Yes, she’s Indian and not in India, but she makes the Indians proud of her achievements. It is one thing to start a business with money handed down and a whole other story when you choose to achieve your life’s dream by working hard.
Presenting; owner and designer of the fashion house Aakarshan, the most vibrant and colorful designer label you can find in Dubai, catering to those who aren’t afraid of attention and love mixing their desi style in western wear.
Her label not only provides RTW but also services such as custom tailoring and designing. Aakarshan is the little business baby of Aanchal Jaggi; she is completing her first year of business and is only 23! Now that’s an inspiration.
In a city like Dubai, where shopping is a hobby for everyone, competition in fashion is thick. Aanchal, however, has a unique sense of design and styling; her aesthetic is unique. She explains, “at Aakarshan, we design clothes that are tailored to perfection; each piece brings out the hidden personality of the client and fits them impeccably. We understand different body types and make sure each ensemble brings out the best; that’s what fashion is all about”.
The brand has always been a solo venture, but Miss Jaggi is very grateful to her parents for their support. It has been a bumpy ride as she expresses her initial struggles; “there are so many start-up costs and to get your name out there. You need to source products and get samples made that the clients can have a look at.
Surveying the market for various fabrics, finding tailors & embroiderers is very time-consuming, especially when you’re the only one doing it, but I must say it’s all worth the stress at the end”.
It has been a long year and even longer experience for the young fashion star; her struggles aren’t exclusive to any other entrepreneur in their first year. There are many overwhelming feelings, long hours, sleepless nights, last-minute fashion disasters, and the whole nine yards of taking the risk.
Jaggi has always known that fashion was her calling; she has been very calculated with her decisions regarding her career; she opted for Commerce in high school to get a strong understanding of business,
“Entrepreneurship was my favorite subject and I guess that is why I was so motivated to start up my business without any help and financial support”
she says. A very forward-thinking approach for someone who was only 15 then. These are vital characteristics of an entrepreneur’s focus and drive. One needs to have their eye focused on the result and make sure all the right decisions are taken to reach it faster and easier.
She expresses that starting a business is no cakewalk “Each day involves selling and thinking of creative ways to promote your business; it’s a never-ending, energy-consuming process.”
She advises all young entrepreneurs; “If you have an idea and vision, don’t wait for an opportunity, create one,” and her special note to aspiring designers is; “If you don’t want it with all your heart, it’s honestly not worth it, the fashion world is not as glamorous as it looks on the outside, there are a lot of difficult personalities in this field, and if you don’t have a thick skin or the ability to deal with stress and high maintenance people, then it’s not the field for you.”
She knows her industry well by now and is an inspiration for budding fashion designers and young entrepreneurs in general.
To get colorful, visit Aakarshan’s Facebook page for more collections from Aanchal Jaggi, and you can follow her on Twitter @aakarshan_aj.
It’s always motivating and refreshing to hear the success stories of young entrepreneurs. Fashion is a tremendously growly industry in Dubai and to be able to step a gentle foot on the market is a great feat. It was a great read. Thanks for sharing her tips. It’ll be helpful for young dreamers.