482 | Manto Founder: Pakistan’s Fashion Brands Don’t Make MONEY!! | TBT

Thought Behind Things · Nov 10, 2025 · 2h 9m

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Salman Parekh, Founder of Manto, Pakistan’s most distinct fashion brand redefining local identity through design, storytelling, and craftsmanship. From launching limited hand-drawn collections to sustaining a premium yet local brand in a low-growth economy.

We explore:

How Manto built its own supply chain & scaled sustainably

Why Pakistani fashion is stuck in a cash cycle

The real cost of building exclusivity & identity

Why Manto avoids mass production to stay premium

What the fashion scene could look like by 2050

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