If you dress mindfully, and accessories are your thing, then you know the power of owning the right bag. One that just doesn't turn heads, complements every outfit effortlessly, but also tells a story. Because we all love a little backstory, don't we?
Hence, the bag brand, KALI, strikes a chord. It doesn’t just offer beautiful, luxe bags — it comes with emotion, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to Indian heritage. Naturally, we had questions. What drives a label like this? What is the story behind the story?
So, we caught up with the brains behind it all, Mansi Saxena, founder of Kali India, to learn about the heart and hustle that goes behind every creation of the brand.
Not Just Another Luxury Label
When it is Kali, you would first think of Goddess Kali, the fierce deity worshipped across India. But Mansi Saxena believes she is a highly misunderstood goddess because of how she is presented, having a blood soaked tongue and garland of skulls around her.
“Kali is so much more than that, she is an agent of transformation, she is a benevolent mother as much as she is a warrior goddess. In a lot of ways that resonated with me as the modern women that we are. She could be a modern feminist icon, because she doesn’t bow down to society’s expectations and you know she is just fierce. I felt that her story deserved to be told, and that’s why Kali.”
There is more to the brand’s name. It is also a comment on colourism and the stigma around dark skin in India. “Growing up in this country, we all know what the word Kali means, right? It’s often used, especially for dark skinned individuals, dark skinned girls particularly. You know we’ve been taught that fair skin is better, and I felt that, if through this brand we could change what this word means to little girls, where you say I am Kali and it’s a statement of power and not inferiority, wouldn’t that be nice?”
Not Just an Embellishment, But Truth
Mansi and her team take immense pride in calling Kali “not an embellishment but a truth”. So, what does truth mean to her in the world of luxury, we ask.
Saxena reflects how back in the day, luxury was all about craftsmanship, it was always something that was specifically made for an individual — it was commissioned, just like art was. She believes that is what couture technically is. But over time, it has become a way of signaling status. While she feels there is nothing wrong in it, Saxena thinks it has lost the luster and the meaning of what luxury was supposed to be.
The Meaning Behind the Making of Kali
Kali is always chasing the truth, through every stitch, symbol, and scent. “Our bags have a story, our craft has a story, our materials have a story, our scenting rituals have a story. They all come from older codes, older than any language, common across ancient cultures.”
At Kali, a bag isn’t purchased, it is chosen. “In this day and age of consumerism, where we are constantly purchasing things, there is a difference in when you buy things just for instant gratification versus when you choose to buy something because it means something, because you respect the artisan’s hands that it was made from. You respect the history that it came from and you are kind of being a part of continuing a certain craft culture that would otherwise go extinct. So, it’s a conscious decision of why you buy something or why you spend your money on something versus you just buying things because it has logos all over it, right? So therein lies the difference,” says Mansi Saxena.
Ebb and Flow — The Debut Collection
Kali’s debut collection, Ebb and Flow, is inspired by the natural forces of the serpent and the fire, symbols of change, rebirth, and stillness. For the founder, Mansi Saxena, this collection is a reflection of our lives as it captures how the truth shapes us as we transform and evolve.
Craftsmanship, The Soul of Kali
While the brand story is rich, the soul of Kali lies in its craftsmanship. “Craftsmanship is the beginning and the end of Kali, literally. It is the reason why we exist,” she shares.
The bags, particularly their statement handles are a story in themselves. The debut collection features Thatera art. But why Thatera?
She explains how every state in the country has its own metal craft, Bidri in Karnataka, Filigree in Odisha, Dhokra in West Bengal, Meenakari in Benaras and Jaipur, there is Thatera in Rajasthan and Punjab.
“Thatera was just simpler because it happens in Rajasthan and we have also introduced some technology so that it can be replicated over and over again. And of course, there is hand setting, so it basically goes through the hands of eight artisans before it comes to a finished form and it takes 100 hours to build one handle,” she says.
Materials That Speak
Every material in Kali’s construction is carefully selected, striking a balance between luxury and responsibility.
“All our leather comes from LWG certified tanneries because there is no animal cruelty. It all comes from waste skin or byproducts of the meat industry. We wanted to go for materials that people have not really heard about. So, Kashmir lambskin was chosen because it is a woolly animal, and therefore the strength of the skin is a certain manner, and it behaves in a certain manner as it ages. In terms of the inside, all Kali bags are blue from inside because the material that we use here is Mysore goat skin. Also, it is called Shakti Blue from inside because whenever you see the folk paintings of our gods and goddesses, whether it's Vishnu or Kali or Krishna, this is the colour that they are painted in. So this is kind of the soul of Kali and therefore all Kali bags will always have a blue interior.”
Even the rubies on the handle are no coincidence. Rubies are picked for this collection as they represent fire, much in line with the theme, she shares.
At Kali, Every Detail Matters
From scent kits to the dust bags, every element of packaging is intentional. A special print featuring the Himalayas, ancient temples of India, and Indian flora and fauna are designed inside the box. At the centre is Goddess Kali with a hibiscus flower in her hair. Even the dust bag is made on a traditional loom in Banaras, and the bags come with a scent kit.
But where does Kali stand in a world filled with legacy luxury like Dior and Chanel?
Saxena puts it simply, “It’s not an either or situation to begin with. It’s about, you may have Birkins, you may have your Chanel, and Dior but please also have a Kali. So that’s the objective here. It’s not about displacing anybody.”
Kali is Built to be an Heirloom
“Every bag at Kali is an heirloom piece,” says Mansi. “These have been made to last. We want you to pass it on to your granddaughter with the story that it came with the craft. We are not trying to follow seasons, we're not trying to follow the fashion life cycle. Our pieces are intentionally slow built. These are classic masterpieces that are collectibles and therefore they will become heirlooms in due course which will be passed on to the next generation.”
Kali is a brand built from the ground up, with reverence, research, and rare craftsmanship. With artisans pouring their heart into every stitch and element, the brand isn’t just redefining luxury, it is celebrating India in a way we’ve never seen before.
