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“I launched holiCHIC again in 2015 earlier than it turned the ‘cool’ factor to do,” says Megha Rao, founding father of holiCHIC. “I by no means discovered what I used to be in search of in shops: the blending and matching of a conventional Indian wardrobe with my fashionable American outfits. As a result of pairing a sari shirt with denims or including Indian jewellery to a western costume is a mirrored image of who I’m.”
Rising up in Queens, New York as a daughter of immigrants, Rao discovered herself typically caught between two very distinct worlds. At house, she adopted conventional Indian customs, ate Indian delicacies and spoke her mom language. However at college, she lived a totally completely different life, immersed within the fashionable American way of life.
“I recall having Mehndi on my palms after spending a summer season with my grandmother in India. The women at school have been screaming and stated that I had blood on my palms,” says Rao. “I additionally had hair right down to my waist, and they might tease me and ask me ‘why is your hair so lengthy’ and ‘why do not you simply minimize it.'”
Picture credit score: holiCHIC
Whereas Rao was impacted by the bullying, she by no means turned ashamed of who she was. Her childhood summers spent together with her grandmother, the place she explored Mumbai markets, gave her a renewed sense of cultural appreciation and creativity. Trend turned her outlet for self-expression.
Now holiCHIC, a women-led model, echoes her love for South Asian tradition and advocates for century-old craftsmanship. Actresses like Mindy Kaling, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani and extra have worn items from holiCHIC and the model has collaborated with Lilly Singh.
“By creating items that mirror my private model and id, I am serving to different ladies do the identical,” says Rao. “My model empowers ladies to personal their id and specific themselves confidently via vogue.”
Listed here are three classes Megha Rao has discovered alongside the way in which as she disrupts the style business.
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1. Focus by yourself journey and cease evaluating your self to others
“I spent six years persevering with to construct my profession at Citigroup earlier than I stop to deal with holiCHIC full-time,” shares Rao. “I balanced the company job and the facet hustle for so long as I may. Too typically, I see founders feeling the strain to go all in on their enterprise straight away to show they’re dedicated and severe. Do what is sensible for you and cease evaluating your self to others.”
Rao constructed her profession at Citigroup for over 15 years. She credit her time there for getting ready her to launch her personal enterprise, actually constructing a robust understanding of promoting, finance and gross sales. “I used to be capable of take a look at, try to be taught issues whereas constructing holiCHIC whereas I held onto my full-time job. I made selections with out overthinking issues an excessive amount of. It took me longer to get my enterprise off the bottom and I do not remorse it.”
It was in 2021, through the Dior Trend Present held in India, that Rao knew this was lastly her second. All eyes have been on Indian vogue and he or she determined to stop Citigroup and work full-time on holiCHIC.
2. Strike a stability between ardour and execution
“I used to be so obsessed with our holiYOGA assortment and wished to launch as quickly as doable. We kicked off a serious marketing campaign and presale earlier than the product had arrived,” says Rao. “However quickly into our presales, we confronted sudden problems with our provider, which brought on cargo delays and compelled us to change producers and in the end delay the launch.”
Rao remembers the influence on clients and the stress it brought on the workforce. In hindsight, she would have launched the thought to her group. Then introduced them alongside the journey of the launch by sharing behind-the-scenes footage on design and manufacturing in social media. She would have made the gathering obtainable for presale a lot later within the growth course of.
In the long run, Rao and her workforce introduced a greater high quality product to {the marketplace}. Immediately, it is one of many best-selling collections for the enterprise. She cautions founders on putting a stability between ardour and execution.
“I want I had been extra affected person and waited till all the pieces was in place. It was undoubtedly a lesson in timing being ready,” she says.
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3. Discover your individual leads and do not await “that introduction”
As a founder, Rao is continually finding out the market and is in search of methods holiCHIC can higher serve its clients.
“I knew Diwali in New York Metropolis was a serious second; there have been so many occasions taking place in that timeframe. So many people wanted a approach to buy accessible and relatable items that they may try to purchase on the spot,” says Rao. “I knew holiCHIC was the reply.”
Rao spent 9 months hustling to make her Diwali pop-up retailer a actuality. She emailed, DMed, cold-called and left messages for consumers throughout town. She did not have the contacts in retail she wanted so she spent hours and hours researching who she ought to pitch.
“My time in gross sales taught me that I do not await that introduction, I decide up the cellphone and make calls myself. So discover your individual leads, return to fundamentals and begin chilly calling,” she says.
Rao ultimately discovered the identify of the supervisor operating a specific Nordstrom location in NYC on LinkedIn. She known as the shop, requested to be transferred to her workplace and left a voice electronic mail message. The shop supervisor known as Rao again and understood and related together with her imaginative and prescient. Final Diwali, Nordstrom partnered with holiCHIC to showcase the model via a pop-up occasion. The retailer understood the model’s imaginative and prescient and supported them in bringing their distinctive model to their clients.
Immediately, holiCHIC has grown 5x over the previous 5 years, averaging 100% year-over-year gross sales progress. The model is seeking to elevate capital originally of 2025 as Rao goals to scale additional, goal new demographics and discover wholesale and retail partnerships.
“There are situations I really feel I’ve to work 10 occasions more durable to be seen and heard as a girl of colour on this very saturated business,” says Rao. “And, being a girl of colour has additionally been my superpower, giving me a singular edge and perspective to take my enterprise to the subsequent degree.”
This WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR® article is a part of our ongoing sequence highlighting the tales, challenges and triumphs of operating a enterprise as a girl.
