Today we’d like to introduce you to Radhika Saripella.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Radhika. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always been influenced by Mom’s style. She would design and make clothes for me coming from a middle-class family that would cut costa to own something unique and stylish. Love for clothes and fashion started very early. I would design my clothes in college due to a lack of labels or stores for ready-made garments. This passion has been dormant for years while I was raising my kids and running a business in healthcare. It was still alive and glimpses would come out in form of designing for family events and for friends.
With the social media had more exposure and access to labels and textiles, which helped to slowly move towards organic, natural fibers and dyes. And also support homegrown labels from India who believe in sustainability and ethical fashion and deals with handloom and handmade textiles who help in reviving the age-old techniques in weaving. In this process, I met Shoma from 145 east labels through Instagram for her PopUp in Dallas. Which branched out as a collaboration of representing the brand in US. There started my journey as a Fashion Curator, with help and guidance from Shoma I hosted my first Popup in Dallas that led to hosting and promoting handlooms from homegrown labels from India mostly run by women who are passionate with the same ideology I share. Through my IKAPOPUPSTUDIO, I support and encourage handlooms and weavers and helping small businesses to wider audience. And we recently a website IKAPOPUPSTUDIO.com to cater to serve globally.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was not a smooth road to bring in awareness of sustainable and ethically made clothes to the fast fashion trend. Finding the right audience and educating about quality over quantity. And help weaver families back home.
Ika PopUp Studio – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
IKA popup Studio is an online destination for clothing, Jewelry and accessories all under one roof. You will find designer pieces customized and curated by the team to create ready to wear ensemble. We, as a team, collaborate with designers to bring you the best of their collection.
In this process, we hold multiple events a year to bring various labels in the form of a pop-up store. As the name suggests, it’s an instant retail space that opens temporarily to take advantage of the current trends and seasonal collection. We specialize and known for ethically woven handlooms, and very proud to be the face of women-run labels who not only believe in ethical and sustainable fashion but also help destitute women.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Excited for the future, and the doors that have opened to me. I have been fortunate and blessed to have the contacts and trust of these labels to represent me. I still have a long way to go in regards to gaining and sharing knowledge on heritage from weaves and textiles. This is a very vast space to still explore and I am open for this adventure and what it has in store.
Pricing:
- We like to bring in clothing with pocket friendly budget from $15 – $ 300
Contact Info:
- Website: www.IKAPOPUPSTUDIO.com
- Phone: 9729001678
- Email: ikapopupstudio@gmail.com
- Instagram: ikapopupstudio
- Facebook: ikapopupstudio
- Other: Ika Popup Studio
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