Meet Fashion Director & Stylist Khushi Agrawal, who upfolds fashion from Customizing & Styling to Photoshoots!!
Beauty begins the moment you decide to be ‘YOU’. Fashion Director Khushi Agrawal beautifully unwraps the curly red ribbons of her journey in fashion industry . The enthusiastic and passionate award winning Designer Khushi Agrawal started her journey in Fashion industry at the age of 15 . She gleans to establish an Indian essence with most coveted trends of the runway for men & women. Khushi has not only emerged as a versatile Designer but working spectacularly as a Fashion Director in the areas of Styling and Photography too. Lets meet Khushi Agrawal and explore more about her Fashion Signature , Nakhrey .
1. What is the Name of Your Venture? Any specific reason for this name?
Nakhrey…’Yeah! … As quirky is the label-mysterious is the tale behind! At the midst of some fashion event ,a young designer student stood up and said “ Mam,we have heard that you are way much particular about your clients attires, that u leave no space of flaws and work for the utmost client happiness till the core, so don’t u feel, your brand label should be like u …. Full of nakhrey!! This moment melted our heart, & without giving it a second thought, we nailed our fashion signature as Nakhrey.
2. Who is your target Audience/clients?
Nakhreywalas & Nakhreywalis, who desire to flaunt their nakhrey from Streets to ramp! Making it simple – We may say… Wedding clients as we specialize in Customizing occasion wear. Models & Artists as Personal Stylist TV & film Industry, as we do Costume Designing. Showrooms & boutiques, as we cater to cover Bulk Productions. Designers & other Brands, for conceptual Photography
3. Where is your venture based (city, state, country) & what are your geographical target areas?
We are based in Mumbai, India. By far, have served our clients covering the areas of Assam, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai & Pune. Looking forward to get into western wear as well.. So growing tie-ups in regard to same.
4. What problems does your venture resolve? What are your products or services? Having a personal designer is a boon but having a crazy designer who endeavors to bring your nakhrey out on streets & Red carpet is like something else. The concept behind Nakhrey was primarily to evolve high-end runway trends in pocket friendly prices, certainly not compromising with quality. But now ,we not only confined to provide clothing, but also serving platform for models , actresses and other clients & brands , to capture memories & fashion shoots with our unique team of Photographers and Artists.
1. Customizing niche designs / Manufacturing bulk requirements. 2. Curating trend for Photo-shoots for different brands. 3. Fashion stylist & Costume Designer in TV industry, 4. Wardrobe stylist for models and celebrities, 5. Fashion Coordinator, we help budding designers giving shape to their dreams. Team Nakhrey loves to explore Fashion and its parallel ways, so we are always open to works with people in same industry.
5. Share the idea or story behind the venture. How did it come to an existence? What motivated you to start your own venture?
Everyone wants the world to see them-Everyone desires to show some nakhrey. So did I … mmm … I think I was max 14, When I retained the first order from my cousin. I do remember the dress and its still popping out goose bumps in me. Thereafter the journey of secretly retaining orders begun 🙂 … Yes!! Secretly, since I was in 7th standard & alike every mom, Mine too, was not much ok with the idea .By the time I was 16, the instinct of Eat-Design-Sleep completely captured my heart. My mom & her devotion towards my dreams made a great difference to my reach. At a very young age, I established my workplace and attained recognition in Fashion Shows, that gave definite shape to my dreams. I have always been inspired of Indian culture & heritage and die-heart fan of runway trends, therefore the mingle is clearly visible in our designs, our every costume tells a secret about someone. So go ahead, tell us your story – Show us some nakhrey!!
6. How did you identify your co-founder?
Nakhrey primarily started with three of us. The other two are usually involved in major decisions. Rest is solely directed by me .But being involved in broader spectrum in fashion industry, I would love to appoint someone with same zeal & mindset to administer things at Nakhrey.
7. How do you hire your team members? What skills do you want in your employees/team?
Yes, we do hire interns and others, specialized in the field of fashion. Being a part of fashion industry, we mostly prefer upcoming designers, freelancers, assistant stylists who want to work in TV industry / fashion shoot, people working from home who possess decent knowledge to establish networking and clientele. Photographers and make-up-artists too play a major role at Nakhrey. To sum up, I strongly believe, a team of hardworking, responsible & innovative people always leads to handful growth of the brand.
8. What expansion plans are you looking for the next 2 to 5 years?
In upcoming years, we plan to enhance the brand by making our products available at luxury stores and studios. Launch a section of high fashion western wear . Build greater name in TV as fashion stylists. Grow connections with manufacturers and wholesalers to market our product in the best possible prices and much more. (Fingers crossed :)!!…
9. Where do you want to see yourself in next 10 years?
10 years?!!!……way lonngggggg yaa!! 🙂 …. But yeah any time sooner-later, I would love to style the fashion Divas – Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone Parineeti Chopra, Sonam kapoor and other Celebrities wearing Nakhrey.
10. Where do you want to see yourself in next 10 years?
10 years?!!!……way lonngggggg yaa!! 🙂 …. But yeah any time sooner-later, I would love to style the fashion Divas – Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone Parineeti Chopra, Sonam kapoor and other Celebrities wearing Nakhrey.
11. Have you raised any funding? Or have any plans for the funding?
Not as of! It’s something that can be thought of! Incase I come across someone as a partner at Nakhrey.
12. What were the problems you faced during the starting days and how did you resolve them?
The entrepreneurial journey is never an easy one. No matter how big you do, at the end of the day, every Co. big or small, struggle to deliver the best to client and each day is a challenge. At our end, we faced or can say, still face difficulties to cater experienced yet reasonable masters and tailors and work in continuity, assistants who could confidently handle things on behalf, fluent marketers to establish samples in fashion houses and lot more. So difficulties are like curly red ribbon on the box of business & I continue unwrapping each ribbon, one after the other!!
13. Are you married, single or in a relationship?
Life is too short to not watch “Game of Thrones” …
14. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
In my free hours … I am always found, shopping – hopping & fooding around the corners’, fond of soft music, gotta very small basket of friends, so on and off we like to meet, chat and relax at the sea sides. Watching movie is another best time-run for me!!
15. What’s your favourite food & holiday destination?
Big time foodie – hard core Vegan!!… Like exploring new cuisines and places. Anything with unique presentation on the platter takes my heart off… Chinese to Cheesy italianoes … I love it all!! Coming to places…. I have always been too cozy about shelling in rains, walking around beaches, relaxing at greens & open air, hearing my favorite tracks & in the midst of all these, the spark of fun and adventure still continues… Anything similar to these …Uplifts my soul and energy 🙂
16. Whom do you consider your idol or biggest motivator?
I grew up seeing my immensely confident father , whose confidence is at par in Social and family affairs. Further, My Mom, A true picture of Signature Woman, the only word she believes is “Being Positive”. Her positive attitude, taught me to never leave hope in the ups and downs of life. Further public figures like Anju Modi, Nikhil Thampi, Tarun Tahiliani, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Sonam kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Parineeti Chopra are few out of the bunch, who always inspires me in their own special ways, to do better each day.
17. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Both have their unique pro&cons & I respect both! While you are handling things for another firm, the parameters of responsibility becomes higher, wherein if it’s your own, you may undertake things as per the ease. Working hours are more or less same (provided you are actually loyal to your work) Be it freelancing , Job or Running a firm, it always demands sculpting essential targets and struggle to cover them.I do Agree to the fact that, settling a business & surving in competitive market is difficult , herein the risk is more , so is the certainity of growth .
18. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Lately I have realized my interest towards Modelling and stuff. Did some shoots… so may be, I wouldn’t mind exploring it either! Fashion has been my best friend since 2nd STD so be it styling, photography, modelling or whatsoever, I would prefer rolling in fashion industry itself.
19. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family & Social life?
Nakhrey is the prettiest feather on my hat!
20. Anything, you would like to say to our readers or upcoming entrepreneurs?
Let your business be a beautiful box hidden with surprises and the curly red ribbon as the difficulties on the path. Keep unwrapping the ribbons and keep stepping ahead.
21. Tell us something about your education & family background.
Blessed to be born on silver spoon, I was gifted with a prestigious and renowned family .Stepping ahead to my early childhood; I started my schooling from Delhi, B.Com from Guwahati & Fashion designing from JD Institute. Attained recognition as, Best Designer Critic Award at INKED , 2007 Outstanding Designer Award at VASTRAM, 2009 Best Innovation award at Panch Tatva, 2010
22. What is your USP which makes it unique & different from other start-ups in similar domains?
We render Customization of niche designs, cover bulk productions, sort clothing requirements for events and occasions on rent, and help them with wardrobe styling with readily made clothes… On the other hand we possess a team of experienced Photographers and Make up artists, who help our clients with desired photo shoots and makeup services as per their requirements. So it definitely makes it easy for them to log upon with us and get things sorted from Clothing & Styling till Photo-Shoots, they need not necessarily hunt and hop upon different professionals individually for any events and occasions .
23. Please share complete name, address, phone number, email id & website of Your Business & Contact Person.
Khushi Agrawal (Owner & Fashion director) Nakhrey, A fashion Signature. Mumbai , Maharashtra (India) Connect: 87670-53717 Email id: [email protected] To explore more about Nakhrey: https://www.facebook.com/studionakhrey/ www.instagram.com/studionakhrey/
