concludes.