10/03/2021
Tell us about you, your journey, your background and business.
- I always wanted to do business! So I thought easiest way to do is, get into
Pharma open a shop. But I was very creative, I was super into marketing,
advertising even in college times. So it all started at this one big event which
happens in our college called as Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad, where I was a
part of digital media team. It was my happy place at that time. I eventually
got into advertising after completing graduation, and my interest towards
fashion was gradually increase. When I thought of actually owning a brand, I
wanted to be different, something which cares for environment, and changes
the non-ideal ways of society. Which brought me to Cellulose. Cellulose is an
organic compound in any natural fabrics, so I kept my bit of educational
background in this completely new shift of business. Cellulose is a
sustainable fashion brand which promotes our legacy of indigenous farming,
handloom blended into our newer comfortable styles.
We are the ones who break the whole chain of Fast Fashion to slow down
and think more about our needs and how you can prevent causing harm to
environment.
How hard is it to make it a reality to of building a sustainable brand
- Any business will have it’s own challenges. Something which is novel and
not done before has few +1’s. The biggest challenge for me to have an
ethical sourcing point. When you don’t weave your own fabric it’s difficult to
find a correct source. There are some design challenges which you face
because its not a conventional fabric, the designs will look different, new but
so comfortable which is something people don’t know of. People till they
start using it, they don’t realise the richness, quality and comfort of the fabric
itself. When I started marketing my brand, price point was one thing which
everyone was talking about, but you spend easy 3000/- bucks on
international brands then why not something which is made in our country,
and have a better quality.
What inspired you to build a sustainable brand?
The horrifying situation our fashion has created on environment, people and
how it’s not spoken about was the most inspiring reason to build a
sustainable brand. The other is it felt like I am home, whenever I personally
wear Cellulose clothes, or work on them, it felt like this is the kind of feeling I
would like everyone to experience. It’s that beautiful!How does one create a supportive environment at home?
- The biggest support is family. I come from a family where my mother uses
negative enforcement to push me, and bring the best out of me. Which is
probably the case in most of our cases. But honestly, I think this support not
just physically but mentally by telling them that, you don’t worry, you are on
right track, is very important, we are proud of you. Because women who are
in business are working so hard they spend less and less time with family
and friends, in that short time instead of negativity, a positive enforcement
creates a bigger impact. That whole understanding has to be developed, as
a family, as a home.
As women, we don’t ask enough for ourselves. Is that correct?
- Yes! I think its changing, but we don’t ask enough! We keep on rethink our
worth and then settle on “Maybe we deserve this” I think it’s really important
as a woman to know “who we are” explore ourselves and stand by what we
think we deserve. When you are this confident about yourself, you don’t even
need to ask, you get more, achieve more!
What advice will you give to your younger self?
- Honestly, where I stand today, majorly is because of me analysing and
understanding my past experiences and developing myself daily to move
away from all negative things and just absorb a lot of positivity and great
inspirational things. My advice to younger self would be trust a bit more in
some of my mom’s advise, and don’t think yourself as a secondary to
anyone. Not guy or girl can tell you what I am going to be perceived or
judged. I was a complete tom boy person, I grew up with major guy friends
around be, I was made fun of, because I was a bit masculine in my dressing,
my mother was worried will I ever be the quintessential woman. If I knew at
that time, that tables were going to turn, I would have never invested my
time in thinking on this and feel undermined or had a low self esteem!
Why do we need more women in leadership?
- We are the superior of genders anyway, but apart from all that, it’s exactly
similar to “When a woman learns, she teaches the world" A woman leader is
more likely to share her experiences to her team, they are intuitive, women
are the masters of multi-tasking, their instinct is to guide people and make
sure everyone is happy in their team. Women are more empathetic and trust
me all these qualities needs to be a part in any successful organisation!
We need women leaders, not just to inspire but to lead!What progress have you seen on gender equality in your life and work in
the last decade? And how do see women leaders 10 years down the
line?
- Apart from my business, I work in a company where all major department
managers are women! Equality much! I am that lucky person who hardly
faced gender equality and when I did, being a rebellious woman I have made
sure to rectify it. The change is happening in next 10 Years I see a world
where this question of “Gender Equality” not just between men and women
but every human being will be treated equally.
Message for young women.
- You are going to face rejections, trolls, people are going to speak untrue,
absurd things behind your back, you might have incidences where people
will try and pull you down, all you need to do is keep calm, smile and move
towards your dream. Not think about anything, just work hard towards your
passion and how you have visioned yourself.
Apart from staying strong, make sure you help your fellow entrepreneurs, be
kind to society and give it back. Your every single minute is worth it.
