00:05from the runways of fashion to the roots of the earth Divya Jakar's journey is anything but
00:13ordinary after over 12 years in fashion working with Ritu Kumar Pankajan Nidhi and Sahil Kochar
00:21and shaping more than 25 runway shows from India Fashion Week to international trade shows in Paris
00:28and entries for the International Woolmark Prize she chose to step away and listen to a deeper
00:37calling today based in Gurgaon and working across India Divya designs living ecosystems spaces that
00:46regenerate sustain and grow life I work as a permaculture designer and an ecological landscaper
00:55I wanted to do something that was closer to nature when the pandemic started everything stopped and
01:06it just came to my head that why not learn about how to grow food at home because you were
01:11stuck at
01:11home I saw an ad which said a master kitchen garden course by edible roots as Divya worked closely with
01:22soil and seed she found a connection with nature and a sense of purpose that she had long overlooked
01:30when the online course ended she felt the need to understand deeper seeking hands-on experience she
01:40approached Kapil founder of edible roots under his guidance she assisted across multiple sites observing
01:48land conditions and work processes before gradually taking responsibility for entire projects
02:00one unique thing about Divya is that she's very upfront and honest so passionate about it as well
02:05earlier she was managing our projects from beginning till end and then gradually over the years we realized
02:10that her passion and her expertise lies more in the design process so now she helps us with designing
02:16wherever any project needs help specifically permaculture designing or where rewilding or ecological designing is required
02:24it's odd that you know it felt like it came very naturally to me like it was very instinctive it
02:32sometimes would take people longer to figure out what a particular challenge is in a vegetable but
02:37I felt like I saw it once and the next time I would not forget
02:48Divya has worked on around 30 projects one of the most significant for her is Amanbagh in Mangar located
02:58beside the Aravalli Hills the project draws directly from the surrounding landscape with native flora naturally
03:06extending into the farm I think the most interesting part about that project is that it keeps everything
03:16in mind it's not focused on producing just for human beings it's also focused on the fact that we are
03:23not the only ones living on this planet there are other creatures too and we need to make space for
03:28them
03:28as well at Amanbagh a one acre land was rewilded with ponds that retain moisture and prevent runoff
03:39biodiversity returned as the farm now balances food production with ecological restoration
03:48I think there are a few things for sure that I would love to achieve in the time that I
03:53work in this field
03:54one is to be able to develop an example of how we can use native plants in landscaping
04:03let's say outside malls or you know in public spaces the way plants are used most of them are non
04:10-natives
04:11I want to be able to create a space or an example of something like this where people believe that
04:17okay we can use these plants also and make that space look beautiful
04:24working in land ecology and large-scale site design meant navigating long established hierarchies
04:31one big challenge for her was entering a space dominated largely by men as a woman new to the field
04:40Divya's instructions were not always taken seriously it took time patience
04:46and repeated effort to earn trust
04:51I think one of the things that happened quite often at farms was that whenever we'd ask
04:56the gardeners to mulch it took quite some time to get them to at least try it once
05:01and once they did they were not so sure in the beginning but after a couple of seasons they were
05:07like
05:07okay this makes a lot of sense because it reduces the amount they have to water
05:19after eight years of working with edible roots and Divya I've learned a lot my time management has improved my
05:26communication with clients has improved and I've learned many new skills as well like mulching irrigation improving planting plans and
05:34composting methods
05:44Alongside her fieldwork Divya began teaching in colleges and social spaces helping set up kitchen gardens for the environmental program
05:54learning to live for the future and bringing food growing practices into community spaces and schools
06:08So the permaculture project served as a classroom outside the walls as we progressed we found that students who were
06:21quiet in the class they started working actively in the field they were more involved and they started kind of
06:30asking questions
06:31what plants what plants are to be grown in which season that helped them to grow and do well in
06:37academics also especially those who were generally quiet in the class
06:47Divya was determined about this shift and never doubted her choice her only concern was how she would sustain herself
06:56life needs money and everything is interconnected
07:01Leaving a stable profession meant uncertainty and dependence
07:05With no financial savings at the time she feels both humble and proud of how her family stood by her
07:13choice and supported her through the initial period of change
07:22It was mainly members of our extended family who expressed doubts as parents we were and are supportive but within
07:29the larger family and society people often question this work and wonder what she's doing
07:34Permaculture isn't something people easily or quickly understand
07:47Divya comes from a farming family her grandfather long hoped to leave village life seeing agriculture as difficult and uncertain
08:01Divya's father shared a similar belief he currently runs his own international trading business
08:08After having served as CEO of several global companies
08:13His outlook on farming began to shift once Divya started working closely with the land
08:21I think she is very happy doing what she is doing
08:24And what adds to it is that we are doing something which is taking us back to where we came
08:30from
08:39I want to continue to do the kind of projects that I am doing but I want to be very
08:43selective of the work that I do
08:44I really want to invest my energies only in the things that truly give me joy and have a larger
08:51impact
08:53At the core of her work Divya remains a designer
08:59Across green spaces, graphics, illustration and teaching
09:03Nature stays central to her practice
09:07Despite the role in the future
09:07Thank you very much for your travels
09:07Now let's see for your friends
09:07Please please see the in the water
09:07Please please see it in the water
09:07Please please be in the water
09:09Please please please
09:09Please see you can see
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