Sameera Reddy’s guest on this episode of Limitless was introduced to chess at the age of 6 and has been in love with the sport ever since. Chess player and commentator, Tania Sachdev, talks to Sameera about holding prestigious titles like International Master and Woman Grandmaster, how chess is the best sport to sharpen your mind and how winning only inspires her to achieve more. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/westsidestores CREDITS: Host: Sa...
Apr 29, 2024•26 min•Ep. 36
On this episode of Two’s Company, we have comedians, Supriya Joshi and Prashasti Singh. They chat about the first time they knew they were meant to make people laugh, the trauma of bombing on stage and how they want to create room for more diversity in comedy in India. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/westsidestores CREDITS: Guests: Supriya Joshi , Prashasti Singh Executive Producer: Umashan Naidoo Creative Director: Liana Deboo Created by West...
Apr 22, 2024•31 min•Ep. 35
On this episode of Westside Stories, Anil Chopra, former CEO and MD of Lakmé, who now consults with Trent, tells the story of how the Tata Group built Lakmé which went on to become the foundation of Trent and Westside’s exclusive beauty brand - Studio West. Anil talks about how the legacy that JRD Tata and Mrs Simone Tata created lives on in the Indian beauty industry even today. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/westsidestores CREDITS: Guest: A...
Apr 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 34
On this episode of Westside People, Vinod Kapote, Head of IT at Trent, talks about how he is constantly learning and experimenting with technology to make every process more efficient - whether it’s improving the SAP system to be more robust and user friendly, to implementing an automated warehouse management system, to keeping up with tech trends in the industry like AI, machine learning and virtual reality. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/we...
Apr 01, 2024•14 min•Ep. 33
Sameera Reddy’s guest on this episode of Limitless went viral overnight for performing a poem about the harsh realities of being a young woman in India. Spoken word poet, gender equality activist and social media star Aranya Johar chats with Sameera about the cost of being vulnerable online, how it feels to be objectified on social media and the power of female solidarity. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/westsidestores CREDITS: Host: Sameera R...
Mar 25, 2024•29 min•Ep. 32
On this episode of Two’s Company, we have models and content creators, Sobia Ameen and Aashna Bhagwani. Sobia and Aashna chat about their experiences with tokenism in fashion campaigns, what fashion trends they think are timeless, and how they deal with trolls on social media. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/westsidestores CREDITS: Guests: Sobia Ameen , Aashna Bhagwani Executive Producer: Umashan Naidoo Creative Director: Liana Deboo Created b...
Mar 18, 2024•25 min•Ep. 31
On this episode of Westside Stories, Shreya Rana, Senior Manager - Customer, at Trent, talks about all the different ways that Westside strives to not only create a joyous shopping environment for the customer, but also make them feel spoiled and taken care of. She takes us through Westside’s different community building initiatives like the exclusive WestStyleClub membership, the Wesness fitness programme and the brand’s commitment to maximum customer satisfaction through policies like ‘first p...
Mar 11, 2024•12 min•Ep. 30
On this episode of Westside People, Harish Bhat, board member of Trent and former Brand Custodian of Tata Sons, talks about how brands under the Tata Group, including Westside, have cemented their identity to cater to the changing needs of the Indian consumer. He talks about the Tata Group’s illustrious history of contributing to nation-building for 155 years and the sense of pride and purpose that comes with working with them for over three decades. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow W...
Mar 04, 2024•23 min•Ep. 29
Sameera Reddy’s guest on this episode of Limitless has been passionate about fighting climate change since she was only 5 years old, when her home was struck by the Kedarnath Floods. Sameera is joined by 16-year-old climate activist, Ridhima Pandey, who talks about how she turned her fear of natural disaster into the conviction to fight the climate crisis, how she took on the Indian government at the age of 9 and then the UN at 11 years old about their inaction against climate change as well as ...
Feb 26, 2024•27 min•Ep. 28
On this episode of Two’s Company, we have pole performer Nupur Chaudhari and ballet dancer Pia Sutaria. They chat about the need for more institutional support for performance art in India, all the different misconceptions about their artforms and how dance deserves the same respect and recognition as any sport. The two performers find that although their art styles are very different, when it comes to their experiences as performers, they discover they have more common ground than they imagined...
Feb 19, 2024•37 min•Ep. 27
On this episode of Westside Stories, Jaychandra Jha, Senior Manager, Sourcing and Technology at Trent, tells us about Bag of Love - a project that’s part of Trent’s sustainability journey and one that empowers rural communities. The simple yet beautiful Bags of Love, available for purchase at Westside stores across the country, are special - not just because they are made from scrap fabric from Trent’s garment manufacturing factories, but also because they create gainful employment for women fro...
Feb 12, 2024•16 min•Ep. 26
On this episode of Westside People, Rajnikant Shah, Head of Projects and Properties at Trent, talks about creating the iconic Westside stores across the country. From identifying the right property and negotiating the best price, to designing a space that is eye-catching and inviting, Mr Shah takes us through the process of what exactly goes into building the foundation of any great shopping experience – the store. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram....
Feb 05, 2024•18 min•Ep. 25
Sameera Reddy’s guest on this episode of Limitless started playing football when she was 9 years old in the cramped slums of Dharavi in Mumbai. Sameera chats with Gulafsha Ansari about her journey from playing for the National Under-15 team, to attending the London Olympics as a Junior Ambassador. We also learn how her foundation, Dreaming in Slums, helps young girls from underprivileged communities learn life skills through the sport that changed her life. Shop the look here: www.westside.com F...
Dec 11, 2023•23 min•Ep. 24
On this episode of Limitless, we bring you Two’s Company with hip-hop artists Meba Ofilia and Dee MC. The two rappers gush about each other’s work, open up about their insecurities and chat about their hopes for the future of hip-hop and the independent music scene in India. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/westsidestores CREDITS: Guests: Meba Ofilia , Dee MC Executive Producer: Umashan Naidoo Creative Director: Liana Deboo Created by Westside ...
Dec 04, 2023•27 min•Ep. 23
On this episode of Westside Stories, Shailesh Solkar, Head of Merchandising and Supply Chain at Trent, takes us through Trent’s journey of building the strong foundation of a successful retail business. Shailesh talks about how over the past 25 years, Trent has spent the time implementing processes that are conducive to growth, to improving product design, to faster lead and turnaround times, to better customer fulfilment - everything that goes into making Westside and other Trent brands, ones t...
Nov 27, 2023•18 min•Ep. 22
On this episode of Westside People, Shailina Parti, COO of Westside, talks about her excitement about the future of fashion retail in India. After a 30 year career in fashion in the UK, Shailina talks about beginning her journey in Indian retail with Westside. She explains how fashion is all about making strategic bets on trends, how challenging it is to create a sustainable brand and how Westside embodies the concept of quiet luxury. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: ht...
Nov 20, 2023•17 min•Ep. 21
On this episode, Sameera Reddy is joined by India’s first wheelchair-using model, Virali Modi. Virali is also a disability rights activist and motivational speaker. Sameera chats with her about the incident that changed her life at age 15 and left her paralysed from the waist down, the strength that her mother’s love gave her to keep her alive and the need for more disability representation in the media. Trigger Warning: Please note, this episode has mentions of self harm, depression and abuse. ...
Nov 13, 2023•31 min•Ep. 20
On this episode of Limitless, we bring you Two’s Company with fashion stylists Chandni Sareen and Veera Kapur. They talk about the beginnings of their love affairs with fashion, the changes they want to see in the fashion industry, what are some trends that are best left behind and which are the ones that are here to stay. Shop the look here . Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/westsidestores CREDITS: Guests: Chandni Sareen, Veera Kapur Executive Producer: Umashan Naidoo Creative Di...
Nov 06, 2023•20 min•Ep. 19
On this episode of Westside Stories, Deborah Dawn Kharkongor, Buying Manager at Trent, takes us through the journey of Gia - Westside’s leading plus-size fashion brand. Deborah talks about how the aim of Gia was to make fashion accessible, trendy and affordable to plus size women, who had previously felt underserved by mainstream fashion. The brand is committed to learning what body positivity means to every woman, no matter her size, or her taste in fashion. Because after all, even curvy girls ...
Oct 30, 2023•10 min•Ep. 18
On this episode of Westside People, Philip Auld, former CEO and Managing Director of Trent, talks about his journey in fashion and what fascinates him about the business. From the importance of working with like-minded, passionate people, to knowing immediately the success or failure of a product when put in front of a customer, to understanding the delicate balance of getting ‘first price, right price’. Philip shares the wisdom he’s collected over his many years with Westside and Trent. Shop th...
Oct 23, 2023•11 min•Ep. 17
On this episode, Sameera Reddy chats with Upasana Makati, founder and editor of White Print, India’s first ever lifestyle magazine that is entirely in Braille. Upasana talks about how a late night, out-of-the-box thought led to her conviction for creating an inclusive space for people with blindness, what we often don’t consider as sighted people and the challenges of running a for-profit business in a space that’s often associated with charity. Shop the look here . Follow Westside here: https:/...
Oct 16, 2023•27 min•Ep. 16
On this episode of Limitless, we bring you Two’s Company with illustrators Alicia Souza and Priyanka Paul. They talk about the power of storytelling through their art, their different paths as artists, nerd out about the tools of their trade, gush about each other’s work, and discover their common goals as artists in India. Shop the look here . Follow Westside here: https://www.instagram.com/westsidestores CREDITS: Guests: Alicia Souza , Priyanka Paul Executive Producer: Umashan Naidoo Creative ...
Oct 09, 2023•27 min•Ep. 15
On this episode of Westside Stories, Arshiya Mecklai, Lead CSR & Employee Engagement at Trent tells us about Westside’s philanthropic initiative, the Star and Diya Project. Arshiya takes us behind the scenes of how the gift of a star or a diya has helped support the lives of those suffering from cancer, create an opportunity of entreprise for women rag-pickers who worked in the landfills of Ghazipur or to bring access to water right to the doorstep of remote villages in Gujarat. Shop the loo...
Oct 02, 2023•10 min•Ep. 14
On this episode of Westside People, Madhulika Damani, Head of Indian Wear at Trent, takes us through her unlikely journey into fashion. She talks about her fascination with transforming a flat piece of fabric into gorgeous silhouettes for any shape and size as well as how the modern Indian woman inspired her to kick start the kurti revolution, mix & match and various other creative adventures that planted the seed that grew Indian wear at Westside. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow...
Sep 25, 2023•14 min•Ep. 13
On this episode, Sameera Reddy chats with Viji Venkatesh, a stalwart in cancer patient care. Viji is the Regional Head for India and South Asia at The Max Foundation and the mind (and heart) behind the impactful ‘Chai for Cancer’ initiative. Sameera and Viji talk about how a heavy topic like cancer found a safe space in the Chai for Cancer Adda, how it’s never too late to start an acting career (even at 71!), and finding yourself in your avatars as a daughter, wife or mother. Shop the look here:...
Sep 18, 2023•25 min•Ep. 12
On this episode of Limitless, we bring you Two’s Company with radio presenters Rohini Ramnathan who hosts Jhakaas Mornings 91.9FM on Radio Nasha in Mumbai and Sanobar Sultana, the host for Lose Control on Fever 91.9FM in Chennai. They chat about what it’s like to be the voice that keeps a whole city company, the high expectations of being on-air (psst… not everything is ad-libbed), coming to the aid of their listeners in times of crisis and how radio saved them when they hit rock bottom. Rohini ...
Sep 11, 2023•31 min•Ep. 11
On this episode of Westside Stories, Deputy Head of Human Resources at Trent, Reema Das takes us through the Trent Homegrown recruitment and training programme. Discovering young graduates from campuses across the country and teaching them the ways of corporate culture; Creating an immersive and holistic learning environment within the Trent ecosystem that takes into consideration the needs of a new generation of talent - these are at the heart of the Trent Homegrown programme. Shop the look her...
Sep 04, 2023•13 min•Ep. 10
On this episode of Westside People, CEO of Trent, Mr P Venkatesalu, takes us through his fifteen year journey across the Tata Group that led him to Trent and finding his passion for retail. He talks about how retail is a playground for psychology, why Westside chooses to stand out of the popular narrative, their “pain now, gain later” attitude and how getting the price right is more important than discounts, offers and promotions. Shop the look here: www.westside.com Follow Westside here: https:...
Aug 28, 2023•13 min•Ep. 9
On this episode, Sameera Reddy talks to comedian, actor, writer and producer Sumukhi Suresh. She’s the founder of Motormouth , a writing studio that aims to create shows, films, and stories based on real, flawed female characters. She’s known for her stand-up comedy and her hit Amazon Prime series ‘Pushpavalli’. We find out how she moved from nutrition and food science to comedy, why she feels that if she stops being busy her career will end, and why it was time someone wrote a story of a big gi...
Aug 21, 2023•30 min•Ep. 8
Kicking off a brand new season of Limitless, Westside celebrates 25 years with more style. We bring you episodes that include a tête-à-tête with Sameera Reddy, an unlikely coming together of two women from similar walks of life but very diverse journeys and a look behind the scenes with the people and stories that make Westside what it is today.
Aug 14, 2023•2 min
