Meet Vasudha Pradhan

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vasudha Pradhan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vasudha below.

Vasudha, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

My family, especially my children, are my biggest source of inspiration and resilience. Seeing them grow and thrive motivates me to keep pushing forward. Also, for me, resilience is about mindset and perspective. I focus on finding solutions rather than getting bogged down by problems. Self-care, exercise, and mindfulness practices also help me stay grounded and focused. I believe that resilience is not just about bouncing back, but also about growing and learning from our experiences. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth and self-improvement.” I prioritize self-care and make time for activities that nourish my mind, body, and soul. This helps me maintain my energy and resilience, even in the face of challenges. As a woman entrepreneur, I’ve faced my share of obstacles. But I’ve learned to turn those challenges into fuel for my passion and determination. I hope to inspire other women to do the same.” I’ve learned to be kind to myself and acknowledge that it’s okay to not be okay. By practicing self-compassion and taking breaks when needed, I’m able to recharge and come back stronger.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Hello dearest readers! I’m thrilled to introduce you to The Alankaran, a new and exciting clothing and apparel brand that brings a unique blend of tradition to your wardrobe. At The Alankaran, we believe in celebrating the rich cultural heritage through our designs while ensuring they resonate with contemporary fashion trends.

What excites us the most about The Alankaran:
Our commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Each piece is thoughtfully designed and meticulously crafted to offer not just clothing, but an experience. Our collections feature a variety of styles, of elegant traditional wear ranges from sarees to lehnga, suits, and various fashion accessories including jewelries, purses and clutches. We have something for everyone.

What’s special about The Alankaran:
It is our dedication to sustainability and ethical practices. We source our materials responsibly and work with artisans who are paid fairly for their incredible skills. This not only helps preserve traditional crafts but also supports local communities.

What’s new at The Alankaran?
We’re excited to announce the launch of our latest collection, which features vibrant colors and intricate patterns inspired by various cultural motifs. Additionally, we’re expanding our reach with a new online store @shopify “thealankaran.com, making it easier for you to explore and purchase our products from the comfort of your home.

Thank you so much for your interest in The Alankaran. We invite you to join us on this journey of celebrating culture through fashion. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting launches!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Reflecting on the journey of building The Alankaran, three key qualities and skills stand out as particularly impactful:
1.Creativity and Vision:
The ability to envision unique designs and translate cultural inspirations into a wearable art has been crucial. I would elaborate this by sharing my own experience. During pandemic we all had faced a stage where we had limited resources and even when we all were working from home, we wanted to look presentable but couldn’t go and shop clothes. There is always a silver line in the dark sky and hence, we should always celebrate differences and use them as a strength to bring diverse perspective. Being the only one in the room has taught me to own my uniqueness and allowed me to stand out and make a meaningful impact. That point of time, I got the idea of mixing and matching of existing clothes in the wardrobe. I experimented by wearing them in various styles, adding versatility, and making the style a statement. Since then, I started my own fashion-related Instagram account and shared idea which people really liked a lot. That is where I got the vision to start my own venture, “The Alankaran”. I started displaying my clothes in various exhibitions. I used to share ideas about different fabrics and embroideries and provided them information about how you can style a simple garment in casual, formal, and party wear way. People liked this style of mine very much. I also introduced people to Indian culture and heritage. I made a small effort and added some creativity to make people aware of sustainable fashion through my brand. Being creative meant, I had to utilize, style, and present things in such a way that becomes more versatile and still affordable. When, I sell things, I not only sell the product, but I sell the idea as well. If someone can’t afford it, I try to make things affordable for them by adding some creativity so that they need not to spend beyond their limit and still can have that style. Similarly, I help my customer who can’t have a particular clothing or style due to restriction of body size or type because should not have any boundaries. I have really helped many such people by just not altering the cloth size but making it wearable by adding creativeness.

2. Attention to Detail: From verifying the quality of materials to the intricacy of designs, I pay attention to the finer details to ensures that each piece meets high standards. This not only enhances the product but also builds trust with your customers. I satisfy myself by checking the quality before selling. If I don’t do that I can’t convince and satisfy my customers. Not only that, I never forget to provide the instructions to my customers about how to take care of the cloths so that it can last longer.

3. Business Acumen: Understanding the market, managing finances, and strategizing for growth are essential for sustaining and expanding your business. This includes pricing strategies, marketing the product, and how to get more and more customer engagement. For beginners, I would recommend taking courses in business management and seeking advice and learn from experienced entrepreneurs.

Advice for those early in their journey:
• The fashion industry is ever evolving and hence, being curious and desire to learn new trends, technologies, customers’ demand are utmost important.
• Building relationships with other designers, artisans, and business professionals can provide valuable insights and opportunities. Hence, it is advisable to have a good networking and collaborative ability.
• Be Resilient and Adaptable: Challenges are inevitable. Being able to adapt and persevere through setbacks is key to long-term success. Remember, every step of your journey is a learning experience. Embrace it with passion and dedication!

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

As a mom entrepreneur, the past 12 months might have brought unique challenges and growth opportunities. Here are some key areas where I have seen significant improvement in myself.
1. Focused on building a strong support network is a fantastic goal for any mom entrepreneur. Here are some strategies to help you strengthen your support network:
A. Attend Networking Events: I have Participated in many networking events, mainly the in-person one. This helped to meet other entrepreneurs and potential mentors. Also, the part of these events were exhibitions where I was able to display my stuff which eventually helped getting me more business. Moreover, these events helped me getting to know need of the market from the experience of many new customers who I got to meet and talk in person in such events. I came across some ideas during these events and I was able to fulfil what those customers wanted. Most importantly, in such events you build connections and learn from others’ experiences.
B. Leverage social media: Use platforms like What’s-app for business, Facebook, and Instagram to connect with other mom entrepreneurs. Engage in relevant groups, follow industry leaders, and participate in discussions to expand your network. I want to elaborate by telling how much related it was for me. I have 2 Insta handles, one is dedicated to my business “The Alankarn”, and the other where I do promotion for other brands as well. I used my both Insta platforms, What’s app, and Facebook to advertise my business and to be honest it was super helpful growing my business. Especially, getting the reach from people or customers who were not local to the town.
C. Family and Friends: Don’t underestimate the importance of your personal network. Family and friends can offer emotional support, help with childcare, and even provide business advice. There was time when it was difficult to manage yourself and I felt overwhelmed at times, I got help form my family in every possible way. The support is not necessarily be physical, but sometimes it is just a cup of tea which help getting you relaxed after a tiring day. It could also be emotional when you had a bad day at business, and you need emotional support and motivation. It could also be very helpful when you can’t avoid something like illness and there is someone who can take your responsibilities for the time being.
2. Flexibility and Adaptability: Be More Considerate and flexible, and Capability to Adapt quickly: Learning to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, whether it’s managing remote schooling for kids or pivoting business strategies in response to market changes. Like me, there are many moms who are often unable to pay attention to their own needs because of balancing family and work. In this way, provided the facility of home delivery or accepted appointment at odd times like after working hours or Saturday-Sunday so that working women can also shop as per their convenience. It happens many times that people want to buy something but get confused. In such a case I provide them styling consultation which makes it easier for them to make their selection. In the last 12 months, I understood that when people are short of time, it is the best scenario that they can get both clothes and accessories at one place. Even better when they come to buy something for themselves, and they can also get things for their kids and husband at the same place like one stop shop for everything and everyone. This will save both time and energy and shopping will become easier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thealankaran.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glamour_n_grace_by_vasudha?igsh=MWhsZmc3dmIyOXluaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: The_Alankaran

Image Credits

P.C. My husband Varun Jain, PhD.