Over the last few years, the fashion industry has incredibly transformed people’s lifestyles, be it in India or across the world. The introduction of exotic prints, luxurious outfits, glamorous colors, and ever-evolving patterns has helped those seeking newness in their personality to explore different styles. There’s no doubt that people of all genders have contributed to designing and curating such masterpieces in the fashion industry. But when we look from the perspective of women empowerment, most female fashion entrepreneurs have appeared in the limelight due to their extraordinary mindset and created ripples in the fashion industry.
By choosing to fight against all odds and shattering the stereotypes, the female fashion entrepreneurs are not just trying to speak for themselves but are also falsifying the typical myths that hover around what a woman can’t do. Plus, the rise of western, ethnic, and fusion wear have allowed the fashion fiesta to slip into the hands of outstanding female designers who are taking the fashion industry by storm.
In India, entrepreneurship is booming rapidly in the fashion industry, and most of the female entrepreneurs have been a part of this league. So, let’s delve into the success stories of top female fashion entrepreneurs who are making a difference in the fashion industry and leading it with their unique mindset.
1. Anamika Khanna
With no prior training in the design field, Anamika Khana, a former painter, and classical dancer launched her first label in the early 90s, which got popular for its non-traditional and eclectic aesthetics. She is a renowned female fashion entrepreneur for her fashion curations and extraordinary work in designing Bollywood film’s attires.
Being the first Indian designer to showcase her versatile collection at Paris Fashion Week, she is seen as sartorial and highbrow in equal measure. Moreover, she has made her name into the Business of Fashion 500 list along with presenting her creations in prestigious multiple fashion events like Bridal Asia, Lakme Fashion Week, Wills Fashion Week, and the list goes on. Her vision to express different styles and expertise in the designing field has made her a common name in the top female fashion entrepreneurs in India and all over the world.
2. Masaba Gupta, House of Masaba
Masaba Gupta, daughter of the veteran actor Neena Gupta, is known as one of India’s top fashion designers who successfully launched her own brand and won several accolades. She faced several challenges due to her mixed heritage, but her passionate attitude and creative mind have brought her a long way into the fashion industry.
She started her career at the age of 19 by creating a collection for Lakme Fashion Week and held a degree in Apparel Manufacturing and Design. Later, she stepped into the dance world and won several awards in college. When people appreciated her fashion collection, Masaba realized that fashion was her calling. Gradually, she mastered the art of combining creativity, commercial viability, and functionality to run her own label, ‘House of Masaba.’ She was awarded the first Indian designer to run a fashion show through Instagram.
From creating her first fashion collection at the age of 19 to collaborating with well-known fashion brands and launching her own label named “House of Masaba”, she proves that persistence is the key to success.
3. Anita Dongre
Anita Dongre, a most sought-after name in the fashion industry, is popularly known for her aesthetic styles that have roots in Indian traditions. Armed with a degree in Fashion Design and having an admiration for artisans from rural villages of Jaipur, Anita Dongre’s influences were seen right from her first collection itself. She also empowers rural women by providing them with skill training and livelihood opportunities through The Anita Dongre Foundation.
At the age of 54, she successfully owns an eponymous label, a western wear label, and a boho-chic brand Global Desi that shows affinity towards indigenous craftsmanship combined with modern aesthetics. From creating an outstanding outfit for Kate Middleton to creating some of the ecstatic silver screen’s looks on the runway, Anita Dongre’s skills and vision have flawlessly extended in multiple fields. Being a revivalist of rural craft, environmentalist, and an ethical vegan, Anita Dongre, in the current era, is known to be one of the best female fashion entrepreneurs in India.
4. Tina Tahiliani Parikh
Tina Tahiliani Parikh, a Stanford University graduate, began her career in San Francisco with The First Boston Corporation as a financial analyst. After returning to India in 1990, she took over merchandising, finance, marketing, and strategic design of the Mumbai Institution Ensemble, which is India’s first designer multi-brand store. Launched with her brother Taraun Tahiliani, a well-known Indian fashion designer , and his wife Sal, Ensemble has now become a reputed platform for several labels and a go-to stop for fashionistas.
5. Falguni Nayar, Nykaa
Who doesn’t know Nykaa? Almost every youngster has heard this fashion brand’s name in recent years. Falguni Nayar, the pillar behind Nykaa, founded this platform with a vision to create a multi-brand omnichannel retail business that focuses on beauty. By understanding the customer needs and enabling beauty brands to extend their boundaries in the country, Nykaa turned out to be India’s leading fashion and beauty brand that plays a crucial role in the beauty market.
Falguni Nayar graduated from IIM Ahmedabad and started her work in consulting with A.F. Ferguson & Co. Having completed an MBA in finance and spent 18 years in the banking sector, she has won several accolades throughout her career. Falguni Nayar was also listed as Asia’s Power Business Woman 2019 by Forbes Asia and BusinessPerson of the year 2019 by Vogue India. Plus, she has received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 – Startup Award by Ernst and Young, which shows her passion towards creating a successful business.
Ced to make it India’s one-stop-shop for cosmetics and beauty products with over forty-six locations across India. Associated with over 2400+ brands and high-quality products, Nykaa has now become one of India’s largest online shopping stores.
6. Suchi Mukherjee, Limeroad
Suchi Mukherjee’s business idea that popped up through frustration is now leading the fashion industry. At LimeRoad, Suchi’s and the team’s mission is to deliver flawless and flexible services in the fashion niche by injecting design, technology, community space, and operation and making it a gratifying fashion discovery platform. In present-time, Limeroad has managed to become the fastest growing and most profitable fashion platform.
Handling the household commitments while establishing a fashion-focused brand in India was indeed tough for her, but with determination and an eagerness to ease people’s shopping life, Suchi has made it possible. Having led several successful organizations like Virgin Media, Skype, eBay, Gum Tree, and Lehman Brothers Incorporation, with excellent skills and a brilliant mindset, Suchi Mukherjee has always been praised by the audience. She has also been awarded at the Unicorn Startup Award in 2016 by NDTV, which is just one of many accomplishments received for Limeroad.
7. Richa Kar, Zivame
Born and raised in Jamshedpur, Richa completed her engineering from BITS Pilani in 2002. Later, she did her master’s from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in 2007. While jump-starting her career with SAP Retail and Spencers, Richa got exposure to the retail market. She also worked closely with Limited, which owned the world-famous lingerie company Victoria’s Secret. In the process, she realized that branded lingerie was limited in India, and women always felt shy when it came to lingerie shopping.
To overcome this market gap and eliminate the hesitancy among women, Richa Kar envisioned an idea to curate a successful online lingerie store that makes lingerie shopping easier for women. That’s when she shut her ears to societal talks, gathered finances from her savings, and borrowed some from her friends with a strong vision to help women shatter this taboo and shop online. Her efforts to create a successful lingerie retail store, Zivame, surely solved the problems of Indian women who battled with discomfort over the years. Even after a lack of support from her parents, Richa dared to take up the challenge and successfully achieved her goals.
8. Shubhra Chadda, Chumbak
Last but not least, Shubhra Chadda is one of the most inspiring names that fit into the list of female fashion entrepreneurs in India. The idea to start Chumbak hit Shubhra when she realized that several gaps in the Indian market needed bridging. For instance, there wasn’t any store where people could carry bits of memories while they visited different places.
That’s when Subhra, along with her husband Vivek Prabhakar, sold their house and launched Chumbak, a quirky lifestyle store that is now a successful venture in the fashion and lifestyle industry. With a collection of unique products dedicated to travelers, aesthetes, and Indian-themed souvenirs, Chumbak is an e-commerce platform for everything. According to 2020 reports, this store has more than forty branches all over India.
BottomLine:
Looking at the inspiring stories of these female fashion entrepreneurs, it is quite evident that no matter the situation, if you have the will to work hard towards your dreams, no one can stop YOU. The only thing you have to do is focus on your inventiveness and tenacity to start something big. Although there will be rises and falls on the path, in the end, success will always come rolling in.
