Meet Tina Bhardwaj

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tina Bhardwaj a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tina, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I’m an Indian fashion designer living and working in Silicon Valley—needless to say, there aren’t many rooms here where someone like me is at the table. But I’ve come to see that as less of a roadblock, and more of an opportunity.

Of course, breaking into spaces where no one shares your background—or your profession, your aesthetics, your lived experience—can feel isolating. It’s harder to find belonging when you’re a lone ranger. But instead of letting that discourage me, I began to view it as a gap waiting to be filled.

I realized that the skill I bring—deep cultural fluency in Indian fashion, paired with a global design perspective—isn’t just rare. It’s powerful. I started out styling women from the Indian diaspora because that was the world I came from. But the more I entered new rooms and connected with women from different industries and backgrounds, the more I realized: corporate styling for women is my calling—no matter their ethnicity or age.

Women in leadership want to show up powerfully without losing who they are. They want a style that feels like them—grounded, expressive, commanding—and sometimes, they just need a little help finding it.

If I hadn’t been in rooms that didn’t look like me, I may have never refined my offerings or discovered how universal this need is. Being the only one in the room taught me to double down on what makes me different. And now I use that difference to help other women own theirs.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the founder of LadyTin, a multi-vertical fashion brand born from my desire to bring intention, identity, and storytelling back into the way women dress.

LadyTin currently has four verticals:

LadyTin Styles – a premium personal styling service designed for women who are building a life, a legacy, and a wardrobe to match.

LadyTin Weddings – a bespoke wedding styling service that blends culture, couture, and personal connection for South Asian and multicultural couples.

LadyTin Studio – our curated trunk shows and retail pop-ups that bring independent South Asian designers to the U.S.

And most recently, LadyTin Label – my own ready-to-wear fashion line rooted in Indian craftsmanship, reimagined for a global audience.

What’s most special to me about this work is that it’s not just about fashion—it’s about helping women show up as their most powerful, authentic selves. Whether I’m dressing a corporate leader for a high-stakes keynote or styling a bride for her most sacred moments, my mission is to make sure what they wear reflects who they are and where they’re going.

This year, I soft-launched LadyTin Label with a runway show where some of the Bay Area’s most inspiring executive women walked the ramp. It was a full-circle moment—women in leadership, wearing pieces that honored their culture while owning their presence.

I’m now gearing up for the hard launch of LadyTin Label in January 2026, and I’m also excited to take on more corporate styling projects with women who are redefining leadership and visibility on their own terms.

If there’s one thing I want readers to remember, it’s this:
Style isn’t about changing who you are—it’s about coming home to yourself.
And that’s the heart of everything I do.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

That’s a great question—and a reflective one.

1. Deep Technical Knowledge of Garment Construction:
One of the strongest foundations I have is my hands-on training in fashion design. I spent four years studying sketching, pattern-making, draping, cutting, and stitching—which gave me not just an eye for design but an engineering-level understanding of how clothes are built. I know how a fabric will fall, how a dart or a panel will shift the silhouette, and how a pattern can completely transform how a garment fits a particular body type.
This isn’t just helpful for designing my label—it’s been a game-changer in styling. Because I’m not guessing; I’m solving with intention. My advice? Invest in the fundamentals. The deeper your skill, the more unique your solutions.

2. A Problem-Solving Mindset (Thanks, Science & Math):
Before design school, I studied science, math, and computer science—and while it may seem unrelated, it shaped the way I think. I’m a designer, yes—but I approach problems like an analyst. From streamlining my services to designing client workflows, or even scaling my business, I rely on structure, logic, and clarity.
So if you’re starting out, know this: Creativity doesn’t have to come at the cost of logic. Your left brain can be your biggest ally.

3. Emotional Intelligence & People Skills:
While I didn’t “study” this formally, my ability to connect with people has been the most powerful (and human) part of my journey. Whether I’m styling a bride, guiding a corporate client through a style transformation, or building a team—I lead with empathy.
This emotional intelligence has helped me navigate change, read people’s energy, and truly understand what confidence means to them. If I had one tip, it would be this: People don’t just remember what you said or did—they remember how you made them feel.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Absolutely! I deeply believe in the power of collaboration—especially when it’s value-aligned and rooted in storytelling, community, and impact. I’m currently looking to partner with:

Corporate leaders and organizations—especially companies like Salesforce that host large-scale annual conferences where leaders represent the brand on stage. I’d love to style and support the women who are shaping industries and inspiring audiences, helping them show up as their most confident, authentic selves through wardrobe choices that reflect their voice and vision.

South Asian or multicultural brands seeking authentic representation and meaningful storytelling through fashion.

Media platforms, stylists, designers, and event planners who share a similar commitment to cultural sustainability, heritage-inspired fashion, and women-led narratives.

Nonprofits and community-led platforms that uplift women and girls, especially in the areas of education, leadership, and confidence-building.

📩 You can reach me at [email protected]
or connect via Instagram @ladytin.styles
.
Let’s create something powerful, personal, and beautiful—together.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Working hard in 2024: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move