The Forest Essentials founder talks about what it takes to build a credible and iconic luxury Ayurvedic beauty brand from the ground up and its foray into global markets
Mira Kulkarni, Founder and chairperson, Forest Essentials Image: Madhu KapparathÂ
In a rare interview, Forest Essentials' founder and chairperson Mira Kulkarni, a pioneer in luxury Ayurveda, talks about how she converted her passion for crafting pure Ayurvedic skincare and haircare products into an iconic $1 billion global beauty company.
Kulkarni shares how her 'extreme fixation with quality' helped her carve a strong niche in India's rapidly growing beauty and personal care industry. "Going global and making an Indian brand comparable in its category to any of the best brands in the world is the next goal," Kulkarni says as she explains Forest Essentials' growth strategy in a free-wheeling chat on Pathbreakers.
With the emergence of VC-backed new-age beauty companies, the entrepreneur discusses what it takes to build a credible ‘Made in India’ brand—that stands out from the clutter—in times of unsustainable beauty fads, steep discounts, and copycats. Edited excerpts: