Born with visible disabilities that once invited stares, questions, and unsolicited advice, sisters Shweta and Ankita Dhariwal chose to turn their lived experiences into a quiet revolution. Today, they run Whitewater Kids — a sustainable, zero-waste brand making organic cotton babywear and toys that prioritise skin sensitivity, storytelling, and artisan livelihoods.

Founded in 2017, Whitewater Kids blends poetry, purpose, and traditional Indian crafts to create soft, skin-friendly clothes and toys for children. The sisters’ journey is not just one of building a brand — but reclaiming identity, dignity, and joy.

Where poetry meets fabric

The idea for Whitewater Kids began simmering in the sweltering summer of 2007, in Ahmedabad. Shweta, then a textile designer with experience in research and corporates, was searching for breathable clothing for her children — something soft, slow, and rooted in nature.

“Organic cotton was the answer to all my worries,” says Shweta. Over the next decade, she explored exhibitions, connected with artisans, and refined her vision — finally launching Whitewater Kids in 2017 with her sister Ankita as co-founder.

The name Whitewater Kids reflects their core values: White for purity, Water for life, transparency, and flow. The logo — a gentle fish in a nurturing sea — captures the safe, inclusive world they want to create.

© The Better India