Fable & Mane is a modern hair wellness brand of potent plant-based products inspired by ancient Indian beauty secrets. Founded by Akash and Nikita Mehta, a duo of plant-powered siblings who are on a mission to bring ancient Ayurvedic wisdom to Western beauty, Fable & Mane is formed from personal experience and heritage. All products are cruelty-free, vegan, silicone-free and formulated to enrich the hair as well as spirit. Beyond formulating responsibly, the Mehta siblings are committed to giving back to the wild through The Fable Fund, which focuses its efforts on tiger conservation and wildlife education.
Subjects: Akash and Nikita Mehta
Provenance: London
Ages: 28 and 31
What makes you feel like (y)ourself?
AM: For me, I feel myself the most when I'm connected to nature and in the presence of animals, especially wild animals. The feeling of being close to Mother Nature makes me feel calm. I'm just me: no other version of me that I've created in my years of existence through work, or relationships. I forget time when I'm in nature, so I have to go to India or Africa once a year to be in nature with animals to ground myself. It's one of those yearly things I need to do. Of course, I'd love to go as often as I can! That's something I don't compromise on and comes from wanting to be myself in those moments, too.
NM: When I'm walking in nature, or spending time meditating. My garden is my happy place.
Who (or what) inspires you?
AM: My family are definitely the people that inspire me the most. My sister, business partner and co-founder, Niki, inspires me to stay humble, and to grow beyond the box we sometimes constrain ourselves to. She pushes boundaries and dreams big.
My mum taught me mindfulness, spirituality, how to be proud of oneself, how to give and not expect anything back, and some core principles that are more ingrained in me as a human but have really affected a lot of parts in my life.
My dad is definitely my mentor and my inspiration in business. What he's created from nothing to his company now today, as a very successful entrepreneur that has built it organically through strong relationships, being himself, and being a good honest businessman. I wish to be exactly who he is in the future.
NM: I'm inspired by people who have found their truth in life: Yoda Spencer, Michael Singer, Eckhart Tolle. People who are raising consciousness for humanity.
Best ageless advice you ever got?
AM: The time is now. You can always doubt, have worries and fear, but if you don't try, you'll never know and never achieve. For me, that's been my thing of not being constricted to what people think is the right way, or what I should do for my age. I've always liked to push boundaries by just trying things, and often I succeed through that mental game of pushing beyond boundaries, and surprise myself, and I think that's where you grow the most. You can't be afraid of failures on that journey. It's a mental game. Just go for it and just do it.
NM: Beauty is not an age, it's a state of mind.
Any advice on how to become the best version of yourself/how to live life to your fullest potential?
AM: Just be truly you. We're always changing and growing, so being open to change is not a bad thing. Just listen to yourself in the journey of being authentically you.
NM: Live each moment totally. Live each moment to the fullest, and live it to the maximum.