This Week In Culture: Design-Inclined Skincare, a High-Fidelity Sound Show, & Much More

Before I take a shower: "I hate it in there. The wet world is a bad place."

While I'm in the shower: "I remember now that this is a good place. It's the dry world that's the enemy."

I've been sleeping in a little too much this week. Can't blame myself when 8 AM feels like 3 AM. Last night I binged watched till 2 AM and by the time I got to skincare, the water was stinging cold and I got a free microneedling session at home. So yes, leaving the bed is hard. Stepping into the shower is even harder. But I only dread it until the moment the water hits me. So it's not the act of showering itself that causes all this resistance but the threshold that I must cross to get to it. 

While I'm shower I think about how this is exactly what change feels like. We want what's on the other side of it but getting there feels like a pain. Suddenly I'm Dr Strange in front of the Ancient Once and everything makes sense. I know why I procrastinate, self-sabotage, and subconsciously romanticize defeatism. I'm the frog that thinks the boiling water is a hot tub where I should stay just a little longer. "And then one day you find ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun." This stuff gives me more shivers than a winter morning ever could. 

As a result, here I am now religiously practicing out with the old & in with the new, just like the Homegrown Culture Bulletin. We have an exciting curation this week that you can check out below:

'Green Girl' By Sarthak Hegde

In his latest film, Sarthak Hegde crafts a 40-minute Homegrown narrative that feels like stepping into a dream; a poignant, chaotic maze of love and rebellion set against the socio-political backdrop of a divided Karnataka. The story of Ameena and Jeevan, two free-spirited lovers navigating a world of religious tensions, unfolds with a delicate balance of warmth and sharp reality. With an ethos of intentional storytelling , that uses props, surreal sequences and symbolic colours like green and orange to fulfill the cinematic ambitions, Green Girl becomes a artful exploration of freedom and oppression.

Read about the film here.

7 Sins By Jaimin Rajani

33-year-old Jaimin is a singer-songwriter who blends the soul of Western folk-rock with the rootedness of home. His debut album Cutting Loose (2022) channels early Dylan and Leonard Cohen, weaving slice-of-life stories about love, heartbreak, and youth with Travis Picking finesse. Now a GRAMMY voting member, he’s unapologetically carving his path in India’s tricky non-film music landscape. His cheeky new single Seven Sins, is a playful ode to human flaws featuring American mandolinist Patrick Fitzsimons. It’s fun, self-deprecating, and irresistibly relatable.

Listen to it here.

Our Own Pace By Shivani Boruah and Uday Shanker

Say hello to Our Own Pace (OOP), a homegrown brand that champions slow fashion with standout pieces like their Horseshoe Jeans - curved, tailored, and available in four cool variants. Made from deadstock and pre-consumer textile waste, these jeans reflect the brand’s ethos of thoughtful, low-waste production. From intricate Ikat shirts to breezy dresses, OOP’s designs celebrate traditional techniques while staying modern. Their journey, from pandemic inspiration to redefining denim with artisan collaboration, is proof that mindful fashion is the future.

Check out their pieces here.

The Hi-Fi Show By The Revolver Club

Step into a world of crystal-clear sound and immersive experiences at The Revolver Club HiFi Show at Kalina's PTC Experience Center. This week-long celebration of high-fidelity audio takes you from the golden era of hi-fi to today’s cutting-edge sound systems. Audiophiles, brace yourselves for exquisite gear and curated listening sessions featuring Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Kendrick Lamar. You can also catch Casablanca or La La Land in purpose-built screening spaces, all while exploring how sound brings us together in the digital age.

Find out about the show here.

'Sonam' By Steph Wilson

Steph Wilson’s award-winning photograph Sonam, part of her Ideal Mother project, flips the script on South Asian motherhood. Featuring Sonam, a London-based South Asian mother, confidently seated with a mustache (a nod to her wig-making profession), her baby clinging to her chest, the portrait defies gender norms and cultural expectations. The mustache and bindi create a bold juxtaposition, challenging traditional notions of femininity and motherhood. With tenderness and defiance, Sonam reclaims space for mothers to be seen not as ideals but as authentic, multifaceted humans; messy, imperfect, and unapologetically real.

Read about the portrait here.

Project Qaafi By Aahan Chatterjee

Meet Project Qaafi, a skincare-meets-design brand that moves beyond the Ayurveda-dominated market to create modern, meaningful products. Their debut Qaafi Ignored collection, featuring a scalp serum and hand cream, tackles overlooked needs with thoughtful formulations. For Diwali, the brand collaborated with Sat Suma to release the Qaafi Diwali Edit Mombatte, featuring aromatic candles and the luxe Pichola Soap inspired by Udaipur’s festive charm. With fun extras like a screen-printed 'Qaafi Baggage' tote, Project Qaafi uses skincare to celebrate design, heritage, and mindful beauty for the modern Indian lifestyle.

Get their products here.

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