Any conversation with Anita Dongre is inevitably shaped around ethical practises and holistic wellbeing. Whether it’s her near three-decade-old journey in fashion or the way she has designed her personal life, the veteran designer’s ethos is one of mindfulness and sustainability in everything she does. “To me, slow living is about simplifying my life as much as possible,” are her words that set the tone for the episode uncovering that aspect in Dongre’s life, from the Behind The Mask campaign.

In the six-part video series launched in collaboration with Vogue, GQ and Myntra, each instalment features a leading name in Indian fashion design, as they reveal a never-seen-before side of their creative selves. The Behind The Mask initiative sees five couturiers—including Dongre—to conceptualise a face mask inspired by heritage crafts, using materials from their own homes. The prototypes, were in turn, used as creative inspiration by Chandni Mehta, art director, Architectural Digest to design ready-to-wear versions for sale on Myntra. The first-of-its-kind project by Condé Nast India aims at spreading awareness about public safety and pandemic-caused distress faced by craft communities. While the episodes can be streamed on Discovery Plus and TLC lifestyle channels, profits from the sale of designer-inspired masks will be distributed to karigars across the country, via seven NGOs associated with GiveIndia.

During this time, we caught up Anita Dongre, the force behind the biggest fashion house in India, and now a household name for her unmistakable Jaipur craft-inspired aesthetic and celebrity-approved bridal couture. At home, she is surrounded by nature, works of local crafts and is spending time playing games with family. Excerpts from the interview, below.

On the commitment to a less-impactful lifestyle

In the short Behind The Mask film with Dongre, she explains how travelling less frequently by air, spending more time at home and even building a home with her sister closer to the design headquarters (in Navi Mumbai), were all steps taken to further her approach of mindful living. “I’ve been wanting to move towards a more conscious lifestyle for many years. Moving to Navi Mumbai, choosing a vegan lifestyle, home gardening, and trying to be as sustainable as possible in my everyday living,” she says.

On her time in self-quarantine

“Being in quarantine has strengthened my belief in the need for a sustainable way of life. My hope is that more people make the choice to live a mindful life,” shares Dongre on her time at home. “I made lifestyle changes—not new discoveries in this time,” she points out. “From researching brands to truly understand the ingredients that go into them to ordering less to reduce plastic waste, I’ve used this time to make more conscious choices.”

On the cause of artisans and skilled workers

“I discovered the power of handcrafts as a student of fashion at SNDT over 30 years ago. It is mind-boggling how many textile crafts we have inherited as Indians, one lifetime isn’t enough to experience them all.” Dongre’s handmade cotton face mask was inspired by the craft of Pichhwai, a hand-painting technique indigenous to Rajasthan. The glimpses of her natural-lit home showcase the decor pieces, artworks, pottery and soft furnishings—are all hand-worked crafts sourced from the region.

“Our artisans are the preservers of Indian traditions. Their skills and knowledge have been passed down over thousands of generations. It would be a tragedy to lose India’s fine weaves, embroideries, and fabric pattern techniques to poor mechanical limitations,” she adds on the importance of diverting public attention to their cause during this time. “The craft sector is a major employer, contributing significantly to our GDP. In letting this sector and its people down, we set ourselves up for economic peril.”