June EDITION

The time to act is now!

In my opinion, the human ability to forget, adapt, and move on is both a blessing and a curse. We take everything with a grain of salt, go to bed a little concerned, but manage to wake up and carry on with life, as usual, the next morning, whether it’s Covid, a big natural disaster, racism, or body shaming.

Some people, on the other hand, choose to stand up, battle against the odds, and strive to make a difference! These individuals call for action and inclusivity and this issue of Hashtag is dedicated to such heroes of change. On the cover, we have actor and icon Kamal Haasan who says he has joined politics to seek change in the system. Struggling to make a strong political hold he says he will remain in politics as long as he lives and the fi ght for proper governance will continue. “It’s high time the world looks at politics differently,” he shares.

Fat shaming and body positivity has been a global issue. Exclusion and frustration are nothing new for plussize customers. Ill-fi tting garments and limited inventory are just the beginning of their woes. The average adult person now wears a size between 40-42, but many designers and merchandisers still refuse to produce anything larger than size 38. The fashion industry is still quite reluctant to include sizes that fi t all shapes and sizes. Now, that’s gradually changing too. Indian founders and brands have embraced those curves. Read our fashion story to know more about these Indian brands that make us proud.

The deepening global climate crisis is also a huge concern that requires us to act quickly and wisely. Gas prices are soaring, and there has never been a better time to switch to electric cars. Electric vehicles are the way of the future, and if you’re in the market for one, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most anticipated EVs to hit the market this year.

Another market that has been overlooked is pets. The country is steadily changing its attitudes thanks to all of the millennials who have become pet parents and brand founders. We are much more pet friendly today, from pet-friendly holidays and travel to fashion and companies. We feature some homegrown brands in this issue who are putting their best paw forward.

There’s lots more to look forward to in this issue. From homegrown Indian sneaker brands to local bazaar discoveries to Tiger Shroff on his latest fi lm, we have inspiring stories of people who are not afraid to act on their aspirations or dreams, like we said, the time to act is now…