wk muse - Arti Jalan

We connected with Arti, founder of Forage and Sustain, at the very beginnings of well kept. We instantly bonded over our desire to do better for the earth and similar aesthetics. We've continued to collaborate in various capacities ever since.

If you don't already know, Forage and Sustain is an online platform dedicated to helping people live more sustainable lives. On it you'll find online guides, a curated marketplace, immersive workshops, and sustainability consulting. Arti hopes to help create a new generation of conscious individuals who rise above the status quo, who look beyond the surface, and who are determined to do their part in being active agents of social change. 

I hope you enjoy getting to know her a little better and take the time to peruse Forage and Sustain...

Your name + self-proclaimed profession/raison d’être/what sets you alive/how you define yourself:
Arti | Sustainability Consultant, Small Business Coach, and Conscious Human

Where are you from and where are you now?
I’m from Toronto and have lived in a few different lives in a few different places (Shanghai, India and France). I’m currently in Toronto.

What’s the first thing you do in the morning?
Give thanks for this incredible world, write a gratitude list of 3-5 things, and have two glasses of warm water.

Would you say you are more routine or ritual? 
I’m a bit of both to be honest! But if I have to choose, I’d say ritual. As much as I like a routine, I do closely follow intuitive nudges and like changing up my every day with whatever I feel guided or pulled towards in the moment.

At what age did you start shaving? What made you start?
I remember shaving my underarms for the first time in grade 5, so I guess I was 11. A few other girls in my class had started, and so had my older sister, so it felt like a natural next transition.

Why do you shave now?
I personally love the silky-smooth feeling of a fresh shave!

What does beauty mean to you? 
I truly believe that art and beauty are fundamental to the human experience, bringing us joy, a sense of refuge, and a level of intrigue. Beauty is definitely subjective, but as a whole, our collective appreciation for it greatly influences how we perceive the world, helping to infuse moments of awe and wonder into what would otherwise be a banal existence.

How do you incorporate beauty into your every day?
It’s the little things for me. Season noticing - as I go on a daily walk and actually pay attention to the new flowers/mushrooms that have sprouted overnight, making tea and pouring it into a beautiful mug (a lovely act of both ritual and beauty), following accounts on IG that are aesthetically pleasing, engaging in self-care and using products that feel beautiful and indulgent, and often going down Pinterest rabbit holes that lead me from one beautiful image to the next.

What’s something you can’t live without?
Good books, good conversations, and really good croissants.

What words do you live by?
I’m not sure that I have any inspirational quotes to share, but for the most part, I try to just live everyday with my personal values in check – integrity, authenticity, kindness, soul-nourishment, and joy.

What are you most proud of?
Figuring out a soul-nourishing way to combine the things I love and making a business out of them. And not just a business, but one that aligns with my values, inspires others, creates real change, and that is deeply rooted in authenticity and integrity.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?
“Don’t not do something because of how long it will take. The time will pass anyways.” I have no idea if this was a quote or if it was something someone told me, but I often think of it. So many of us are put off by how long our dreams might take to come into fruition (getting a PhD, starting a
business, learning a new language), but the time it will take to reach that goal will pass anyways. It would be much better spent doing something you love, rather than waking up after five years wishing you had just done the thing.

What does the word ‘sustainability’ mean to you?
To me, it’s more about how I am being rather than what I am doing. I think there’s an idea that it’s mostly about low-waste and reusable products, but true sustainability is powered by the gift economy – a beautiful, spiritual exchange that interconnects all living things and plant matter. There can be lots of harmful behaviour and canceling within the movement, so to me, making sure we’re showing up with kindness, reverence, love, respect and care is just as important (if not more) as using a bamboo toothbrush or shopping second-hand.

The easiest sustainable habit you’ve managed to incorporate?
Eliminating plastic cutlery! I have a little zero-waste kit I keep on me, and don’t find that I ever need single-use utensils.

Any unsustainable habits you’re trying to break? (none of us are perfect!)
I try to be as waste-conscious as possible, but so many things/products contain plastic and it can just feel really unavoidable at times, despite best intentions. It makes me appreciate brands like Well Kept SO much more – your efforts are truly applaudable!

Book/song/movie you’ve recently recommended to someone?
I’m currently reading The Overstory and it’s so worth reading! I’ve also been playing the song “C’est Cuit” on repeat while driving, and it’s a serious bop.

Head to Arti's PROFILE for endless inspiration AND a chance to win a KELP safety razor. Giveaway will run until 4:00pm, Friday October 22nd.