Daily Inspiration: Meet Archana Kapoor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Archana Kapoor.

Hi Archana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It’s the story of a little girl who loved to dress up! She was always intrigued by colors, fabrics, weaves, prints, patterns, textures, intricate designs  … all throughout her growing years. Her country – India, had so much to offer. The arts, crafts, handlooms, textiles, the colorful and vibrant Indian heritage and culture – all woven into pieces of clothing; different in every hundred kilometers of the saffron land. So much diversity starting from the foothills of the Himalayas to the banks of the Indian Ocean, from the Arabian Sea to the Far East borders of the country! The rich variety of Indian crafts sprung everywhere. The fascinating Indian heritage was entrenched in her and she wanted to grow up and showcase it to the whole world through her eyes. But fate had something else in store for her. She grew up to be a Banker, something she did not anticipate.

Though she took it in her stride, she was also lucky that her job allowed her to travel the world. Each country she visited made her resolve of showcasing the Indian crafts to the world even stronger. Thus, Saffronista was conceived in the little girl’s (Archana) mind decades back but finally came into existence in 2021.  The little girl – Archana Kapoor – worked with Multinational Banks across the globe, got her higher education from INSEAD, moved to the United States after she tied the knot and finally quit her corporate career to go the family way. Being a creative mind and a thinker, she used to pour her thoughts into words very often, also writing a Haiku or two when something of beauty inspired her to do so. Her ever-doting and supportive husband persuaded her to get into Fashion Blogging and Instagramming, which would give her time to care for their little princess as well as keep her meaningfully occupied and happy. One thing led to another, and she finally decided to take the plunge and make her ‘Saffronista’ dream come true.

Saffronista is a coined word – that stands for a fashionista from the Saffron land (India). Saffronista is an upstart, innovative and dynamic – artisan-based fashion and accessories brand. We take pride in working with Indian artisans, weavers and craftsmen, with the objective of reviving and empowering their craft and showcasing it.

Saffronista unveils fresh and classic collections and seasonal new designs throughout the year. Our design and aesthetic sensibility seek inspiration from all walks of life – be it the beauty of nature and heritage in art, architecture and culture, intricate creations and the modern world to the home-bound handloom traditions of India.

Currently, Saffronista is a home-based store that carries artisan-based traditional and fusion women’s clothing and accessories. We participate in local community events to spread the world. we have a Facebook and Instagram page and are working on our website.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road is rarely ever smooth. There were and still are lots of struggles at every step, beginning from helping the artisans source the raw materials at the right prices to marketing the end product at fair prices to the end consumer.

Since the business is US-based, getting the products here from India is a big challenge with respect to the pricing. Being a small business, that is a big factor. Once the products are here and ready for sale, reaching the persons who will truly appreciate them is a huge task. Thankfully Social Media is of great help!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Banker turned blogger who turned into a stay-at-home-mom and eventually became a proud Mompreneur after launching Saffronista.

I worked with many multinational banks in different capacities and finally said goodbye to my corporate career as AVP with CitiBank to become CEO of Drishtique – a Human Resource Consulting Company. In the midst of this all, I managed to get my leadership degree from INSEAD – the Europe-based B-School that was my childhood aspiration.

I am an ambitious and fearless go-getter, detail-conscious, over-thinker, creative and very expressive person – all mingled into one. Though I am an extrovert, I love my me-time and quiet moments to think through every little step of my upcoming plan. People know me as a jovial, helpful, artistic person.

Saffronista was a big dream and whilst the road has been full of obstacles and struggles, it’s been a very enriching journey so far. There’s so much more to achieve and I have miles to go before I sleep.

My personal Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/themrskapoor/
My personal Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/themrskapoor
Website – https://mrskapoor.com/

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Patience is key! Things take time to shape up and materialize. Also, whilst it is very crucial to think through everything, one cannot possibly think of every little obstacle that may present itself. It is important to go ahead and take action instead of waiting for the right moment when everything will fall into place. The right moment is now!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mrskapoor.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saffronista.shop/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Saffronista

Image Credits
Roots2nest Photographs