Mangaluru Women Lead Sustainability Collective for City's Green Future
In the coastal city of Mangaluru, three visionary women are leading a groundbreaking sustainability-driven collective that seeks to fundamentally reimagine the city's future. Through innovative collaboration, conscious design principles, and active community participation, this initiative represents a significant shift in how urban development is approached in the region.
The Visionary Leaders Behind the Movement
The collective is spearheaded by three remarkable women who bring diverse expertise to the table. Alka Manoj, founder and designer of Li'l Ohana, provides creative direction and design thinking. Anjali Rao, co-founder of Imaginest, contributes her extensive experience in sustainability and community initiatives within the city. Completing the leadership trio is Charlene Sequeira, an impact-driven strategic designer and sustainability consultant who brings professional rigor to the collective's efforts.
Building a Collaborative Platform for Sustainable Design
This unique collective brings together professionals from various fields including architecture, sustainability advocacy, fashion design, and numerous creative disciplines. What unites them is a shared conviction that sustainability must transcend isolated conversations and become deeply embedded in how Mangaluru plans and develops as a city.
"At present, there is no common platform where designers, whether in interior design, fashion, architecture, or allied fields, can come together with sustainability as a shared focus," explained Alka Manoj. "Our primary aim is to build a green, collaborative community in Mangaluru and create a long-missing platform for designers working across sectors."
The collective's mission extends beyond professional circles, aiming to promote sustainable design discourse within the larger community as well. This represents a holistic approach to sustainability that recognizes the importance of public engagement and awareness.
Preserving Culture While Promoting Sustainability
Beyond facilitating transdisciplinary conversations, the collective has several concrete objectives. A key focus is supporting local artisans and vendors while preserving the region's rich cultural diversity, which maintains deep connections with the local ecology. This approach recognizes that true sustainability must honor cultural heritage alongside environmental concerns.
The initiative also aims to inspire youth and emerging designers to adopt sustainable practices through dedicated learning spaces, workshops, and collaborative projects. By engaging the next generation, the collective hopes to create lasting change that will shape Mangaluru's development for years to come.
From Discussion to Action
Alka Manoj pointed out a critical gap in current sustainability efforts: "While issues such as waste management and urban green cover are frequently discussed, they often fail to translate into long-term action." She emphasized that many individuals and groups in Mangaluru are already doing meaningful work independently, but collaboration is essential to scale these efforts and create greater impact.
Importantly, the collective is not opposed to development but seeks to guide it in sustainable directions. "Mangaluru is currently at a critical crossroad," noted Manoj. "We want to bring together people who are truly invested in sustainability, and create pathways for development and environmental responsibility to go hand in hand."
Concrete Initiatives and Future Plans
The collective has already begun implementing its vision through practical initiatives. They conduct regular sustainable flea markets that support local artisans and promote eco-friendly products. More significantly, they have planned a major Mangaluru Design Summit scheduled for March, organized by the Ohana Community Foundation in association with St Aloysius (Deemed to be University).
This two-day event will integrate sustainable practices across all aspects of planning, materials, and operations. The summit will culminate in a publicly shared sustainability report intended to serve as a blueprint for future events in Mangaluru. The event's logo was formally released by Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, indicating political recognition of the initiative's importance.
Creating Local Opportunities in Fashion Design
Coming from a fashion design background herself, Alka Manoj expressed particular enthusiasm for creating opportunities for local fashion designers. "Mangaluru has both handloom traditions and fashion design students, yet many graduates leave the city to work in Bengaluru or corporate set-ups," she observed. "We want to encourage them to build sustainable brands here, keeping talent within the city while promoting environmentally responsible fashion."
This focus on retaining local talent and promoting sustainable entrepreneurship represents a comprehensive approach to urban development that considers economic, environmental, and social dimensions simultaneously.
