Embracing the inner voice | Ms. Vaishali Shadangule | TEDxBocconiUMumbai

TL;DR

A young girl follows her passion for fashion despite numerous obstacles, eventually becoming a successful designer on the global stage.

Transcript

foreign was December 1996 3 am in the morning 17 years old girl left her house it sounds very strong but she was not allowed to speak she was not allowed to express her feelings she was without confidence and she was hardly able to speak any language but she wanted to sing she wanted to dance she wanted to do Sports and many things but life was not... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤗 Following one's passion often requires taking risks and facing challenges, as shown by the girl's journey from leaving her small town to opening her own boutique and showcasing her work globally.
• 🫷 Belief in oneself and perseverance are crucial in overcoming obstacles and achieving success, illustrated by how the girl continued to listen to her inner voice and push forward despite setbacks.
• 🫡 Sustainability and respect for nature are values that can be practiced in everyday life, as the girl's upbringing in a small town taught her the importance of reusing and reducing waste, which later influenced her approach to fashion.
• 👧 The girl's encounter with handloom weavers showcased their incredible artistry and skill, highlighting the need to preserve and promote traditional crafts on a global platform.
• ✊ The girl's achievements demonstrate the power of individual creativity and innovation in transforming traditional crafts and gaining recognition in the fashion industry.
• 🥰 The importance of embracing one's roots and cultural heritage is evident in the girl's love for handloom fabrics and her journey to showcase them to the world.
• 👂 The girl's story emphasizes the significance of listening to one's inner voice and following one's intuition, as it can guide individuals towards unexpected opportunities and accomplishments.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the girl's journey towards her passion for fashion begin?

The girl felt that engineering wasn't her subject and stumbled upon fashion through styling people. With the help of a friend, she briefly attended a fashion school before being kicked out due to lack of funds.

Q: How did the girl manage to open her own boutique at a young age?

One of her gym clients, the wife of a bank manager, believed in her talent and convinced her to take a loan of 50,000 rupees. With this money, she opened her first small boutique in Malad.

Q: How did the girl balance her fashion studies with her business?

Despite the challenges, the girl traveled between Mumbai and Delhi almost every weekend to maintain her business and pursue her post-graduation in fashion. It was a difficult two-year period, but she considered it worth it in the end.

Q: How did the girl overcome the skepticism around handloom fabrics in the fashion industry?

Initially, people criticized the girl for her focus on handloom fabrics, considering them outdated and unfashionable. However, she experimented with different techniques and designs, combining tradition with modernity, eventually gaining recognition and acceptance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A 17-year-old girl leaves her small town in the middle of the night to pursue her dreams in a big city, facing numerous challenges along the way.

• After finishing her graduation and exploring different jobs, she opens her own boutique with the help of a client who believes in her talent.

• Despite facing setbacks and doubts, she enrolls in fashion school, travels between Mumbai and Delhi, and eventually showcases her work at prestigious fashion events, putting Indian handloom fabrics on the global map.