Building a Sustainable Fashion Brand in India | ft. Dorna Milan | Thread Talk With AJ

Welcome back to Thread Talk with AJ! In today’s episode, we dive deep into the real-world mechanics of sustainable fashion, textile manufacturing, and the realities of scaling a conscious direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand in India. We are joined by Siddhant and Niyati, the co-founders of Dona Milan. Coming from a robust background in textile manufacturing and having worked closely with global retail giants, Siddhant and Niyati bring unmatched technical insights into what it truly takes to make clothing that is ethical, durable, and environmentally responsible. In this candid conversation, we break down: The truth behind fast fashion vs. genuine sustainability. How recycled fabrics (including materials made from PET plastic bottles) are engineered and tested. Sourcing high-grade raw materials and setting up transparent supply chains across Indian textile hubs. The business economics, unit margins, and marketing hurdles of launching a conscious clothing brand in an ultra-competitive consumer market. What modern Indian consumers actually look for in eco-friendly everyday apparel. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a fashion enthusiast, or someone curious about how conscious consumerism is shaping the textile industry, this episode is packed with practical lessons and unfiltered insights. 🕒 Key Highlights & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Welcoming Siddhant & Neeti 02:15 – From Traditional Textile Mills to Launching Dona Milan 07:40 – De-mystifying Sustainable Fabrics & Recycling Tech 14:20 – The Supply Chain Playbook: Sourcing, Quality & Costing 21:50 – Consumer Mindset: Will People Pay for Sustainability? 28:30 – Building & Scaling a D2C Fashion Brand in India 35:00 – Key Advice for Future Founders & Wrap-up 🔗 Connect & Follow on Instagram: Our Guests & Brand: 📸 Siddhant: https://instagram.com/gosnapy 📸 Neeti: https://instagram.com/niyati Host & Podcast: 🎙️ Thread Talk with AJ: https://instagram.com/threadtalkwithaj