Our team

Kishore Shah
Founder Khadi London
Kishore first discovered khadi 50 years ago when he went to India and volunteered with the Sarvodaya movement – a land reform movement which had evolved into a movement for village autonomy. Khadi was an integral part of Sarvodaya. Kishore’s later work as an international development consultant has been guided by his experience in India. He co-founded Khadi London about 10 years ago as a way to share khadi values to a large public.

Jo Salter
Director Khadi London
Jo Salter is driven by a passion for social justice and environmental causes. In 2013, she founded Where Does It Come From?, an award-winning social enterprise renowned for its transparent approach to clothing production, allowing customers to trace their garments back to the farm. Jo joined Khadi London as a non-executive director in 2018, becoming a full director in 2023. Jo is a regular speaker/writer and host of the Where Does It Come From? podcast. She was selected as a DEFRA Year of Global Change ambassador in 2019, a Pioneers Post/NatWest WISE 100 in 2020, and a top 50 Sustainable Fashion Influencer in 2022. She has recently been selected as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2023.

Ashna Patel
Director Khadi London
Navigating the intersection of design and research, Ashna’s practice investigates craft, culture, and land within the landscape of regional textile systems. Rooted in the ethos of khadi, her work is motivated by heritage, decentralising systems, revitalising local economies, and prioritising the well-being of communities and the Earth. She has worked alongside textile organisations in Europe and India pioneering responsible practices, ethical value chains, native fibres, traditional craft processes, and community-centred initiatives. Through her multifaceted approach encompassing design, craft, research, and systems thinking, she engages in meaningful collaborations manifesting in wearables, textiles, systemic development, sustainable strategies, and writings.

Asha Buch
Values and Heritage
Asha grew up in a family of activists supporting India’s freedom movement under the guidance of Gandhi. She learnt to spin cotton at the age of about seven or eight, a skill that she has honed over the years and enjoys passing it on. Her skills as a teacher and spinner are inspiring a small but growing number of charkha (spinning wheel) enthusiasts in and around London. Her presence in Khadi London events and running workshops for our partners helps ground conversations about ethics in textiles and fashion.

Laurence Sewell
Consultancy, Research, Facilitation
Laurence has over 45 years’ experience working for the donor community, public organisations and the private sector in Africa, Asia, Near East and Central and Eastern Europe. He has specialised in monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL); institutional management for reforming organisations; and has a technical background in natural resource planning. He has a particular interest in the role of business in supporting pro-poor development.

Krishnakant Buch
Research and Facilitation
Krishnakant grew up in India as part of a conservative family with ethical values, with clear understanding of the 'have and have not concept' and its effect on living in east and west. Krishnakant is delighted to be part of Khadi London. His special interests are health management issues in artisans. As a retired General Practitioner he is learning to transfer management skills for improvement, innovation and research.

Abhishek Jain
Project Facilitator
Abhishek is based in Jaipur India where his organisation, Mishika Crafts, runs workshops in artisanal crafts, supporting heritage skills and providing livelihoods. His teams focus on garment and textile production, using a wide range of skills and techniques including natural dyeing, block and screen printing and garment manufacture.

Siddharth Mukne
Business & Academic Liaison
Siddharth’s skill set spans business development, engineering, project management, client relations, international trade, and operations. His passion lies in contributing his expertise to international organisations, aiding in strategy development to achieve business objectives.

Jui Gangan
Business Advisor
Jui has been working in the development and sustainability field for over 15 years. She worked on a wide range of projects, including Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental, Social and Governance, Enterprise Development, Impact Assessment and Incubation. Jui is a trained expert in Bicycle Sharing Systems in developing countries and is the co-founder of Cycle Chalao!

Maithili Chodankar
EU Business & Academic Associate
Maithili, an experienced Digital Marketer turned Impact Entrepreneur, has spent over a decade in the fashion industry. Recognising the limitations of traditional fashion, she now focuses on cultural sustainability and regenerative fashion, advocating for community-driven practices. As a craft connector and consultant, her Franco-Indian brand, Buno Behen, supports women-led craft communities in South Asia through market connections, capacity building, and design development. Buno Behen has been recognised by social incubators such as SINGA (French L'ESS incubator) and The Break Fellow (EU women-leadership programme).