At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Shweta Nandakumar for an exclusive interview with us. She is a Leader, Project Manager, Fashion Designer, Consultant, and Influencer. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey, background, and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Shweta:
We are aware of your contributions to the ecosystem; talk us through your background and your journey, please;
Basically, I’m a Bangalorean. I come from a mixed background in terms of my academics and work profession. I am presently a corporate employee and work for a reputed firm. It’s been working as a corporate employee for 19 years. I work in the capacity of a project manager with my current company.
I am very passionate about Fashion and mostly driven by it. I always wanted to do something meaningful to leverage this passion so I put up my store, started doing some shows, interviews and make creative designs. That’s how it all started.
It was around 2015, when it struck upon me that I have to put down and focus on my passion. Though I didn’t quit my job and also, didn’t want to give up on my passion so had to find a middle ground. After discussing with my friends, started working on my passion and started social media pages.”
I have also done a diploma in Fashion Designing, 20 years ago and pursued my fashion designing diploma post my wedding. Then I had a baby and amidst family issues, financial issues and everything it was a big ‘No’ for me. but After all these years, around 2015, I was able to find a spark in me to pursue my passion. So I just gave it a try.
I was in a small show which happened in a Hotel and the organizer of that show actually spotted me wearing a very unique kind of costume. He just walked up to me and said ‘hey I saw you wearing a different kind of costume’ and we picked up a conversation. In the middle of the conversation, I shared with him that I’m a designer and this is designed by me. That’s when it all started.
He said to me that I may not be able to pay you or give you any monetary benefits for the upcoming show which I’m planning to do. However, you can do something creative and showcase it in my show that might be a good platform for you. That was the turning point for me because that’s what I was looking for, a platform. Though it took a lot of investment for my end, and I didn’t want to give up and wanted to take the risk. I wanted to do it.
Once I did the show after that, there was no turning back for me. I did many shows and won different kinds of Titles and Awards. Since then there have been plenty of opportunities.”
I also opened a small office in my friends shared accommodation. But unfortunately, things were not great there. People are really not walking up to me to give orders or anything. There were a few challenges I had to face that I was not able to commute conveniently from my workshop to my office. Because my workshop was elsewhere.
I have set up something below my house. Due to some personal reasons, I have to vacate that. In 2017, there was a well-known event and one of the fashion industry guy ‘Gautam Kanchan’, he approached me and he said ‘I saw that you’re very much passionate about the work you do, I will put you on to certain people who would like to see your collections, why don’t you launch your own brand’? That’s when ‘Shweta Nandakumar’ started as a brand.
Throughout the journey, there are a few friends who supported me to get a few things done and it went on and on. Now I have spent around 9 years in this domain and now have a store in the leading areas of Bangalore. Currently, I’m also designing for a Big Boss Contestant.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Frankly speaking, the actual fact of not giving up on my passion is what drives me. My failures are my constant inspiration. If someone else can do it, why not you. That always drives me. Everyone has to start somewhere. If I look back now, I never thought I could be here if I give up.
Those who once said I would probably fail now look up to me as an inspiration. and that’s exactly what happened.”
Whoever said you can’t do it. You know there is a saying – ‘har uss ghar mein mithai jaiega jinhone bola tha tughse nahi ho paega’.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
The biggest source of motivation for me is my constant failures. I have taken up my failures as my inspiration.
Had I not failed, I wouldn’t have tasted success.”
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
For me, whenever I’m with my client I always make sure that they are always comfortable with their body. I always try to understand what the customer or a client wants to look like.
Always feel good to look good. I ensure that first they feel good about themselves and then I make them look good.”
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
> You should never give up. Keep trying.
> You have to be always clear about what you ask and what you want.
> Being clear about what drives you crazy. Know the one thing that makes you smile.
> Chase dreams, not people.
> Dedication
We would love to know about your mantra?
Create – Inspire – Repeat
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
I’m living my dreams today which in itself is a satisfying thing. It makes me proud every single day and serves as fuel to keep moving forward come what may.
Though the journey has just started and I know there is a long way to go, I know how much I have achieved and what I want to achieve. Good thing is that I have taken the first step that is a great satisfaction for me. Satisfaction of living your dreams is to the next level.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
