Meet Yatti Desai-Patel | Owner & Founder of Mor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yatti Desai-Patel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yatti, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for Mor was born out of a deep love for celebrations and a desire to keep my South Asian roots alive, especially after becoming a mom. I’ve celebrated festivals across different countries, and I noticed a gap. There weren’t many gifting options that felt both culturally meaningful and beautifully modern. My initial idea was to create a Diwali countdown calendar, something interactive and thoughtful that would bring families together during the five days of Diwali. From there, Mor grew into a brand that offers ready-to-gift items designed to align with the festive moments and milestones that are meaningful to South Asian families. I wanted to create something that honored our traditions but felt fresh and elevated for today’s generation. That’s how Mor was born, to help people gift with purpose, beauty, and a touch of culture.

What should our readers know about your business?
Mor is all about modern, meaningful gifting rooted in South Asian culture. I started with the idea of a Diwali countdown calendar to bring joy and intention to the five days of Diwali, and it’s grown into a line of thoughtfully designed gifts that help families celebrate traditions in a way that feels fresh, elegant, and accessible. What sets Mor apart is that we find gifts made by skilled artisans that are not easily available in the Western world and fit the aesthetics of new generations. Our gifts are ready to gift, culturally grounded, and designed for today’s South Asian families, whether it’s for a festival, a milestone, or just a moment you want to make special.

Getting here wasn’t easy. I’m a mom, I have a full-time job, and like many small business owners, I’ve worn every hat from product development to packing orders. There have been early mornings, late nights, mistakes, and moments of doubt, but I keep going because I truly believe in the mission behind Mor. What’s helped me through the challenges is leaning into community, asking for help, taking feedback, and staying open to learning.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that growth takes time, and it’s okay to evolve as you go. I’ve also learned that our stories matter. When I share mine, others feel seen and connected, and that’s really powerful.

I’m proud of myself for even starting the business and of where I’ve come, and I’m even more excited for where it’s headed with some new collections launching soon.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d start with the Beltline, one of my favorite parts of Atlanta. We’d eat our way through it with stops at Gu’s for some dumplings and Fred’s for the Korean Cheesesteak, then end the evening at a rooftop with a sundowner and beautiful views of the city.

Outside the city, my go-to spot is Avalon. I love taking people to Antico’s for pizza and Rumi’s for a more elevated meal, you really can’t go wrong with either.

Brunch is hands down my favorite meal, so I’d plan a Southern brunch at Hen Mother Cookhouse or Buttermilk Kitchen. And for something different, we’d head to Buford Highway for traditional Asian food, whether it’s banh mis at Quoc Huong, dumplings, ramen, or Szechuan dishes, it’s always worth the drive.

While I clearly love eating my way through the city, I’d also take them to an Atlanta United game to experience the energy of the stadium. Of all the touristy spots, the aquarium still tops my list for guests with little ones, it never gets old!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to a few special people who’ve been such a big part of this journey. First, my son, he’s the heart behind Mor and the reason I wanted to build something that passes down our traditions in a fun and meaningful way. My husband has been my biggest cheerleader, always believing in me and jumping in to help however he can, whether that’s packing orders or just encouraging me to keep going. And to my friends and family, there are truly too many to name, but your constant support means everything. From showing up at events, spending hours packing products, and sharing Mor with your communities, I couldn’t do this without you all.

Website: https://www.morgifting.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgifting

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mor-Gifting/61564304728862/