It’s hard to sleep well when you have arthritis. And when you don’t sleep well your pain increases. This vicious circle can (and must!) be broken.
One of the steps to break it is getting yourself a suitable bed. So today, we are going to take a look at the best beds for arthritisand see which one might be a solution to your problem. Also, there is a good article about mattresses for arthritis suffers written by John Breese. Check it out as well in order to have more information and find the best option for yourself.
This 100% latex model belongs to the best mattresses for arthritisfor many reasons. It is natural, supportive, comfortable, and has a very smart construction.
One of the cool things about this model is its 5-Zone latex comfort layer. It features a proprietary design, which divides the mattress into 5 sections with different firmness levels, to provide support where it’s needed and to offer more cushioning in separate areas. This results in a superior comfort.
Now, let’s look at the main pros and cons:
Pros
Cons
Two firmness options in one (flippable)
Rather pricey, might not be suitable for some users
100% natural materials
Doesn’t sleep hot
Super comfortable, supportive and cradling at the same time
Proprietary 5-Zone layer
Nicely made and durable
This is obvious: Zenhaven is an excellent mattress. It is very comfortable, supportive, natural, and offers two firmness levels in one model. What else is there to wish for?
The next best mattress for arthritisis the famous Leesa. This model offers that classic foam feeling without making you sleep hot. Additionally, it is great for pressure and pain relief.
This particular model is great for all sleeping positions. It is not too firm, so if you are a side sleeper, you will get enough cushioning for your pressure points. At the same time, the mattress is supportive and rather bouncy, which makes it good for back and stomach sleepers.
Moving on to the pros and cons:
Pros
Cons
Great for all sleeping poses
Might allow too much sinkage if you are a heavier user
Bouncy and supportive
The edge support could be better
Doesn’t sleep hot
Provides enough cradling, great for pressure relief
Great value for money
Overall, Leesa is a great mattress. No matter what your favorite sleeping position is, chances are you will feel super comfortable lying on it.
Need more info? Check Leesa mattress reviews from MyBestMattress.com.
Best High-Tech Cover
Bear Mattress
This top-rated mattress for arthritismight really surprise you. It has a very balanced feel and comes with some extras for your improved comfort.
What makes this model stand out from the competitors is its proprietary Celliant cover. It implements a new technology, which is even recognized by FDA. It harnesses your body’s energy and turns it into the infrared light, which helps your body recover and feel better.
Let’s consider the following pros and cons:
Pros
Cons
Proprietary cover
Mediocre motion isolation
Has a very balanced feel, with enough support and cushioning
May be too firm for side sleepers
Doesn’t sleep hot
Sold by a rather young company, so there are no long-term customer reviews
Good value for money
If you are ready to put your trust in a relatively new company, chances are you will end up being very happy with your new Bear Mattress.
“In case you are on a tight budget and cannot afford a new mattress, or aren’t sure whether you should invest in a new one, you can always try to improve your sleep quality by pairing up your old mattress with a new topper. There are many good toppers for around $100-200, which can make your old mattress more supportive, resilient, or, if you need that, cradling.”
Best Affordable mattress for arthritis
Tuft & Needle
Another good mattress for joint painis this simple yet comfortable model. It also offers a great value for money and is suitable for people who are on a bit tight budget.
Tuft & Needle uses their proprietary foam for the top comfort layer. It features a combination of poly foam and charcoal. It allows users to sleep cool during the night. Additionally, this layer is supportive and rather contouring as well. It feels more like latex than foam, which is great for shifting during the night.
Moving on to the pros and cons:
Pros
Cons
Super affordable
Might be too firm for side sleepers
Doesn’t sleep hot
Mediocre edge support
Bouncy and responsive
Supportive, with a decent amount of cushioning
Good motion isolation
This mattress is a great entry-level option. It is good for pressure relief and gives users that pleasant bounce and resilience.
Best Firmness Levels Variety
Amerisleep Mattress
Amerisleep is a known mattress. It is popular among different users (including arthritis patients) thanks to its quality materials and the comfort it provides.
Now, Amerisleep uses their proprietary foam in the mattresses. It is more natural than the regular memory foam, allows for breathability, and feels very comfortable. The mattresses come in five different firmness levels, so there are options for all users and all sleeping positions.
Let’s see the main pros and cons:
Pros
Cons
Five firmness options
Might be too expensive for some users
Great supportive properties
Mediocre edge support
Comfy and contouring
Softer models aren’t great for shifting
Innovative cover
Eco-friendly materials
Despite having some minor flaws, this mattress is an awesome option for arthritis patients. You can pick an appropriate firmness level and enjoy the comfort this mattress provides.
“Some users appreciate that slow-hugging effect the memory foam provides. However, if you prefer to sleep on a bouncier surface, you can also try a latex mattress. They are very responsive and perfect for shifting and switching your position during the night. However, keep in mind that latex mattresses aren’t always good at motion isolation.”
Factors We Look At
When your body is in pain, a healthy, restful sleep is pretty much off the table. However, with a good mattress, you can improve the situation. Especially if that mattress is suitable for your health condition.
And because a mattress can play such a great role, we take the task of picking the best models very seriously. Here are the most important factors that we consider:
Support. Now, support does not necessarily mean firmness. Even softer, more padded mattresses need to have a solid, supportive base, which will keep your spine aligned properly, your body in a neutral position, and your weight equally distributed.
Pressure relief. This factor is crucial when it comes to arthritis pain and hurting joints. A good mattress has to gently cradle your pressure points, allowing them to relax and reducing their pressure levels.
Possible returns or sleep trials. Arthritis can present itself in a ton of different symptoms. It can also attack almost any part of your body. Therefore, each arthritis patient experiences different issues and has different pain centers. One mattress cannot suit everyone, so we make sure to pick only the models that can be returned after the trial without a problem. This way, if your new mattress doesn’t help you get rid of the pain and sleep more comfortably, you can get it refunded and test the next model.
Bounciness and responsiveness. While your mattress should gently hug your pressure points, it shouldn’t be too cradling. A good model for arthritis must be bouncy enough to allow you to shift easily during the night. You see, when waking up in pain, changing your position can somewhat reduce it. And that’s easier to do when lying on a bouncy mattress, not the one that makes you feel stuck in it.
Tips and Tricks to Sleep Better with Arthritis
Even though arthritis is a nasty disease, there are some things you can do to make it a bit more bearable. For instance:
Before going to bed, use heat therapy. Taking a long warm bath or putting a heating pad on your hurting joints for 15-20 minutes can help with the pain. Moreover, this will relax you before bed.
Invest in a new bed. A special mattress for joint painand arthritis can be a great helper. Some people also buy adjustable bed frames, which help them find the most comfortable, pressure-relieving position.
Consider taking some medicine or pain relievers. Of course, you should first consult your doctor. He or she might recommend sleeping pills (mild or stronger, depending on your condition) and pain relievers.
Reposition your pillows. This can also help with pain relief. For instance, if you have hip arthritis, putting a pillow (or a rolled blanket) under your knees can help relieve pressure from the hips. Consequently, you will feel much more comfortable.
“There are many pillows on the market, which are shaped specifically to provide pain and pressure relief. You can get one for your neck, hips, and knees. The number of options is impressive. However, keep in mind that those pillows are more expensive than the regular ones.”
Stretch, exercise, or do yoga. You can do this in the evening, a couple of hours before bed every day. Just make sure you move lightly and carefully. Moving regularly will make your joints less stiff. Thus, they will feel less painful.
Try to meditate. Even though it might sound lame, managing your worries helps with pain immensely. Calming your mind and relaxing can help you fall asleep faster, before your joints start disturbing you too much.
Why Your Sleeping Position Matters
When trying to pick the best mattress for arthritis, you definitely need to consider your favorite sleeping pose. Why? Because each position requires a different mattress type.
So, let’s start with the most popular one: on the side.
Side sleepers require enough support for a proper spinal alignment but also need a generous amount of cushioning, which will cradle their body. They need something that would contour their hips, knees, and shoulders nicely without putting too much pressure on them. So, if you are a side sleeper, give your preference to medium or soft mattresses. A good material choice is either foam or latex.
Moving on to the second most popular pose: on the stomach.
Here’s the kicker:
This sleeping position is considered the most unbeneficial for your spine health and overall well-being. If you sleep on your stomach and use an unsuitable pillow, your spine can end up being curved, elevated, and tense all night long.
However, with a good mattress and a proper pillow, you can make sure your spine is in better condition. Stomach sleepers need firmer mattresses with a decent amount of contouring and bounce. Medium-firm latex mattresses would be the best option in such a case.
Now, back sleepers are a rare breed these days. Not too many people enjoy this pose, even though it is probably the most beneficial for your spine, neck, and your overall health. However, those benefits can only be achieved when you have a proper mattress. Back sleepers need something firm and supportive, with a moderate amount of cushioning. Latex, foam, and even innerspring mattresses are suitable for back sleepers.
“If you are a back sleeper, you also need to think about your pillow. It shouldn’t be too tall and elevate your head too much. At the same time, it needs to be both supportive and contouring, adjusting to your head, neck, and shoulders and providing them with enough support.”
Mattress Types That Can Relieve Pain and Discomfort
The market has a lot to offer these days. And when trying to find the best mattress for arthritis, it is easy to get lost in all the names, layers, materials, and features.
So, if you are wondering what mattress materials, among other things, can help with pain relief, here are the most suitable types:
Memory foam. This is the most popular and widespread mattress type. Memory foam can be supportive and firm, but it is also very good at contouring and hugging the pressure points, which is great for people with arthritis.
Latex. This material is a bit more bouncy and responsive than memory foam. It does not provide that slow-hugging effect but still cradles the body while supporting it.
Innerspring. Some people consider innerspring mattresses outdated, but the modern models are really good with pressure relief. Especially if they have some extra cushioning on top.
Hybrid. Hybrid mattresses can feature different combinations, including foam + latex, innerspring + foam, foam + gel, spring + latex + foam, and so on. The good thing about such mattresses is the fact that you can definitely find something that would work for you.
Conclusion
Here’s the deal:
Everyone’s pain is different. That’s why everyone needs a different mattress.
However, I am here to recommend the best ones. I was really impressed with Leesa in terms of its flexibility. It features just the right amount of support and cushioning, which makes it great for all sleeping positions (unless you are a heavier sleeper who needs a firmer mattress).
But my absolute favorite is Zenhaven by Saatva. It is ideal for pressure relief and proper spine alignment. This mattress offers enough support and bounce for lower back pain relief too. At the same time, it gently cradles your pressure points, which only contributes to the overall comfort.
Which mattress is the best for joint pain and arthritis? Have you picked your personal favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments!
January 23, 2023February 2, 2023 5min readBy Sandeep Panesar
Image source: Tina Singh
Tina Singh, formerly known as Mombossof3 online, understands how to make her presence known in the parenting space. Seven years ago, she set out to create and share content related to motherhood, and there’s been no looking back since. Singh has mastered the idea of evolving with the times and the needs of her audience while staying true to her number one role in life — mom!
As she navigated her personal and professional life through the lens of a parent, she came across a void that just wasn’t being filled. So, in typical Singh style, this mom of three put her entrepreneurial hat on and got down to creating a solution for Sikh kids who struggled to find a helmet that fits over their patkas (a small cloth head covering).
The problem was personal — all three of Singh’s sons wear patkas and just couldn’t find the right helmet for their safety — and so the solution had to be homegrown. Enter, the Bold Helmets.
All images in this post are courtesy of Tina Singh.
Singh gave Brown Girl Magazine an exclusive interview in which she talked about the Bold Helmets, the change in her journey since she’s become a public figure, and what it was like to innovate her very first product!
Here’s how it went:
Let’s start from the beginning. How did this idea come to mind?
This idea has been in my head for many, many years — over five years. I had issues with my kids and having helmets fit them after they turned age four or five.
I worked as an Occupational Therapist, in the head injury space, so I was always the one saying, ‘Okay kids, you’re gonna have to tie your hair in the back, do braids, or something in order to put on a helmet properly because I’m not gonna let you go down these bike ramps without a helmet!’ That’s just not okay for me.
So I talked to my husband and said, ‘there’s gotta be another way this works.’ So we did all the things that parents in situations like these do — they hollow out the helmets, some people go as far as cutting holes at the top of the helmet — you do what works. But I had in my mind an idea of what I think the helmet should look like based on what a patka looks like, and what my kids look like. I then found an engineer to draw it out for me to bring [my idea] to a place where I can actually take it somewhere and say, ‘Okay, how do I make this?’
But, yes, it started mainly with my kids and facing that struggle myself.
You mention that this idea had been brewing in your mind for over five years. How long did it take you to actually bring it to life?
To this point, it’s been about two and a half to three years. I let it sit in my mind for a while. Winters come here in Canada and then we forget about it again until we have to go skiing, and then there’s another problem, right?! I did let it lay dormant for a bit for sure, but once I made the commitment to do it, I made up my mind to see it all the way through.
You recently pivoted and changed the name of the product to the Bold Helmets. Can you talk me through how you came up with the new name?
Bold Helmets became the name because they’re designed to be bold, to be different and who you are. I also think that the way the helmet is made, even though it’s made with Sikh kids in mind, there are other applications to it. I do think that taking the Bold Helmets approach embodies its [the product’s] uniqueness and really focuses on being bold and who you are.
And the Bold Helmet is multi-sport, correct?
This helmet is certified for bicycles, kick scooters, skateboards, and inline skating. It is not a ski helmet. So every helmet you use for a different sport has a different safety certification or testing that it has to go through. So, this helmet is called ‘multi-sport’ because it covers those four sports but I wouldn’t take this helmet and use it for skiing. I’d have to make sure that this helmet, or a helmet like this, gets certified for various other standards for other sports.
Makes sense! I want to change the course of the conversation here a bit and talk more about how you pivoted from Mombossof3 to innovating your very first product. How was that experience?
So what I did throughout this journey was that I went from marketing myself as ‘mombossof3’ to ‘Tina Singh’ because I was sharing more of my life’s journey as my kids were getting older and in an effort to respect my children’s space as well, and letting them decide how much — or how little — they want to be involved with what I was doing online. And part of that was about the journey of what I was doing next, and the transition came naturally to me.
I think right now, truthfully, I’m struggling in the space where I kind of have a shift in audience and so my usual, everyday self that I share on social seems like it doesn’t work. I feel like I need to find a new balance; I will always be true to who I am, and I will never present myself as something that I’m not. But, just finding a space for me to continue creating content while also taking on this new endeavor with Bold Helmets, is important right now.
Aside from this struggle of finding that new balance, what is that one challenge that really sticks out to you from this journey?
I think my biggest challenge being an entrepreneur is finding that balance between my responsibilities as a parent, which is my number one role in my life and there’s no one that can take that role for me — my husband and I are the only parents — and passions outside of that.
Do you think it helped that you were creating a helmet for Sikh children so it allowed you to pursue your passion but also work with your kids in some capacity since they inspired the whole idea?
I never thought of it that way, but yes actually, it did! So all my entrepreneurial projects have involved my kids. Even now they were involved in picking the colors, all the sample tests we did they tried the helmets on! They’re probably sick of it since they’re constantly trying on helmets, but I get their opinion on them. Even as we pivoted with the name, we involved them and got their feedback on it also. So, they were involved in very large parts of this project.
And my husband is also a huge part of this project. He’s been heavily involved in this process, too!
You have a huge online presence, and I know that you’re probably not new to trolling and bullying that comes with being on social media. More recently, Bold Helmets was subject to a lot of backlashes. Is there something that you took away from this recent experience? Was it different this time around?
The extent to which things got was different this time around and that’s not something I have faced in the past. But I have been in the online space for about seven years now, and I’m accustomed to it. I think what I learned this time around is that sometimes silence and reflection is the best thing you can do. Sometimes reflecting and not being defensive on feedback that you get — and this may be something that comes with age as well as experience — is best.
But, I’m happy with the pivots we made, the feedback we’ve gotten, and the way we’re moving forward.
You mentioned that this isn’t your first entrepreneurial venture. But each experience teaches you something different. What did you learn while working on Bold Helmets?
I learned to be okay with taking things slow. I’ve never been that person; I’ve always jumped the gun on lots of things. It’s understanding that it’s ok to slow down and recognize that things have to just run their course.
And while the interview wraps up there, there is more to come with Singh on her journey! Catch Lifestyle Editor Sandeep on Instagram LIVE this Saturday, January 28, at 10 a.m. EST, as she has a more in-depth conversation with Singh on Bold Helmets and more!
In the meantime, Bold Helmets are available for pre-order now, and as a small token of appreciation, Canadian pre-orders will get $10 off their purchase until the end of January 2023!
January 27, 2023February 2, 2023 9min readBy Vashali Jain
For the Singh family, Chandan Fashion has always been bigger than simply a bridal showroom. Located in the heart of Gerrard Street, a bustling Little India in Toronto, the bright blue and pink building can be spotted from a distance. Over the years, Chandan has garnered attention from customers from all over North America, even as far as California and Virginia.
For Chandan and Roop, who work alongside “Mom and Dad,” Chandan Fashion is a family business and a way to showcase the beauty of South Asian culture while playing a helping hand in allowing every bride and groom to feel special on their big day. Chandan is their legacy and one they hope to be able to showcase the beauty and intricacies of throwing that “big Indian wedding” on their new CBC show, “BollyWed.”
“BollyWed” follows this tight-knit family through the joys and difficulties of running a multigenerational business. Throughout the variety of clients, discussions of new generation business practices versus old generation, many lehengas, and plenty of laughs, this is one whirlwind journey through the marriage industry.
Brown Girl had the opportunity to interview Chandan and Roop Singh, who were incredibly down-to-earth and a joy to speak to. Here is the interview down below!
What was the inspiration for opening Chandan?
Chandan: My mom and dad started the vision back in 1984 — they started the business. I have a store in India that was started by my grandfather which my father worked in as well, so it is kind of multi-generational of being within this industry of clothing and fashion. My father had a dream of starting what his father did in India, in Canada. While visiting friends in Toronto, my father knew that the Gerrard Indian Bazaar was the right place for them to start, it was the largest Indian market in the Northern America area. He rented a space for two years a couple of doors down from where Chandan originated and then in 1986 we had the opportunity to purchase the corner unit and grow it from one floor to two, to now a four-floor showroom.
Roop: And it should be noted that 1986 is also the year that Chandan was born, hence the name of the store. Chandan Fashion.
Many cities have their own versions of Little India. What was it like growing up/operating in Gerrard Street East? What do you think makes Gerrard Street unique?
Roop: It is funny you say that because even now when we have people traveling to Toronto, checking out Gerrard Street is on their itinerary. So we get a lot of clientele that are visiting from out of town whether it be visiting for the day or weekend. Some of them will sometimes get a hotel nearby for about a week and do their entire wedding family shopping with us.
Chandan has literally grown up in Gerrard Street, but I grew up in Toronto as well. I spent a good chunk of my own childhood in Little India on Gerrard Street. Growing up in the 90s, it was the only Indian bazaar in the greater Toronto area, so anyone who wanted to meet members of their community, have really good South Asian food, shop for upcoming events, or celebrate Diwali or Holi, this is where [they’d] go. This is where my mom would take me on the weekends and I remember popping into Chandan Fashion when my mom needed an outfit. In that way, our childhoods are connected over Little India and I feel like a lot of first-generation kids will sympathize with me, when we wanted to feel a little bit at home, that is where we would go.
How did you get the “BollyWed” opportunity on CBC? What is it like working with your family? What roles do you all play in the business? How do we get to see this in the show?
Roop: It has been quite a journey. It wasn’t necessarily such a drastic transition because already the family was very close-knit in the sense that they are working day in and day out. We do our social media together and our buying together, go to fashion shows. So naturally things we were already doing as a family were just translated to the TV. That is what I love the most about the show, it is just an authentic following of what we do on a daily basis as a family and as a business. It has been a great experience and something that we are super grateful for. It was actually seven years in the making and I’ll let Chandan tell you how “BollyWed” came to be.
Chandan: It started out in 2014. I was at a wedding show and I was approached by the executive producer, Prajeeth and we shot a shizzle. He had an idea of a wedding show with a family narrative and I had been watching ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ extensively. I knew that there was this really interesting market and this fascination with South Asian outfits and bridalwear given that it was so colorful and the beadwork was so ornate. There was a lot more interesting subject matter, especially if we tie that into a seven-day-long wedding and you tie that into multiple events and families. That is more prevalent in South Asian culture: what the mother-in-law thinks, what the mother thinks. But five to six years went by and we got 22 rejections over that period by almost every network imaginable. I was always excited that we were getting rejected because I knew that eventually, we would get a yes. Eventually at the end of 2021, around the end of the COVID era, the production company reached out asking if we were still interested in the show. I said it was never a question of ‘if,’ it was a question of ‘when.’ From the get-go, I knew that this show would be picked up, I knew it would be a success. In March 2022 we got greenlit. We had this amazing journey of seven months of continuous filming. It has been an amazing journey to be able to represent South Asians on television in a way that has not been done before. I like lighthearted programming and I am glad that we were able to influence the show because of our lives and make it a lighthearted family show that people can watch. But we still get to have important discussions.
Roop: I love that Chandan mentioned this. We get to showcase a lot of pivotal subjects in today’s society. For example, we made sure that inclusivity was showcased across all 10 episodes and that is something that I give credit to our directors and producers, they did a wonderful job showcasing how inclusive not just us as a business, but as a brand and as a family we are. These are values that have been instilled in us, that when somebody crosses your threshold and comes into your store, it doesn’t matter what their background is, their color, or their orientation, that is irrelevant. It is something that we don’t factor in, we just consider that this is the patron, the client. There is no judgment — not in our store, not in our family. And I love that we were able to share that on a big screen for everyone to see. That was one reason why it was so important to do this, but the other reason has a lot to do with Chandan and his childhood.
Chandan: So for me, I was born and raised in Toronto. I went to a very small school where I was the only South Asian for a long time in that school. I was the only Punjabi kid, the only kid with a turban, and eventually the only one with a beard, so I noticeably stood out compared to all my peers. My father with his best intentions sent me to a really small school, a private school, that he could not afford to pay for. Where at times the check would bounce every month, but he had a very strong belief that if he provided me a quality education [so] I would keep something really dear to him —keeping the belief in religion — I wouldn’t cut my hair, I wouldn’t cut my beard, I wouldn’t conform to society. He wanted to give me the best chance to succeed as is, [but] the unfortunate truth was I was bullied, I was picked on. I wouldn’t tell him, but people would grab my jurra, my turban, and my hair. And as a kid I would just let it go because you do not want to go home and tattle to your parents, but also because I knew how sensitive of a topic it was to my dad. And I think that my experience would have been different if people didn’t ask me every month, ‘How long is your hair? What do you keep under that?’ All these questions made me feel really uncomfortable, but the other kids also asked because they had never seen anyone like me. If I had grown up with a show like this, I would not have felt so alone, such a strong desire to belong. This is one of the reasons I really believed in the show, I really wanted to have representation. Even if there is just one other kid who watches this show and grows up in a suburb where there aren’t many South Asian kids; if he is able to turn the TV on and see my dad with such a thick accent — English isn’t his first language — but he still owns it so confidently. Or they see a guy like me with a turban and a beard and see that frankly he still has such a hot wife.
Roop: But beyond that, this gentleman with a turban and thick accent, they are such normal people. They love takeout, they like to play tennis, and they could be your neighbor. Other than their outward appearance, they are very much like you, very similar.
Your support in styling Priyanka for their drag performance was inspiring and refreshing to see. How do you change your styles/designs to foster inclusivity?
Roop: I think that goes back to what I was saying about how Mom and Dad have fostered this universal approach to our clientele. We do not look beyond their needs. I think it is also important to note that some people had thought that we had Priyanka come onto the show to make it more interesting, but their relationship with the store spans over the past five to seven years.
Chandan: Twenty years. Priyanka and their family have been shopping at the store for the past 20 years since they were kids. When Priyanka started exploring the world of drag, they came and said they needed a costume that they would be designing. It also wasn’t even any of my peers or me that made that connection with Priyanka, it was actually my dad, the older generation. He said, ‘Don’t worry beta.’ He actually corrected himself and said, ‘Beti, we will be there for you.’ And he got them a really nice sari and lehenga which they converted into a costume that won the first season.
Roop: And Priyanka put their own spin on it and created something amazing. Only because we were the designers of those pieces could we tell that that is a piece from our lehenga. They did such a fabulous job with it.
Chandan: I think we sometimes think of the older generation, like our parents, as being more conservative, but I think that it is a one-sided narrative. Not all of the older generation is as conservative as we think. And my dad just took it as a paying customer is a paying customer. It doesn’t matter what their orientation or beliefs are, and that just naturally unfolded into the story that we are sharing. He did not treat it as a big deal.
For our readers currently planning their weddings, do you have any pieces of advice on how to balance all the heavy details of wedding planning without losing sight of why they are doing it for?
Roop: One thing for the bride and groom is not to lose sight of themselves in all of this. I’ve been there and done that. You plan this extravagant seven-day affair, you have all these people flying out to your wedding, and you feel this really heavy responsibility to make sure that all these guests are taking time out of their lives to celebrate your union. And like myself — and I am guilty of this, which is why I want to tell my fellow brides — [you] tend to make it less about [yourself] and more about everyone else who is attending. And yes, of course, everyone is important and I owe them respect for joining us. But remember what you want in the heart of heart, if you want a small wedding, go for a small wedding. If you want a big wedding, go for a big wedding. If you want the seven-tiered cake, go for it, if you just want cupcakes, go for that. At the end of the day don’t forget what makes you happy. Don’t lose sight of it, just be authentic to yourself.
Chandan: Oftentimes in the wedding industry, people are really looked down upon. Like, ‘Oh my gosh, you are spending so much for this wedding!’ Or, ‘You are obsessing over these details!’ If it is important to you, it is okay. I would not let judgment get in the way of doing what you want whether it be a small intimate 20-person wedding or a having a 1000-person wedding. This is your moment. The biggest thing I hear is, ‘Oh, it is only for an hour.’ But, if you have a photographer, nothing is for an hour. It is for a lifetime. Those moments last a lifetime. If it is something that you hold near and dear to you, you will cherish it. I wish people would stay true to themselves.
Roop: Yeah, agreed. Be mindful of what sparks joy in you and let that be your compass. The most important piece of advice though: At every function please request that your caterer create a to-go container of the meal at the event for you and your partner to enjoy after because often, and it is so sad to hear this, the bride and groom will eat last at their own event or not at all. And you spend all these months planning [an] extravagant menu and then you don’t even get to eat your own wedding cake. Hah! That happened to us!
Do you have any future plans that you feel excited about sharing with Chandan?
Chandan: Yeah! I would say concrete plans are in the pipeline. In the first episode of ‘BollyWed’ [you] see that we come to the realization that there is just not enough space and we would love to expand into another space.
Roop: And this is where you get a lot of the new generation, old generation beliefs. Because mom and dad believe that the family should stay very close-knit and together to run the one location. And Chandan has the belief that [the] true success of a business is when it is scalable, and has multiple locations nationally, globally even. In Episode 10 you get a conclusion, but we will let the readers watch it for themselves!
You can now watch the inaugural season of CBC’s “BollyWed” on CBC TV every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST or stream it for free on CBC Gem! And that’s not all from the Chandan Fashion team! They’ll soon be featured in an Instagram LIVE chat with Brown Girl Magazine, so stay tuned!
Indiaspopup.com — USA’s premier online destination for luxury Indian designer clothing and accessories — is a global platform for South Asian fashion. It curates inclusive, embracive, and conscious trends and styles from the heart of India to its global shoppers. Founded by Archana Yenna, the company honored South Asian women from various walks of life who are leading the path for future generations. The luxury retailer hosted a ‘Power Table’ dinner at Armani/Ristorante in New York City with South Asian women leading the change in fashion, entrepreneurship, media, entertainment, and journalism.
At Indiaspopup.com, we empower and celebrate women through authentic South Asian fashion and community contributions. As we celebrate Women’s Day, we remain committed to sharing inspiring stories of South Asian women achievers and changemakers. Our recent ‘Power Table’ dinner in New York City celebrated remarkable women — trailblazers of South Asian heritage, inspiring the next generation of female leaders to dream big and chase their aspirations.
The company also honored five South Asian female role models that have been instrumental to the diaspora with their various works in nonprofit, societal causes and community building:
Yenna honored these women for breaking stereotypes and spreading positivity on body sizes, health, confidence, and skin tone. Through her work with Indiaspopup.com, Yenna hopes to help women feel beautiful, confident, and feminine, and make progress toward positive change. In a series of photos shot in New York City’s Baccarat Hotel, dedicated to the quintessence of luxury and excellence, Indiaspopup.com produced a high tea-themed photoshoot to celebrate its honorees. The women wore avant-garde clothing donning some of India’s most prominent designers while sipping tea, dining on canapés, and enjoying one another’s company. Exemplifying Indian royalty, the women championed one another and the power of sisterhood, and shared what womanhood meant to each one of them.
During the two-day festivities, Indiaspopup.com announced their partnership with Sakhi for South Asian Women, an NGO that represents the South Asian diaspora in a survivor-centered movement for gender justice. Sakhi applies a trauma-informed, culturally responsive lens with a long-term commitment to mobilizing a future free from violence. Yenna pledged to donate a portion of sales from the month of March to the organization.
Sakhi for South Asian Women is grateful to Indiaspopup.com for uplifting and investing in our work with survivors of gender-based violence. Nationally, 48% of South Asian Americans experience gender based violence throughout their lifetime, and at Sakhi, we have seen a 65% increase in cases over one year. This support will help us address the overwhelming need in our community and continue our commitment toward a future of healing and justice.
— Kavita Mehra, Executive Director at Sakhi for South Asian Women
To learn more about Indiaspoup.com visit their website.
