Mumbai, June 4th, 2026: Esskay Beauty Resources Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s leading professional distributors of salon products, today announced the appointment of celebrated hairstylist, entrepreneur, and media personality Sapna Moti Bhavnani as Chief Vegan Officer for Rica Responsible Beauty, the professional haircare division of the globally recognized Italian brand Rica. The announcement marks the launch of Esskay’s #MadAboutVegan campaign: a movement built on a conviction that is as simple as it is powerful. We are mad enough to go vegan, because we Make A Difference, a.k.a., MAD.
Rooted in the brand’s philosophy, the campaign is a nationwide commitment to equip salons with the right products, the right knowledge, and the confidence to go vegan without compromising on results.
Commenting on the campaign, Subham Virmani, Director, Esskay Beauty Resources Pvt. Ltd., said, “Esskay has spent over two decades building the trust of India’s salon community. Sapna has already done what many salons are only beginning to consider: building a thriving business on plant-based, cruelty-free principles. By joining hands, we’re reiterating that vegan is not something to watch from the sidelines; it is a standard the industry is steadily moving towards. Those who delay adapting may find it harder to catch up.”
Bhavnani’s appointment brings with it two decades of lived conviction, having built Mad O Wot into India’s first fully sustainable green salon since 2004, long before vegan beauty entered the industry’s mainstream conversation. Today, as millennials and Gen Z walk into salons with sharper, more informed expectations, demanding transparency, cruelty-free assurances, and idols that genuinely stand for something, with a conviction that carries real weight. As a documentary filmmaker and a recognized authority in hair, she brings both lived experience and a broader perspective to articulate why this movement matters well beyond the salon floor.
Sharing her perspective, Sapna Moti Bhavnani, Chief Vegan Officer, Rica Responsible Beauty & Founder, Mad O Wot, said, “Vegan is not a trend. It is a reckoning. We are at a point in history where every choice we make, what we eat, what we wear, what we put on our bodies, has consequences for the planet, for animals, and for the generations that come after us. Vegan is not just about choices; it’s about responsibility. It is about understanding that the future we want to live in has to be built with the choices we make today. And in that entire narrative, I believe that vegan is not the alternative, but the only answer.”
Adding to this, Ankit Virmani, Director, Esskay Beauty Resources Pvt. Ltd., said, “The vegan shift in Indian beauty isn’t approaching, it’s already here. Consumers want transparency in what goes into their hair, along with uncompromised results. While clients may not always articulate it directly, the demand for vegan solutions already exists in every salon. Those who have adopted it aren’t chasing a trend, they’re meeting an existing need, while also unlocking premium service potential.”
The #MadAboutVegan campaign will roll out across social media and professional education initiatives, bringing to life the combined vision of the two brands: building a professional beauty industry where vegan is not the exception but the expectation.
About Esskay Beauty Resources Pvt. Ltd.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Gurugram, Esskay Beauty Resources Pvt. Ltd. is India’s leading distributor of professional salon supplies, trusted by over 25,000 salon partners across 307+ cities. Esskay holds exclusive Indian distribution rights for globally respected brands, including Rica, Casmara, Naturica, and Olivia Garden, and manufactures its own proprietary brands: Mr. Barber (hair tools), Waxxo (professional wax), and Skinora (vegan skincare). The company also runs the Esskay Hairdressing School, providing advanced education to salon professionals nationwide. Multiple own-brand ranges are already vegan-certified and eco-compliant.
Website: www.esskaygroup.org
