“The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable – Kurt Vonnegut

Probably that’s the reason some people refuse to follow the herd blindly. Instead, they listen to their hearts and choose to pursue art despite the uncertainties associated with it. Niharika’s story is a testimony to her eternal love for art and that underlying courage in pursuing it as an artist and entrepreneur. With the launch of her startup venture named Niharikaart gallery in 2019, Niharika aims to create art that becomes a part of all the big small moments of your life.

When your heart guides you down the path

For most artists, what begins as a fun hobby translates into an intense passion, eventually shaping up their choices in life. Niharika learnt the craft of painting on her own, honed her skills and finally decided the time was apt to dive into her own art business. The talented artist explains “When I was about to start Niharikaart gallery, I promised to forsake all kinds of distractions to make this work. Hence, movies, games and parties took a backseat.” She realized early on the importance of discipline and consistency and toiled hard every single day to create something extraordinary. However, as Niharika herself admits, “none of this would have been possible without the love and support of her husband.” He recognized the god-gifted talent that she had been bestowed with and egged her on to achieve her dreams. So, Niharika bought her art supplies, pencils and books and began painting to her heart’s content.

Niharikaart gallery: Where art comes from heart

At Niharikaart, ordinary products of day-to-day use go through magical transformation at the hands of Niharika to emerge as stunning pieces of art. Here you get customized chokers, pendants, bracelets and earrings along with cute hair clips, pet identity tags, keychains and many other eclectic bunch of products.

The beauty of resin art shines through in the creation of bookmarks, coasters, trays, ashtrays. Don’t miss the hand washed coffee cup crafted with alcoholic ink, those pretty handmade combs or bed lights made from wedding garlands. If you’re a fan of mandala art, chances are you would love the intricately designed mandalas carved out by the artist with amazing clarity.

You can place orders online. So far, the brand has served around 250 happy customers who keep coming back for more.

What’s next for Niharika

As business starts to gain momentum, Niharika’s talent reaches out to art lovers across the country. When asked about her future plans, the artist says “I want to expand my art, explore more art forms and become better as an artist.”

Instagram –https://www.instagram.com/niharikaartgallery/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit — https://www.thebusinesspress.in

The human hands and the human mind are two powerful and creative tools. Blending them intelligently is all it takes to make that transition from ordinary to extraordinary.
This is what Ananya a lawyer by profession discovered during the lockdown. With things at a standstill she was driven to introspect. There was a voice within her that told her that it was “now or never”.

Ananya always had a passion for doing something really creative, exciting and different from the rest. This time she was determined to not miss out the chance to follow her passion. At the age of 25 with a modest investment of Rs. 10000/- she founded KEFI TALES.

HANDMADE was her focus and it still is. Beginning small, she used the skill of her hands and the thrill of her imagination, to create and market a whole range of innovative gifting options for all occasions. Appreciation poured in and from then on for KEFI TALES, there was no looking back.

Discover the magic that a thoughtful, personal handmade gift can do for every occasion

What attracts clientele to KEFI TALES, is that every single gifting option it offers is 100% customized. Each gift has that special personal touch to bring in not just that WOW factor, but also that AWWW factor, simply because the message behind the gift is so personal and so meaningful, that the receiver is simply going to be delighted and at times even overwhelmed!

KEFI TALES has something for every occasion and also can create gifts based on client suggestions. In fact, visit https://www.instagram.com/kefi_tales/ and displayed there will be collection of handmade gifting options that have all been made in close consultation with clients.

The customised hand-made birthday cards, wedding cards, anniversary cards and beautiful handwritten letters are just amazing. The smart desk calendars too are very much in demand. Taking pride of place are the anniversary albums, quirky shaped picture albums and gold foil luxury suitcase album. Chocolate tower, chocolate hampers, customized hampers for men, customized rings platter, exquisite book marks, table top vintage brass frames all make for a wonderful collection of gifts with real meaning!

Growth is also ultimately a DIY progression

At KEFI TALES the journey of over a year has been one of intense challenges, learning and self-development. It has also created the time and space, to ideate and curate new gifting options for its customers. Using the reach of social media to its fullest advantage, the brand has built a strong connect with a decent number of customers. Positive word of mouth has meant that it is now gearing up to serve a whole new set of customers.
Completely handmade products literally translates into a fact that the growth of KEFI TALES is in its own hands. How it maneuvers itself towards on this trajectory of growth is going to be a very interesting phase for the brand as it moves forward on a journey of self-discovery.

In the near future, Ananya is looking forward to incorporate the concept of personalized and handmade gifting not just for people on a personal level but also for the purpose of corporate gifting as well. She wants to cater to corporate events like weddings, baby showers, etc. to give it a more personal touch. Since we are currently in an era of monotonous and mass-produced items, personalized gifts always add a beauty and charm of its own.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/kefi_tales?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit — https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

Fashion is an all-pervading phenomenon that isn’t just confined to a particular class, culture or gender. Sure, you don’t find men’s fashion to be as widely discussed and dissected as their female counterparts. But, men like to dress up too. Modern man is conscious about what he wears and how he wears it. He understands how important it is to be well turned out in order to make a lasting impression.

While some brands attempt to explore the dynamics of men’s fashion, hardly anyone talks about men’s love for accessories. Here’s a brand all set to redefine the way men accessorize.

When we interviewed Tanuj Vijay, the Business Head of Cosa Nostraa, he said “Cosa Nostraa was launched in 2019 with an aim to bring back the lost glory of men’s accessories, which ruled the fashion scene for 200 years. We are striving to make men’s accessories as popular as it used to be, so that men can flaunt their style with ease and confidence. “

How Cosa Nostraa came into being

What inspired the creation of Cosa Nostraa was an intense desire to bring back the forgotten glory of ancient times when accessories were considered a medium of self-expression. But the journey had its fair share of challenges. As a matter of fact, there was a huge gap between supply and demand of men’s accessories. The wedding designers were solely dependent on cheap and tacky Chinese products. Every designer wants his creations to be one-of-a-kind. But using those generic buttons and brooches from the Chinese market rendered a common, unimaginative look.

At this juncture, Cosa Nostraa came to the rescue. It began collaborating with designers to create customized products. Tanuj further elaborates “We supply to more than 30 designers in India who opt for these unique creations from home-grown brands instead of importing them from China.” The price was a little on the higher side but so was the quality and service. So, be it the products or their packaging, Cosa Nostraa is “everything which is made in India”.

Where luxury is coupled with style

Cosa Nostraa offers a wide variety of men’s fashion accessories including brooches, cufflinks, buttons, pins, belts, etc. Besides accessories, the brand has come up with an impressive collection of shirts and jackets from this year onwards.

The accessories are quite popular with the wedding crowd since they serve as gorgeous gifts capable of brightening up the plainest of outfits. Witness the transformation of plain bandhgalas and sherwanis into something more elegant and exquisite, thanks to Cosa Nostraa’s charming brooches and beautiful lapel pins. Every product is inspired by history, nature and everything around us. As Tanuj aptly puts it “the whole idea is to relive the era where men used to be very fashionable and proud, probably used to accessorize a lot. This was the idea behind Cosa Nostraa”.

When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, it was time to rethink the brand’s strategy. Going online seemed to be the right thing to do. What followed was a string of tie ups with Myntra, Nykaa, Ajio, Tata and many more. What an honor it was to share the platform with acclaimed brands like Sabyasachi and Rohit Bal in multi-designer stores!

The startup has witnessed phenomenal growth in a span of three years. What started with 3-4 orders per day has grown into 150-200 orders. Even though the prices are on the steeper side, Cosa Nostraa has never been considered “pricey”. That’s because the price is accounted for by its premium quality and impeccable service.

What’s the story behind the name?

Remember the timeless classic Godfather? The brand name Cosa Nostraa which means “Our thing” in Italian, is inspired by the Sicilian Mafia depicted with style and substance in the iconic movie. Cosa Nostraa aspires to be the “Godfather” of accessories which simply means that it wants to dominate the market and be the topmost choice when it comes to men’s accessories. This isn’t just a fanciful dream but an earnest endeavor and Cosa Nostraa is working tirelessly to make it happen in another 2-3 years.

Website: https://cosanostraa.com/

Instagram: @cosanostraastudio (https://www.instagram.com/cosanostraastudio/)

Facebook: @cosanostraastudio (https://www.facebook.com/cosanostraastudio)

To read more Startup stories on The Business Press, Visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/

Come and explore the broad spectrum of exquisite art created just for you, just the way you like it

Art is what makes life worthwhile. It gives meaning to our existence which would otherwise have been an endless drudgery bound by repeated thoughts and actions. Only when we create something do we allow ourselves to think our thoughts and feel our feelings and thus, become the truest version of ourselves. They say, that which is created with love always strikes a chord with people. Maybe that’s why a work of art continues to have so much demand despite the relentless pandemic and plummeting global economy.

Who better to vouch for the power of art and creativity than Nidhi Mundada, a 26-year-old graphic designer turned entrepreneur who is making heads turn with her exceptional work with her startup Nidhayayadraws. Nidhi has been a graphic designer since 2017.

Launched in March 2020, Nidhayayadraws aims to become a “design hub” that would address all your design related concerns. So, whether it’s marketing, branding, packaging or designing – this brand is a one-stop solution for all your design needs.

An artist is born

Nidhi’s love for art and design dates back to the good old days of childhood when she used to fondly watch her mother and grandmother employ their creative minds in day-to-day life. The seed of creativity was sown in young Nidhi’s impressionable mind.

Nidhi explains “From childhood I knew I wanted to do something related to art & design so I completed my graduation accordingly.”

After her 12th boards, Nidhi joined a degree course in design and then she started working as a full-time graphic designer. Moreover, freelance opportunities began pouring in. Then came the dreadful Covid lockdown, a phase she skillfully utilized to create art and post it on social media.

The next significant step was to learn calligraphy that soon translated to commissioned calligraphy work at the age of 23. The journey from here on was pretty interesting. She also started her own print design on fabric called “pehenav”. Eventually every ounce of her experience and creative potential culminated in the launch of her much-anticipated Venture Pehenav and Nidhayayadraws.

A go-to place for lovers of art and aesthetics

The Pune-based graphic designer has set up her own enterprise to be able to provide a wide range of services in the field of graphic design, calligraphy, handmade resign design, art and resin products, fabric print and also as Penhawa hand illustrator. The products are personalized as per customer requirements which implies that each product is marked by a distinctive appeal and fresh perspective in terms of design, print and calligraphy. The beats print calligraphy and the textile prints are also modified according to the customer’s needs. The startup services are spread all over India and has served more than 500 customers till date.
Nidhi elaborates “Earlier I used to get 2-3 calligraphy letters, now I get more than 15. Even the number of hamper orders has increased”

Designing her own future

Nidhayayadraws is already drawing attention with each of its customized products bearing a touch of the brand’s understated charm and subtle elegance. As mentioned earlier, Nidhayayadraws intends to evolve into a “one stop solution for all design needs”. A design house that’s original and creative and fun – that’s all the brand aspires to be recognized as.

To know more visit – https://www.instagram.com/nidhayayadraws/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/

“I want my home to be that kind of place–a place of sustenance, a place of invitation, a place of welcome.” – Mary DeMuth

Isn’t that what home decor is all about? An attempt to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home so that it turns out to be a place of love, acceptance and peace. In the quest for setting up an abode with a friendly and welcoming vibe, we may seek help from professionals, often at the cost of burning a hole in our pocket. However, with the launch of some brand-new startups, it’s possible to decorate your home exactly the way you want without worrying about unnecessary expenses and substandard quality.

Launched in 2021 by Neha Sharma, INDIEROOTS BY RÉNÉ aims to introduce Indian craftsmanship in home decor by adopting traditional motifs, fabrics and design patterns in the best way possible.

“We started doing market research from March 2021 and then after thorough research and planning we rolled out our products towards the end of the year.” Says the founder.
The brand is not merely a profit-making venture. It is an honest endeavor to promote the immense talent of local artisans and “do something for their long-term economic and health benefits”.

How Neha’s startup sage began

Neha’s love for home interiors and home designing propelled her in the direction of her dreams. The psychology graduate was working in a MNC when she decided to give a shot at her entrepreneurial dream. Thus, at the age of 35, Neha took a daring step. She quit her job and began working towards setting up her startup, INDIEROOTS BY RÉNÉ.

Home decor, the Indian way

INDIEROOTS BY RÉNÉ offers an exclusive range of ethnically sourced and handcrafted home decor items. With hand woven cotton used as the primary fabric, these vibrant, hand block printed bedsheets, pillow covers, rugs, dohars and tablecloths serve as a perfect blend of traditional designs and modern aesthetics. There’s a stamp of Indianness in every product that’s as much evident in the classic design patterns as in the old-school craftsmanship that brings those designs to life.

Be it the intricate jaal print, exquisite kantha embroidery or the stunning block prints, here you’re presented with the finest collection of Indian artistry. In fact, the hand block magic is created by dipping carved-out wooden blocks in the color dye which is again a natural dye and then they are placed on the soft fabric. The soothing color palette and elegant motifs add to the overall charm.

Additionally, the brand is churning out intriguing lamp shades made of hand-woven cotton and adorned with hand block prints. They add pure delight to the living space. The blue pottery lamps with neat free-hand curves and clear brush strokes, depict the mastery of skilled artisans.

From the founder’s perspective

When asked about her startup’s USP, Neha observes “Our designs are truly one-of-a-kind. It’s hard to find them anywhere else. The products are of superior quality and our customers testify to their brilliance. Moreover, what you see on the website is what you get. There’s no difference in appearance. We’ve compared our products with those available in the market and we can say with confidence that ours is much better.”

This Jaipur-based brand has already sold more than 150 orders within a span of 3-4 months. Since it’s an online platform, you can place orders through its website or Instagram page. Shipping is done within two working days.

What’s next for INDIEROOTS BY RÉNÉ?

Neha intends to set up her own unit that will lead to exclusive collaboration between INDIEROOTS BY RÉNÉ and some of the most talented artisans of the country. The wages will be replaced by regular salaries so that they get financial stability along with global recognition. Regarding the brand’s future, Neha says “We want to grow and expand further in order to cement our position as the leading brand for hand printed bedsheets and lampshades.”

To know more visit – https://www.instagram.com/indierootsbyrene/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/