Karishma Mehta, founder and CEO of Humans of Bombay, has taken a bold step by announcing that she will no longer support the luxury leather goods market. Clearly, her choice marks a new phase in her fashion journey. Moreover, it reflects her growing concern for ethical living and sustainable style. Instead of luxury leather, she now promotes cruelty-free fashion that aligns with her values. Indeed, this shift shows her commitment to conscious choices and social impact.
As a result, her followers praise her for setting a strong example. Overall, Karishma Mehta’s move highlights compassion over status and ethics over luxury. Starting this year, Mehta has decided to sell all her leather items and refrain from purchasing any more leather products. The proceeds from her luxury collection, including high-end brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), and Fendi, will be donated to animal welfare organizations.
Karishma Mehta’s Cruelty-Free Fashion Statement
In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, Karishma Mehta showed photos of her luxury shoes and bags. All of them were made from leather. In the caption, she explained why she decided to part with her collection. As a vegetarian, she shared her moral stance on the issue. She wrote that eating meat never felt right because it meant consuming a living being. Therefore, she questioned how she could support a market built on animal skin. Moreover, she pointed out that the idea of “luxury” shouldn’t depend on cruelty. Clearly, her words reflected deep conviction and compassion.
Her decision is part of a larger shift towards cruelty-free living, aligning her values with her purchasing decisions. She explained that her move is rooted in her desire to live more harmoniously with her ethical beliefs, especially regarding animal welfare.
Humans of Bombay: A Platform for Storytelling
Karishma Mehta is best known for creating Humans of Bombay in 2014. The online storytelling platform has grown into a huge community with over 2.8 million Instagram followers. It shares real stories from people of all walks of life. Moreover, Mehta has interviewed well-known figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ratan Tata, giving the platform global reach.
However, Humans of Bombay’s rise hasn’t been without controversy. Last year, Mehta faced criticism from Brandon Stanton, founder of Humans of New York. He accused HOB of copying his platform’s format. The clash began after HOB filed a copyright case against another page, People of India.
In reply, HOB issued an open letter defending its stance. The team stated that Stanton’s comments were an attack on their right to protect creative work. Despite the dispute, Mehta clarified that HONY had always inspired them. She even wrote, “we have been inspired by HONY, and we will always be grateful to them for showing us what storytelling can do for a community.”
Now, Mehta’s choice to stop buying leather fits a larger trend of mindful fashion. Many people today prefer cruelty-free and sustainable options. As an influential voice, her decision carries weight. Indeed, it shows her effort to live by her values. Overall, Karishma Mehta promotes a more ethical, kind, and conscious way of living through her actions.
