Detangle by Kinjal
Detangle is a podcast created by health psychologist and writer, Dr Kinjal Goyal. Each episode is a conversation with an expert in their field, as they dive deep into their journerys and experiences. The conversations are full of insight and a great way to hear, first hand, how the mind plays a pivotal role in almost everything that we do. The guests range from doctors, to writers, to those in entertainment and of course, those from mental health fields.
Detangle by Kinjal
Detangle with Ritika Mirchandani
What if navigating the fashion industry could be as fulfilling as it is challenging? Discover insights from Ritika Mirchandani , a celebrated fashion designer who has made her mark from the vibrant streets of Los Angeles to the bustling fashion scene of New York City. Influenced by her designer mother, Ritika takes us through her inspiring journey, sharing how emotions and creativity intertwine in her work. Explore the evolving landscape of Indian fashion, where modern demands meet traditional craftsmanship, and hear firsthand how Ritika balances artistic freedom with the pressures of commercial success.
Join us as we unravel the art of balancing passion and deadline-driven creativity with Ritika. She opens up about overcoming creative blocks and the nuances of the fashion design process, from handling social media influences to embracing the notion that imitation is a form of flattery. Additionally, we delve into the crucial topic of self-care for entrepreneurs, highlighting how small, regular breaks can fuel long-term success and personal well-being. Ritika's candid reflections on her journey offer a window into the life of a creative entrepreneur, making this episode a must-listen for aspiring designers and anyone interested in the fashion world.
Welcome to Detangle, where we untangle the complexities of life one conversation at a time. I'm your host, dr Kinjal Goel, a psychologist and a writer. Our guest today is the fabulous Ritika Mechandani, a true talent in the field of fashion design and a torchbearer for those wanting to follow their heart in the Indian fashion industry. It's a great joy to have Ritika on the show today. Welcome, ritika. Thank you so much for making it on Detangle. Thank you, kinjal. Thank you so much for having me. Well, ritika, we've all seen your designs, but let's get to know you a little personally. First, Tell us about your journey. What were your qualifications before you started your own brand?
Speaker 2:So I went to study in Los Angeles at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise. That's where I got my fashion design degree and I stayed back in the US because I definitely knew I wanted some work experience before I came back. Actually, there was an excuse to also stay back there longer. So I moved to New York right after I graduated, looking for a job, and I first got an internship with quite a well-known fashion designer, cynthia Rowley, who's in downtown New York. An amazing experience, but that was an internship. And after that I went on to work with Ralph Lauren for a couple of months and I finally worked at another company called Wear Me Apparel, which housed Kenneth Cole and certain departments of all of them. Yeah, so after working for a couple of years in New York City, I decided to finally move back. I felt it was time I wanted to start my own brand. So at the age of 26 is when I moved back. And yeah, I started my brand at the age of 27.
Speaker 1:Well, that's really nice that you started, young Ritika. But tell me, how did this interest begin? Did somebody inspire you early on?
Speaker 2:Yeah, my mom, she was a fashion designer and you know, while I grew up I would go to her studio and I always just felt like I was in Wonderland. And that's exactly when I knew that this was it, this is what I knew I was going to do. You know, at age seven you kind of, as a child, know that there's something I need to do in my life and I just knew this was it. And so she definitely was my inspiration, because that's event, that's actually where the seed was planted.
Speaker 1:How beautiful is that. It's so nice to have inspiration coming within the house. I think it's the most beautiful way to blossom. Yeah, it is so, rithika. How do you think fashion is changing in India? How are consumers changing, but what remains the same?
Speaker 2:Fashion has changed so much in the past few years in India. You know India has become one of the fashion hubs in the world. We have come on the map with so many different events and collaborations that have happened over the years, with international designers and Indian designers also showcasing on our international platform, which has increased tremendously over the past few years. So I also think you know accessibility and travel becoming easy and social media having given us all access to everything around the world, I think people are more aware of quality. People are more aware of what they want, because a consumer is more discerning now. They they are looking out for something that they actually know they want instead of trying to find what's out there. So it's changed a lot.
Speaker 2:The demand for quality has definitely risen. People are aware of what they're wearing and consumers, too, are open to experimentation, even though they know what they want. I think the whole process of trying something new is is definitely something that I've seen a lot more of now in these days and um, um. And what remains the same is, you know, the uh demand for heritage, textiles, different craftsmanship, and there is a huge set of people who are still looking for, you know, that craftsmanship of quality and that still remains the same. So, at the end of the day, you have both the worlds existing, but there definitely, you know, a lot has changed, as we can see, over the past few few years, and I think it's going to continue to change.
Speaker 1:It's so beautiful, isn't it? Fashion is ever changing and never changing, and we are right in the center of it.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. You look at fashion 10 years ago and you look at fashion now. I think every decade has brought in something new and the evolution process has been really amazing to watch.
Speaker 1:Beautiful Ritika. Let's talk about emotions and design. Do you see your designs reflecting your current emotional state, or does the process of design change your mood by itself?
Speaker 2:I would actually say both, because there are many times when I am suddenly inspired by something and I flow, and there are many times when I am in distress and I'm trying to design and there's a huge creative block. So emotions definitely play a huge role in any creative field, I feel, because you're actually expressing yourself and based on the emotion, whether it's heightened or whatever it is that you're you're actually expressing yourself and based on the emotion, whether it's heightened or whether, where whatever it is that you're feeling I definitely feel you're either free or restricted in your creative process at that time well, I think that's true.
Speaker 1:You know, for anything. Even when we're trying to write a little note or write a little script, how you're feeling definitely impacts your words. I'm sure it's the same in fashion definitely 100%.
Speaker 2:You know, and learning that over the years to kind of balance the emotions when the deadlines are there, because you have to, you have to get it done at that point. So that also has been a learning process.
Speaker 1:So tell me, what does this creativity actually mean to you? Can you exercise complete creative freedom when designing clothes, or do you need to keep yourself on a short, tight leash so that these products are viable for the market?
Speaker 2:I think it's both. Also, I think you know, sometimes when you're showing on the runway, you have the freedom to do a lot more, but of course, when you're doing things for from a commercial space, you are restricted. You are looking at the consumer, you are looking at, you know, what is trending in the market at the moment and as a brand, we're not. We don't specifically follow any trends, or we I mean I even my design or my creativity process or my design process I have never fitted in a box. It flows as I go and it's pretty much. You know, what I'm feeling at that moment of time is when I'm designing something. It's not a planned process where we have a collection theme or we you know, for to me that becomes a little guarded and I feel like then I'm in a box, so it works. This is just something that works best for me, ritika, when you started off in this field.
Speaker 1:What was your ultimate dream like? What was that pinnacle you wanted to be at? Have you achieved it or are you still working towards it?
Speaker 2:you know, I think your goals and dreams keep changing as you grow, as you, you know, you move on in life and as you hit certain milestones, you start setting the bar higher. So I think, as a child, my dream was to be on the runway for sure, and I have achieved that. But you ask me today, there are so many more aspirations we have as a brand, where we want to go, and I think that will keep changing over the years, based on you know, where we've taken ourselves.
Speaker 1:How nice. I think this is the basic of any brand, of any company that unless you start redefining your goals and reinventing yourself, you start stagnating 100%.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1:Ritika, we can all see how beautifully rewarding it is to be in your line of work, but can you tell me about the stressors to what have been your greatest challenges as a designer and as a business owner?
Speaker 2:There are some, and I think one of them is going through creative blocks, you know, which take me back to the question you had about emotions and design. I think there are times that we face where we have deadlines or you know you have to, you have a show and you need to try, and you're trying to be as creative as possible but you're not flowing or you're not in flow, and overcoming those blocks has been a skill I'm still trying to learn, but you know, your personal life sometimes does affect your emotions, which eventually does have, you know, put you in a place where you're blocked creatively. So that becomes a challenge sometimes, and you know the industry that we work in the fashion industry, timelines and deadlines can get very challenging as a business owner and even when you keep buffers, sometimes it does become a challenge to meet them at times, only because you know work is a lot to do with hand embroidery and handmade. So there are times we face challenges in these aspects.
Speaker 1:Right, I think there are all different kinds of personalities those, those who like to plan, they can really suffer through this. But those who go with the flow are kind of better, because they know this is the only thing we can have for certain, and that is uncertainty absolutely and you know the whole go with the flow aspect.
Speaker 2:I always thought I was going with the flow but giving away the that control of know, the creative control, or where social media is concerned, I found it so difficult for so many years to let go and let you know people who are part of this company do what they're supposed to do, but I would always intervene. I think slowly I've started letting go of it.
Speaker 1:So important though.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So tell me, on a personal level, what is the one fashion mistake you wish people would just stop making?
Speaker 2:leopard print for me, but sorry, I know it's a trending point right now, but from a personal point of view it doesn't do much for me okay, we're to keep it at that.
Speaker 1:So this is a question I have for all the designers that I'm speaking to. Social media has made it possible for you to reach out, your designs are reaching the right customers, but it's also opened up this whole panoramized box of plagiarism, copying, outright stealing of one's intellectual property. Do you face it? I?
Speaker 2:mean, how do you deal with it? No, initially, when that started happening, I would look at it and be like what is wrong with these people? Actually, there was a time when I saw a well-known person on stage wearing one of our outfits, and I think you have to just look at it as a form of flattery, because if someone is trying to do something that you're doing, it speaks about the product that you're creating. So over the years now it doesn't when I see it, we see it a lot, in fact, on social media we get tagged on outfits that are not ours. So now it's, it doesn't bother. You just look at it and smile and say it's something that I mean, pat yourself on the back that someone wants to do the same thing.
Speaker 1:Well, I think they used to say this for Parleji at one point imitation is the highest form of flattery, Of flattery, exactly Lovely. You work with a lot of celebrities for your shows, for your outfits, but who's been the most fun to work with? Any anecdotes?
Speaker 2:They've all been amazing, but because I've worked with Rakul maybe recently more than a couple of times, I think her energy has been amazing and you know her vibe has really worked well and I love how she looks in her clothes. So, yeah, lovely.
Speaker 1:Ritika, do you believe in the power of manifestation? Is there something that you have literally dreamt into reality? Is there something you're currently manifesting?
Speaker 2:yeah, 100%. I definitely believe in the power of manifestation and, you know, I think I have been a dreamer all my life. So I think, by default, from an early age, I was manifesting without no understanding that it was happening. You know, because there are so many things that I had wanted, which you know. Today I'm lucky to say that I have managed to achieve it, but one of one of which was my store. So in one of my other interviews, I had spoken about how I had this picture with me from 2017 and 2018 I can't remember exactly when, but it was basically an image that I found and I printed it out, which was how I wanted my store to be, with a garden outside and these arched walls, and cut to, I think, a couple of years later when I found my space. That's exactly how I managed to have it, and the funny thing is I managed to find a space that had a garden outside it, which is very rare in Bombay, and it's so powerful to believe that this can actually happen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know I didn't have a doubt that it would happen, but it was just as I said. You know, the process of it is so important Just being involved in the process of, you know, evolving yourself, your brand and everything around you so you eventually start becoming a bit of a match to what you're aspiring.
Speaker 1:How beautifully said. Let me ask you a fun one, ritika. If you had to give some advice to your 12 year old self, what would it be?
Speaker 2:oh, there's actually so much I would tell my 12 year old self, but I think, um, one important thing that I think I would tell myself would be that we need to love and accept all parts of ourselves, that sense of duality and understanding, that we need to make space for the good, the bad, the ugly, because, at the end of the day, these are just words we've defined them with, and that acceptance is so important, I feel, which, for me, started happening only a few years ago, and I mean the other thing I would tell myself is to chill and enjoy the process because, you know, from that age on, I think, as we grow, we get, so, you know, bound to outcomes and attached to you know the results yeah, the outcomes and everything that you know.
Speaker 2:We lose sight of the whole process, which is where the growth happens and which is where the most beautiful part of it all is it's so beautifully said.
Speaker 1:You know, I had read somewhere recently that your compassion is incomplete if it doesn't include you 100%, and that's so true.
Speaker 2:You know it's always going to be incomplete if it doesn't include you wonderful.
Speaker 1:So let me ask you a question, ritika, that I ask all my guests. It's one of my favorite questions on this show. You're aware of a physical first aid box right, the one we keep at home for minor cuts and bruises. We'll keep some band-aids, painkillers, whatever it takes, you know, for those little things. But what if I were to ask you to keep an emotional first aid box at home, something that you can open on a bad day when you're feeling low, and something which would make you immediately happy? What would you put in it?
Speaker 2:I would put my puppy Ziggy. Oh, I would. Yeah, I would obviously put in some dark chocolate. I would put in a letter to myself and I would a letter that would sound uplifting to me and as a reminder.
Speaker 1:Wow. So not just an emotional first aid box, you've also made a time capsule. I love the sound of this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because I think you know sometimes we, if that first aid box, my mental first aid box, was there, I would obviously reach out to it when I needed it and I would write things that I would need to hear the most at that time.
Speaker 1:How nice I'm loving this. You love yourself, you have to take care of yourself, you have to pick up yourself and you have to be there for yourself. It's so complete.
Speaker 2:That is so important at the end of the day.
Speaker 1:Okay, Ritika, I'm taking you into the rapid fire round now. Answer rapid. There are no retakes on this one, just tell me what you feel, Okay.
Speaker 2:What's your favorite?
Speaker 1:book the alchemist. Okay, your favorite movie character lovely. Your biggest pet peeve cockroaches. What do you prefer, the business side of work or the creative side? Creative side, your most prized position my puppy ziggy oh, that was so nice. Thank you so much. Okay now, before we come to the closing comments, ritika, is there anything that you want to ask me as a psychologist?
Speaker 2:how do you, how would you suggest you know um tips for entrepreneurs who may have low times in their business and high times, and how to cope with the ups and downs that come. I think that is so important for people to get insight from someone in that field.
Speaker 1:Well, to begin with, I really believe in micro vacations and in taking little breaks so that burnout doesn't occur. What is happening right now in the entrepreneurial space is that people work hard, but they work so hard to achieve at least one bit of their goal and then they say, oh, now we'll party harder. But that doesn't work because in case you don't hit your goal, or in case your deadline isn't met or your client isn't happy, it's going to bring a crash with it. Instead of that, if you know you can take a couple of days off in the middle of the week, maybe a weekend, or maybe just an evening off, even on a working day. Treat yourself to something nice, remember why you're on this path and do something nice along the way. The crash is not so intense. That helps a lot of entrepreneurs stay on their path longer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just balancing it out in certain ways instead of you know, going for it longer periods of time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and a lot of people want to now, just you know, take long vacations at the end of six months. Save for it, do it. I say it's not as effective as the little breaks. Take a midweek break if you need to Go to the spa, if you need to go to the spa, if you have to read when you want to. But be nice to yourself every day, not just on those special designated days.
Speaker 1:How lovely that sounds great and sound advice well, it's been so lovely talking to you, ritika. I have always loved your designs. I've been a fan of yours forever so much for having me no, it's been amazing.
Speaker 1:I mean, thank you for sharing your journey with us. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, thank you for sharing all your ups and downs with us, and I'm sure there's going to be an episode which a lot of people want to listen to, because they've seen the power and the beauty of your designs and now they want to know the real ritika. So thank you so much, thank you thank you so much.
