7 Prolific Women Share Their Take On Success, Inspiration & #BreakingTheBias

This International Women's Day, some of India's leading ladies—from fashion doyens, sportspersons, Padmashri Awardees to businesswomen—took on the onus to share anecdotes that are all about changing outlooks and gaining a deeper perspective into industries, their culture and coming out stronger through it all. Keep scrolling to read more about their awe-inspiring journey.

The Tale Of Preloved Fashion

“We need to educate Indian fashion consumers on the importance of sustainable and slow fashion. Saritoria is doing exactly this. The biggest wake-up call for me regarding fast fashion was the factor of sheer wastage and pollution. On Women's Day, I would encourage all women entrepreneurs and professionals to #BreakTheBias by letting their work speak for them. Work hard, stay focused and be the best so that your gender does not have to be a topic of discussion,” shares Pernia Qureshi, Co-founder, Saritoria.

Inclusivity & Diversity: Vis-À-Vis Beauty & Aesthetics

“Inspired by the ethos of Millenials and Gen Z’s, at Kaya we believe each one of us is beautiful and each one defines our beauty. Beauty is how you feel, it is who you are. It lies in your confidence, in your humility, your grace, in your actions, your words, it’s in your kindness. To break this everlasting bias, an effort has to be exaggerated in our workplaces wherein we should be mindful of the existing biases and together pull in the right direction with all our might to ensure they chip away day by day, bit by bit,” says Samyukta Ganesh Iyer, Vice President & Head of Marketing, Kaya.

Reigning In The Big Swing

Rina Shah, India's first-ever woman professional polo player shares how it's always been a challenge in our society for sportswomen to be an avid part of a man's world. 

“Polo is still very much a male-dominated sport but by breaking stereotypes at the age of 40, I believe to have paved the way forward for many young women who aspired to enter this field. In one's pursuit to be extraordinary one has to be focused and not be bothered by what others think. I have never given age, gender or society any importance — they have never been barriers for me. Women are much stronger than men if they set their heart into achieving something,” explains Rina.

Of Beauty, Balance & Brilliance

Leading Makeup Artist & Founder of Simply Nam, Namrata Soni, shares, “After completing 21 years in the industry, I am eternally grateful. I am here today because of all the powerful women and some amazing men who have supported and stood by me. Having said that, I am a firm believer in the aspects of transparency not just personally but even when it comes to the segment of conscious beauty. I have always been someone who has held her head up high and distinguished between what is right or wrong, and I aim to continue doing so.”

Artiste’s Bhava, Raga & Taal

“Inspiration is the breath of any artist’s soul. To me, inspiration can come from any of the five senses – sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Bharatanatyam is without doubt India’s most potent expression of soft power. In every nation of the world, the seeds of Bharatanatyam have been sowed and have blossomed and will continue to bloom,” shares Bharatanatyam Dancer & Padmashri Awardee, Geeta Chandran.

She goes on to say, “History has witnessed prima donnas take centre stage when it came to the wondrous expressions of Bharatanatyam. It has been credited as an apt form of artful expression that forever embraces a woman’s awe-inspiring valour.”

Contemporary Fluidity 

“Our designs are deeply inspired from the journey of our travels, combined with a deeper understanding of the consumer’s mind and thought processes. They are an absolute celebration of the women of today and perfectly form the basis of Outhouse’s design aesthetic. While we believe in investing in new trends, our pieces also strike a graceful balance between timeless designs and intricate craftsmanship which are perfectly in sync with the mindful outlook of today’s age. As entrepreneurs, we have always believed in bringing a sense of balance in all facets of life, be it our work or personal life. So, we strongly believe it’s about time that women need to give themselves the power and determine their own choices,” explain Kaabia and Sasha Grewal, Founders, Outhouse Jewellery.

Gin Guzzlin' Frenzy

“With the overarching idea of elevating cocktail culture in India and embracing unconventionality, we saw this as an opportunity to build a truly Indian Gin, one that fits as seamlessly in the colourful and vibrant bars of Goa as it does proudly in the top bars of the world. Therefore, I believe it’s important to find the balance between believing in yourself and your ideas while keeping an open mind and being receptive to alternate perspectives at the same time. India is seeing a slow, yet steady rise in the representation of women in the spirits industry. Rather than exalting the virtues of any particular gender, it is more important than ever to cultivate a respectful, encouraging environment and implement the right values,” concludes Sakshi Saigal, Co-founder, Stranger and Sons Gin.