The new wave of ‘vocal for local’ proved to be a boost for Indian entrepreneurs. It has promoted local businesses during COVID-19 and given customers the ability and motivation to shop locally with ease. This rebranded version of ‘Made In India’ has our support, and every month, TC46 will spotlight small businesses and ventures you can champion and back easily through online and offline purchases.
Artists, entrepreneurs, visionaries and experts, Indian women are shattering glass ceilings and breaking out of boxes. Success, tied with skills and hard work, is what makes those featured in our list today an inspiration for many. And the journey, for these women of incredible talent, are stories that must be told.
This week, here are some brands we’re cheering on; check them out!
Fusion Wear by Prayas
Priyanka Shetye, the founder of Prayas, when searching for some fusion wear in breathable fabrics realised that the Indian market has fewer brands in this segment. And the prices are not affordable for everyday women. Indian women now are becoming more conscious about their fashion choices and are leaning towards sustainability. They love to wear modern or western outfits in pure cotton or handloom fabrics which are comfortable all day long and give an effortlessly chic look, whether it is college going girls or working women of any industry or position. Hence Prayas which means ‘attempt’ was born and the main motto is ‘For Women, By Women’. The goal is to work on the upliftment of women. The brand works with 70% women entrepreneurs and artisans. The silhouettes are curated by the local artisans as they purely support ‘vocal for local’. The brand focuses majorly on the B2C market currently.
A mom and entrepreneur, Mumbai-based Priyanka has worked with leading Pharma & FMCG Companies. And while she does not have a background in the fashion industry, her time working in corporates and keen observation skills have familiarised her with wardrobe choices of new-age women. Also, having worked in sourcing, contract manufacturing and supply chain, she is well versed with the attributes required to run a manufacturing firm.
Prayas carries products like fusion dress, tops, tunics, kurtis, kurta set, suits, hand-painted jewellery, pure cotton face masks. As Prayas wanted to introduce sustainable and affordable clothing options, the price bracket ranges from Rs 499 to Rs 2599. The products are available on the website along with Amazon India, Flipkart, Limeroad. They are onboarding on several other major e-commerce websites and you can view the latest updates on social media.
Bespoke Dating by Sirf Coffee
Naina Hiranandani believes that swiping isn’t a substitute for a personal connection. So since 2009, her venture, Sirf Coffee has blended traditional with modern expectations to bring compatible people together offline. Her sibling Sunil was living in India in 2009 and realised there were no avenues to meet like-minded people who were young, fun, single and came with the intent of long term. There was nothing in the market except Shaadi.com or panditjis and the communal matchmakers. The space was completely void of anything progressive and modern. And that led to the foundation of Sirf Coffee.
Naina was born in India, lived in the Middle East and spent her formative years in Bangkok, Thailand. She went on to study commerce and then did her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media (BMM) from KC College as well as MA in Literature. The entrepreneurial business acumen was present since childhood. Sirf Coffee has, without advertising, built a community and built a network of people all around the world. Every single person that the brand suggests is handpicked. There is a tremendous amount of work and research that goes on because technology cannot replace love at first sight. They understand that you can start-off online but eventually, you will meet in real-life.
The process is simple yet customised:
- Apply: Fill out a 10-minute application form to help us understand the basics – who you are, academic and professional achievements and partner preferences.
- Interview: The relationship expert will want to know everything about you over a personal meeting or video call.
- Date: They seamlessly coordinate logistics and have a well-curated match sitting across the table for you.
- You Decide: How you’d like to move forward is up to you – if you want to exchange numbers, meet again, or look for another match.
There are tiered membership plans. Discovery & Premium are both 6 months plans that cost Rs 29,500 and Rs 39,500 respectively. The platinum plan can be availed for a year at Rs 59,500. To know more and get on board, visit their website or check out their social media pages.
Handcrafted Baubles by Dhwani Bansal Jewellery
Dhwani Bansal’s namesake brand is synonymous with modern jewellery and trinkets. The pieces are handcrafted and distinctly charming with their geometric and artistic shapes. The underlying theme is that of minimalism and elegance, which makes every piece very wearable by being just the right amount of statement-making for everyday wear. At TISB, she had the greatest fortune to be taught Art and Design as a subject by Rebecca Ainscough, a British artist and her tutor for 2 years. She went on to study Art and Design at Central Saint Martins London, where she specialised in Jewellery Design, and later completed her education for the decade with a short Entrepreneurial course at the Goldsmith’s Centre, London.
At the cusp of art and design, Dhwani Bansal Jewellery is a contemporary fashion jewellery label rooted in Bangalore, India. The jewellery is characterised by a vocabulary of clean lines, geometry structures and understated elegance. The dominant presence of intricacy through simplicity, the captivating influence of history and spirituality, the elegant merger of culture with minimalism, and the softness of organic beauty is what the designer behind this eponymous label seeks to embody in her designs. Each collection taps into the timeless art of handcrafting jewellery to create pieces that reflect subtle traditional undertones against striking, modern silhouettes, and designs that are refined, self-assured and sometimes whimsical; modern must-haves that combine dialogue with wearability.
Shop from a variety of collections; Ruh, Ivy, Areilia, Ayres, Resolve, Kiyo, Elysian. Each collection has a story; tales that speak through their intricate and unique design sensibilities. A pair of earrings cost between Rs 4000 – Rs 7,500 and necklaces start from Rs 6,000. Head on over to the brand’s official website or take a peek at the collection on social media.
Want us to be VocalForLocal for your brand or know someone whose work you’d like to cheer on? Drop us an email to be featured on The Channel 46 at [email protected].