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!
Affordable Art from Kreatio By Khushali Shah
From an early age, Khushali Shah found herself to be surrounded by colours and paints. The feeling of creating impressions of inanimate objects never felt strange or rather, nothing ever felt more comfortable to her. Following her calling, she formally trained to understand the nuances but that was only limited to her schooling years. Hence, she is mostly self-taught. The transfusion of technology in our lives has given artists like her both a medium to learn as well as a medium to broadcast her skills. And that gave birth to her brand Kreatio.
Although art has her soul, professionally she is a tea-taster. Kreatio started with creating pieces of artwork as a hobby but soon changed into something she wanted to do every day. Khushali enjoyed replicating whatever she could observe or imagine on a piece of paper and add her own perspective to it. The freedom of creative expression is what drives her and makes her want to indulge in it a little more every day.
For the founder, art is the process of interweaving reality with fantasy or imagination. As a result, the brand encompasses all products that are hand-painted and handcrafted. From original paintings and illustrations to prints, hand-embroidered products like tea cosies, handmade greeting cards, art and craft workshops and so much more.
Apart from selling handcrafted products, the brand also believes in sharing creativity with the rest. Khushali has conducted workshops with people aged 10 to 65 years. Any and all who have an inclination towards art and craft are the brand’s target audience.
Even though the products are handcrafted, they are to be economical for most people. While Instagram is the brand’s primary market place, the products can be found on other platforms like Etsy as well.
Kids Fashion Accessories by Wonderbow
Kashmira Dubash started Wonderbow in the midst of the pandemic as going back to work wasn’t an option with a newborn and a 3-year-old. The brand was launched in October 2020. Her kids have been her muse and inspiration, as is the case for a lot of mompreneurs.
With a background in Planning & Urban Designing, starting a venture has been one of her greatest learning experiences. Apart from being able to pick up trade secrets, she has also learnt to manage accounts, administration and communications, all whilst ensuring a work-life balance. For Kashmira, the biggest reward is connecting with moms (her customers) and building a relationship that continues to grow beyond a sale.
She loves to think of the venture as a celebration of the littlest things in life that she experienced with her daughter, like choosing her bow every morning. All the hair accessories, including headbands and clips, and macrame clip holders are handmade by women across India.
They are a great fit for a wide range of audience, from newborn to adults and their pricing ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 1,200. You can get your hand on some pretty accessories by visiting the brand’s Instagram page.
Accessories & Clothing by Grace N’ Swagg
A true Mumbaikar, Ruth Grace Samuel settled in Coimbatore where she founded her brand, Grace N’ Swagg. The brand is all about being you because there isn’t anyone like YOU, and their motto is to #ownyourswagg. For as long as she can remember, she always wanted to do something in the field of fashion. She pursued an education in the same field and did her postgraduation in Fashion Designing.
She quit her job at a fashion boutique she had joined after college and decided to immediately start an online fashion boutique. The idea was to sell something that people could afford and represent a style that represents her own fashion sense – that’s how the name Grace N’ Swagg (graceful yet full of swagg) came about.
The brand sells fashion and lifestyle products like customised outfits mainly for women and kids along with t-shirts for men. The prices range from Rs 50 to Rs 2,500. You can find the brand’s products on the official website, as well as on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. They ship all over India in all major cities and towns.
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].