Made with Pyaar: A marketplace and conversation on making, building & belonging <3
What does it take to turn something deeply personal — a piece of your culture, a family tradition, an idea you can’t stop thinking about — into something others can experience, buy, wear, read, listen to, or gather around?
On Sunday, October 4th, join us for Made With Pyaar, a conversation and marketplace bringing together four South Asian founders, makers and community builders.
Come for an honest conversation on the art of building and stay to shop from curated marketplace of independent South Asian brand featuring:
Jewels by Sanjam — Contemporary, skin-friendly jewelry handcrafted by artisans in India, bringing traditional craftsmanship into modern, everyday pieces.
Parul L. Bhandari — A Chicago-based author of 'Good Brown Girls,' tech entrepreneur, podcast host and speaker using storytelling to preserve South Asian heritage and amplify the people shaping our community.
Sukoon by Kanika — Handcrafted spiritual décor, festive collections and copper wellness pieces designed to bring Indian heritage and ritual into American homes.
Kaira Kollection — An aunt-niece duo reimagining traditional Indian craftsmanship through contemporary Indo-Western fashion.
THE CONVERSATION | 12PM-2PM
Moderated by Parul L. Bhandari, the panel goes beyond founder success stories to explore the realities of building something rooted in identity.
We’ll talk about:
The Spark — Where the idea began, what keeps you building, and the roadblocks no one sees.
Identity & Culture — How our backgrounds shape what we create and the communities we choose to serve.
Building Community, Differently — From products and podcasts to events and physical spaces, why each founder chose a different medium to bring people together.
Pivots & Practicality — The mistakes, setbacks and turning points that changed the way they build.
The Future — A rapid-fire look at what’s next, the tools founders actually use, and practical advice you can take into your own work.
THE MARKETPLACE | 2PM-6PM
Explore a thoughtfully curated marketplace of South Asian-founded brands across jewelry, Indo-Western fashion, handcrafted home décor, festive pieces, wellness and more.
Whether you’re a founder yourself, building a creative career, looking for inspiration, or simply want to discover and support South Asian-owned brands, Made With Pyaar is an invitation to shop, listen, connect and leave with something new — an object, an idea, or perhaps both.