Raising Consciousness

"Gaia Amore is a passion project for Ashish Tandon and Catherine Hinderman, two individuals from opposite sides of the planet who seamlessly met in the fall of 2019. Ashish from India and Catherine from Sweden met in the US and began their journey together in 2020 by founding the new luxury brand Gaia Amore.

This is a conscientious social enterprise focused on transparency in their supply chain and using technology to amplify their social and environmental impact to create a new model for transparency and sustainability. They share their passion for working with people in need, and found in their journey throughout India that artisans in rural communities are uniquely positioned as perfect partners. Coming from culturally rich regions with history dating back millennia but not having access to markets, quality materials, or distribution channels, the partners quickly jumped at the chance to work with Gaia Amore. The brand offered the artisans the opportunity to continue making the products that they’d been making for generations but with a twist- the products would reflect the brand DNA: a focus on spirituality, conscientiousness, universal relationships, and the infinite twin flame. They were happy to oblige. The artisan’s products are beautifully hand-crafted, each taking anywhere between twosix weeks to make, and the artisans finally have access to an international market.

Gaia Amore is happy to work with the artisans, and the partners happily provide photos and videos of the manufacturing process in real time, a criterion which the founders heavily emphasized as a mandatory requirement prior to beginning the partnership.

Each partner is a representative and point of contact between Gaia Amore and the artisans. Provided the language and culture barriers, the partners are well-positioned, speaking English and having businesses already established working with the artisans. They work with the brand to ensure raw materials are sustainable and sustainably produced and the artisan impact program is executed effectively. Catherine and Ashish quickly understood that the treasure that is the rural artisan is a legacy that needs to be preserved and promoted not just in India, but worldwide.

Over the next ten years, Gaia Amore plans to work with more than 5,000 artisans globally, building a full international platform not only for luxury goods steeped in tradition but for designers creating both physical and phygital collections. Expanding into the Metaverse and web3 at an early stage allows Gaia Amore to be explorers in a new frontier and engage with their patrons in a more interactive and immersive way.

They’ll be creating and collaborating on digital fashion and showcasing collections in fashion shows, adapting virtual try-on, and leveraging blockchain technology to increase overall transparency. Gaia Amore will be launching their first digital store in December 2022 which will feature 3D models of their earring collection made by sixteen artisans from Tamil Nadu, India.

The founders truly believe that by building an authentic brand focused on collaboration, artisan craftsmanship, and creating tangible impact, fashion can be both transparent and sustainable.

Gaia Amore plans to work with more than 5,000 artisans globally, building a full international platform not only for luxury goods steeped in tradition but for designers creating both physical and phygital collections.