Brands
Virgio earns PETA certification for ethical fashion
Mumbai – Virgio, the pioneering sustainable fashion brand, is proud to announce that it has officially received the PETA Approved Vegan certification. This significant milestone underscores Virgio’s unwavering commitment to ethical practices, animal welfare, and pro-planet fashion.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India is the best known animal rights organisation in the country with over 2 million members and supporters. Global PETA entities combined have more than 9 million members and supporters. Every year, billions of animals suffer and die for clothing and accessories. The fashion industry has long been criticised for its exploitation of animals, involving practices that are often hidden from the public eye. From the use of fur, leather, wool, and silk to testing products on animals, the industry has a substantial impact on animal welfare. Animals are subjected to cruelty and inhumane conditions to meet the demands of fashion consumers.
Virgio has been at the forefront of transforming the fashion industry by embracing sustainable & ethical fashion. Achieving PETA approval is a testament to Virgio’s mission. Virgio uses cruelty-free vegan materials such as natural fabrics, recycled fabrics, and other alternatives to traditional animal-derived products. This ensures that no animals are harmed in the creation of the collections.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by PETA for our commitment to cruelty-free and ethical fashion,” said Amar Nagaram, Co-founder and CEO of Virgio stated. “This certification aligns with our core values of ethics, transparency, innovation, and responsibility towards our planet and all its inhabitants. It is a significant step forward in our mission to create fashion that respects the environment and its inhabitants.”
Virgio’s PETA Approved Vegan status assures consumers that no animal-derived materials are used in the creation of its products. The certification process involved rigorous scrutiny of Virgio’s supply chain, materials, and manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with PETA’s stringent standards.
“PETA India is thrilled to have Virgio proudly declare its compassion for animals and respect for the environment by obtaining ‘PETA-Approved Vegan’ certification,” says PETA India Senior Corporate Affairs Assistant Priyanka Bhoj. “Consumers are increasingly rejecting fashion that involves animal suffering and death, and the harmful environmental impact of leather, wool, and other animal-derived materials is well-documented. By choosing vegan, Virgio is setting the standard in the industry and leading the way in ethical and sustainable fashion.”
“We believe in fashion that lasts longer, looks better, and does no harm,” Amar Nagaram added. “Our partnership with PETA strengthens our resolve to lead the industry towards a more humane and sustainable future.”
Brands
upGrad acquires Internshala in 90 per cent stock deal to own career funnel
Deal aims to scale Internshala’s revenue from Rs 45 crore to Rs 100 crore
MUMBAI: upGrad has acquired Internshala, the world’s largest internship and early-talent marketplace, in a bid to stitch education, skilling and employment into a single career pipeline.
The transaction, announced on 26 February, is structured as a 90 per cent stock-swap, with the financial terms undisclosed. The deal deepens upGrad’s push to control the full career lifecycle, from learning to hiring, at a time when India’s skilling economy is under pressure to deliver outcomes, not just credentials.
Founded in 2010, Internshala claims more than 34 million registered users and 450,000 employers, with roughly 3 million active applicants each year. Over 40 per cent of its users come from tier 2 and tier 3 cities, and most of the platform’s traffic is organic. The company currently reports an annual revenue base of Rs 45 crore.
Under upGrad’s ownership, Internshala is expected to scale aggressively. The company aims to grow the platform’s revenue to Rs 100 crore and beyond, backed by increased investment in product development, AI-led talent matching and enterprise hiring solutions.
Internshala will continue to operate as an independent brand, led by its founder and CEO Sarvesh Agrawal, while tapping into upGrad’s technology stack, distribution and learning ecosystem.
“Education and employment in India have operated in silos for too long,” said upGrad head of corporate strategy and growth Chirag Samdaria. He said the acquisition strengthens the earliest and most consequential stage of the career journey, where intent is high and outcomes can be shaped.
Agrawal described the deal as a natural convergence of learning and opportunity, adding that the partnership would allow Internshala to skill millions of candidates and supply pre-trained talent to employers at scale.
Investec acted as exclusive financial adviser to Internshala.
The acquisition marks a strategic milestone for upGrad as it seeks to position itself not merely as an education provider, but as an end-to-end workforce development platform aligned with India’s evolving labour market.
