Journey of my life | Rosy Ahluwalia | TEDxVIFT

TL;DR

From struggles in Kolkata to international success, the speaker shares the inspiring journey of becoming a renowned fashion designer.

Transcript

good morning everyone first of all I would like to thank tedx and with the institute for inviting you here thank you so much the Journey of a life for everyone who struggle and the history for me it's a struggle and a history of Joy Kolkata I was very young when I started looking for new collection I would always wanted to see its style myself I al... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖐️ Family support and inspiration play a pivotal role in pursuing one's dreams.
• ❓ Learning from setbacks and criticism is essential for personal and professional growth.
• 👨‍💼 Global exposure and networking are crucial for expanding business opportunities.
• 🤳 Success stems from perseverance, self-belief, and dedication to one's craft.
• 🥋 Promoting traditional art forms like khadi can foster cultural preservation and global recognition.
• 🤩 Embracing challenges, being fearless, and staying focused are key traits for achieving goals.
• ❓ Collaboration with industry stakeholders and government bodies can amplify reach and impact.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker's mother inspire her fashion journey?

The speaker's admiration for her mother's style and encouragement paved the way for her passion in fashion designing, reflecting the universal influence of mothers in shaping dreams and aspirations.

Q: How did client criticism impact the speaker's boutique business?

Negative client feedback initially demoralized the speaker, leading to self-doubt and contemplation of giving up. However, her father's support and advice to learn from mistakes encouraged her to persevere.

Q: What opportunities did the speaker seize in Delhi after starting from scratch?

In Delhi, despite starting anew without contacts, the speaker approached boutiques directly, securing consignment deals that jumpstarted her career, reflecting her determination to succeed against all odds.

Q: How did the speaker's journey with khadi showcase her dedication to promoting traditional Indian fabrics?

Once endorsed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) in London, the speaker's focus on promoting khadi globally highlighted her commitment to preserving India's heritage and cultural identity.

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares her journey as a fashion designer and entrepreneur. She talks about starting her career at a young age, facing challenges and criticisms, and overcoming them through perseverance and learning from mistakes. She emphasizes the importance of never giving up, being ambitious, and believing in oneself. She also discusses the opportunities she received, such as being the official designer for a parade in New York and working with the government to promote khadi fabric. The speaker credits her family, team, and hardworking colleagues for her success.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker start her career in fashion?

The speaker started exploring fashion and styling herself from a young age. She found inspiration in her mother and began working on her own designs. To upgrade her skills, she joined a fashion designing course which taught her about different fabrics, patterns, and embroideries.

Q: At what age did the speaker open her boutique?

The speaker opened her boutique at the age of 19 while she was still studying. With the support of her parents, she successfully managed to balance her education and business.

Q: What challenges did the speaker face in her boutique?

While the speaker's boutique was thriving and some clients were happy with her work, she also had clients who would criticize and shout at her. This made her doubt her worth and consider giving up. However, her father encouraged her not to give up and instead learn from her mistakes.

Q: How did the speaker overcome the challenges in her boutique?

The speaker learned from her mistakes and focused on improving her work. She took feedback from her clients and made efforts to understand their expectations. By addressing her weaknesses and continuously learning, she was able to grow and succeed in her boutique.

Q: What made the speaker decide to move to Delhi?

The speaker decided to move to Delhi to further upgrade herself and explore better opportunities. However, when she got married, she had to start from scratch again as she didn't know anyone in Delhi except her sister, who had no knowledge about the fashion industry.

Q: How did the speaker start her career in Delhi?

Despite not having any contacts in Delhi, the speaker saw an opportunity and approached several boutiques directly to showcase her designs. She managed to convince them to take her stuff on a consignment basis, and eventually, they started approaching her for new orders.

Q: What efforts did the speaker make to expand her business?

The speaker looked for skilled labors from Kolkata, called them to Delhi, and started her own small factory. She dedicated countless hours of hard work and made sacrifices to ensure the success of her business.

Q: How did the speaker gain clients outside of Delhi?

The speaker participated in over 2,000 exhibitions across various cities in India. These exhibitions helped her gain new clients and expand her reach. Despite the challenges of limited social media presence at that time, her dedication and hard work allowed her to connect with people who appreciated her designs.

Q: How did the speaker get the opportunity to showcase her designs in New York?

The speaker's dedication and talent caught the attention of clients from the USA who invited her to be a part of the world's largest parade in Manhattan. She became the official designer for the parade, which was a significant achievement for her career.

Q: How did the speaker promote khadi worldwide?

After gaining success in New York, the speaker went on to do shows in Canada and London. During a khadi show, she caught the attention of the chairperson of khadi who admired her khadi designs. With his support, she started promoting khadi fabric globally, and she became known for her work in khadi.

Takeaways

Through her journey, the speaker emphasizes the importance of never giving up, having ambition, and believing in oneself. She highlights the value of learning from mistakes and being fearless in pursuit of one's dreams. The speaker gives credit to her family, team, and hardworking colleagues for contributing to her success.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Started young, pursued fashion designing, and opened a boutique at 19 with family support.

• Faced setbacks, learned from mistakes, and persevered through client criticism.

• Expanded globally, becoming an official designer at the world's largest parade in New York, promoting khadi worldwide.