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A sixth-grade social science textbook that I read described India as a piece of fabric, with countless threads coloured in a myriad of majestic shades, woven together. This metaphor holds exceptionally well when put into the context of our <keyword id="22706215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-industry" source="keywords">handloom industry</keyword>. India has a rich history of handlooms and weaving cultures. The culture of handlooms is so intricately woven into Indian culture, that there are whole towns dedicated to the same: <keyword id="248532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chanderi" source="Orion">Chanderi</keyword> in Madhya Pradesh to Pochampally in Telangana and a dozen more! Unfortunately, the handloom industry in India is dying. The struggle is multi-faceted, ranging from a declining workforce to fierce competition from <keyword id="20496028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-looms" source="keywords">power looms</keyword>. Hence, five years ago, August 7 was proclaimed <keyword id="22677698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Handloom-Day" source="keywords">National Handloom Day</keyword> in response to this crisis and to heighten public awareness. This date holds special historical significance, commemorating the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—a pivotal act of defiance against British colonial rule. <h2>When did this industry come into existence?</h2>According to archaeological findings, the origins of handloom in the Indian subcontinent may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mughal Empire was known to support and patronise <keyword id="20258864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weavers" source="keywords">weavers</keyword>. The support from the royal patrons resulted in the invention of new textiles such as ‘Mulmul’ and ‘Banarasi Brocade’ among others. This era witnessed a heightened worldwide demand for Indian textiles. In the 17th century, India produced 25% of the world’s textiles, with Bengal accounting for more than 50% of textiles and 80% of silks imported by the Dutch from Asia. <h2>What led to the decline of the <keyword id="19934660" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-handloom" source="keywords">Indian handloom</keyword>?</h2>The East India Company's entry fuelled the industry's initial decline, which started in the 1830s. The weavers were obliged to sell only to the British, and that too at exceedingly cheap prices, virtually putting them out of business. On the other hand, Indian cloth was taxed excessively to promote machine-made British clothing. The Industrial Revolution in Britain strengthened their indigenous textile industry, giving rise to new markets for cheaper textiles. In India, the collapse of the Mughal aristocracies meant no access to royal patronage. As a result, textiles like Khadi and muslin had little demand in the market. Circling back to the present, the industry is facing both similar and new challenges. Fabrics made on power looms are cheaper and faster to produce, in comparison to handloom fabrics. The industry is largely unorganised, and the wages are shockingly low. 67% of <keyword id="22706216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-workers" source="keywords">handloom workers</keyword> are earning less than the minimum wage every month. Faced with economic challenges, the older artisans are thus forced to encourage the newer generation to choose an alternative career path. This migration of the workforce from a traditional sector is evident from the fall in the number of weavers less than 35 years of age- from 26.13 lakh in 2009-10 to 16.07 lakh in 2019-20. The majority of weavers do not have access to banking facilities, let alone institutional credit. Furthermore, if one manages to accumulate credit, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand forces due to the lack of awareness about handwoven textiles in the current generation. <h2>Initiatives for revival</h2>The cultural significance of the Indian handloom isn’t just limited to its beauty and extravagance, but it extends to our independence struggle as well. The Swadeshi movement immortalised the charkha and advocated for the use of indigenous goods. Following independence, the Indian government took many measures to revive the handloom industry. In 1953, India’s Parliament approved the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act. In 1955, the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was formed to promote the sale of fabrics produced by handloom cooperatives across India. The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) aimed to provide financial assistance for marketing and production. The Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme offers health and life insurance to weavers, to ensure social security. The organisation commenced a fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, and will conclude on 16th August 2024. The Handloom Mark scheme was introduced to authenticate handloom products, thus enabling weavers to gain better market access and ensuring that consumers get genuine products. Moreover, the India Trade Portal also mentions that the GOI plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore to at least 10,000 handlooms. Various state governments also regularly conduct handloom expos and fairs, providing platforms for weavers to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers. <h2>Contemporary Brands and their love for Indian handloom</h2>Modern, popular designers such as <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword> and <keyword id="21493890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="keywords">Ritu Kumar</keyword> are known to work closely with weavers and have been doing their part by bringing worldwide attention to the handloom industries. Recently, <keyword id="1472101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajrakh" source="Orion">Ajrakh</keyword> was brought into the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Ajrakh saree to Joy Awards in Riyadh. However, it’s not just the fashion moguls who are working towards the revival of this industry. Contemporary indie brands are partnering with local weavers, and creating awareness about their work. The emergence of such indie brands and their association with local artisans is beneficial for both entities. For instance, Joskai Studio derives its name from ‘Joskai’, a woven piece of cloth worn as a part of the traditional costume of the Tiwa community of Assam. They work with artisans in northeast India, specifically from the weaving village of Saualkuchi in Assam. Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan is a Kerala-based brand that works strictly with weavers from Kerala, specifically Chendamangalam and Kuthampally. <h2>Employment and Exports</h2>According to the Indian Trade Portal, the Indian handloom sector is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture in rural areas. The Handloom Census 2019-20 mentions that the industry employs about 35,22,512 workers across the country, with women forming 77.29% of the workforce. India is the second largest exporter of handloom products in the world, with exports valued at $ 353.9 million in 2017- 18, as per EXIM bank's working papers. The major handloom export centres are Karur, Panipat, Varanasi and Kannur where handloom products like bed linen, table linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, and embroidered textile materials and curtains etc. are produced for export markets. During April 2021-February 2022, India exported handloom products worth 1693 crore, as per Indian Trade Portal. Indian silk scarves also form a sizable chunk of total handloom exports, in addition to home textiles like carpets, rugs and mats, which constitute over 13.6% of India’s total handloom exports. <h2>The Path Forward</h2>The mere existence of organisations and allocation of funds isn’t enough to sustain the legacy of India’s rich handloom industry. Big corporations working with local weavers ensure employment but don't protect them from exploitation and meagre wages, leaving them vulnerable. The people in power ought to come up with strategies that ensure the trickle-down effect of the schemes and funds. The new generation of buyers has a greater purchasing power than the one before them. Marketing focused on bringing Indian handloom practices into the limelight can do wonders in this case.

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

<ul><li>Aditya Birla Fashion &amp; Retail (ABFRL) recently bought Reebok’s India operations and brands like the House of Masaba.</li><li>Now, the company says that it will set up a new subsidiary that will directly sell to the consumer (D2C) the way Thrasio, Mensa and 10Club do.</li><li>Shares of ABFRL have surged 76% in the last one year.</li><li>The story has been corrected to reflect that the new D2C unit will not be a marketplace like Ajio or Tata Cliq, as mentioned earlier.</li></ul>After a series of partnerships with some of India’s top designers of ethnic fashion like Shantanu &amp; Nikhil, Tarun Tahiliani, <keyword id="667" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="Orion">Ritu Kumar</keyword> and <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword>, <keyword id="3378227" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aditya-birla-fashion-and-retail" source="Orion">Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail</keyword> (ABFRL) is preparing to go directly to the consumer. The company has said that the new entity will build “a portfolio of distinct, new-age, digital brands across categories in fashion, beauty and other allied lifestyle segments” Kumar Mangalam Birla, one of India’s top billionaires with a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/aayushipratap/2022/02/03/indian-billionaire-gautam-adani-becomes-asias-richest-person/?sh=7e7df8744d92">net worth of $90 billion</a>, is ready to take the next big stride into online retail. The board of ABFRL has approved the setting up of a new D2C subsidiary. The retailer has had a bunch of brands for a while but in the last two years, it’s been busy stacking up outfits from some of the top designers of wedding attire. Birla’s recent pacts with designers of ethnic wear <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Acquisition year </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Company </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">% stake in acquired firm </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">June 2019 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Jaypore &amp; TG Apparel &amp; Décor </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">100% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">July 2019 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Shantanu &amp; Nikhil (S&amp;N) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">51% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">July 2019 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Finesse Designs </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">51% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">January 2021 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Sabyasachi </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">51% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">February 2021 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Tarun Tahiliani </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">33.5% </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table> <keyword id="13104055" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="what-is-d2c" source="Orion">What is D2C</keyword>? Direct to consumer is when a brand sells their products directly to consumers without selling through any third party retailers, wholesalers etc. Some of the popular D2C brands in the market are MyGlamm, Mamaearth, Wow Skin Science, BoAT, and Go Noise and the number of these brands in India has more than doubled in the last two years, according to consulting firm Bain and Company. Platforms selling D2C brands include Meesho, Tata Cliq, Myntra, Nykaa and Ajio. However, ABFRL’s business model will be similar to the New York-based e-commerce player Thrasio, which acquires small merchants and brands listed on Amazon marketplace. Thrasio has acquired more than 100 third party sellers or fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) businesses and is valued at $6 billion. Indian players like 10Club, Mensa Brands (founded by Myntra's former CEO Ananth Narayanan) and GlobalBees (founded by FirstCry founder Supam Maheshwari and Edelweiss' former executive Nitin Agarwal) have garnered the interest of investors. Notably, Mensa Brands is the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/former-myntra-ceo-started-mensa-brand-in-may-and-its-already-worth-a-billion-dollars-with/amp_articleshow/87735832.cms">youngest Indian startup</a> to be valued over a billion dollars and 10Club raised the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/bhavna-suresh-has-closed-indias-largest-seed-round-for-her-nine-month-old-startup-10club/amp_articleshow/83978841.cms">largest seed round</a> in Asia, last year. Even Thrasio is not willing to let go off this opportunity. The company will be looking to invest <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-aggregator-thrasio-will-invest-half-a-billion-dollars-in-buying-indian-brands/amp_articleshow/88894791.cms">half a billion dollars</a> in the Indian market over the next few years. The combined revenue of all D2C retailers in India was $3 billion in 2020, and is likely to be $35 billion by 2025, according to a recent report by O3 Capital. However, ABFRL’s statement pegged the D2C opportunity at a whopping $100 billion by 2025. <div type="image" title="aditya birla fashion stocks" height="900" width="1200" msid="89347682" hostid="261"></div>Now, ABFRL has been selling fashion brands like Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Peter England and many others through over 3,000 stores, for a while now. More recently ⁠— aside from the a series of pacts with makers of top dollar designer outfits ⁠— the company has also bought a <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/fashion-/-cosmetics-/-jewellery/aditya-birla-fashion-to-buy-51-stake-in-masaba/articleshow/88892651.cms">51% stake in House of Masaba</a> (a clothing and cosmetics brand), and sportswear brand Reebok’s India operations. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Categories </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Brands sold by Aditya Birla Fashions </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Luxury </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">The Collective, Ralph Lauren, Shantanu &amp; Nikhil, Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Super Premium </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Simon Carter, Hackett, Ted Baker, Jaypore, Polo </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Premium </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Louis Philippe, Allen Solly, VanHeusen, American Eagle </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Sub-premium </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Peter England, Forever 21 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Value </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Pantaloons, People </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Mass </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Style Up </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table>With this business proposition, Aditya Birla is looking to mint money out of the extensive ecommerce offerings created by Jeff Bezos through Amazon, Walmart through Flipkart, Mukesh Ambani and the Tata Group. Birla will use brands like these to sell the D2C brands it acquires to sell online. Ambani’s Reliance Retail has also been making big investments in e-tail including Ajio, a six-year old online marketplace that makes a bulk of its revenue from sale of fashion clothing. Tata’s product is called Tata Cliq, which sells products from Westside, Shoppersstop and other brands. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/textile-cigarette-metal-and-electric-batteries-sectors-stocks-up-budget-day/articleshow/89346157.cms">Textile, cigarette makers and others sector stocks that rallied since budget speech</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/gautam-adani-and-mukesh-ambani-are-now-richer-than-facebooks-mark-zuckerberg/slidelist/89338118.cms">Forbes shows Adani and Ambani are now richer than Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg</a>

Birla has the best wedding suits stacked up and he wants them displayed on your phone

Online fashion rental platform Flyrobe has raised around $1.7million in seed funding led by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sequoia+Capital&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Sequoia Capital</a>. The deal was closed last year and the official announcement is expected to be made later this month. 
 
Biggies from the startup industry including <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Snapdeal&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Snapdeal</a> founders <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Rohit+Bansal+&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Rohit Bansal </a>and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kunal+Bahl&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Kunal Bahl</a>, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=FreeCharge&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">FreeCharge</a> founders Sandeep Tandon and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kunal+Shah&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Kunal Shah</a> invested in this round. The filings show Zishaan Hayath, co-founder of Powai Lake Ventures, and Abhishek Jain, former associate director at Temasek Holdings Advisors India were the other investors 
. 
What’s so special? Mumbai-based Flyrobe is an on-demand apparel rental platform that offers premium designer wear and branded outfits on rent. The company has joined hands with designer labels like Outhouse, Masaba Gupta, <keyword id="667" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ritu-Kumar">Ritu Kumar</keyword> and Shehla Khan. 
 
Who are these people? 
Omapal Technologies, the company that runs Flyrobe was founded in September 2015 by IIT Bombay alumni Shreya Mishra, Pranay Surana and Tushar Saxena. The founders – Sh 
reya Mishra, Pranay Surana, and Tushar Saxena have come together over the belief that ‘shared economy’ in fashion can work wonders. 
 
Before starting Flyrobe, Mishra was working as an analyst with Everstone Capital, Surana has earlier worked as a senior analyst at Deutsche Bank and Saxena was earlier chief technology officer at Triptainment Technologies. 
 
Troubled times for Sector 
The apparel rental space has been facing tough times recently. Ethnic market-place, Craftsvilla <a href="http://www.vccircle.com/news/technology/2016/04/28/ethnic-products-marketplace-craftsvilla-buys-clothing-rental-startup" target="_blank">acqui-hired</a> women clothing rental platform F2SO4 and Bangalore-based online apparel rental platform Klozee <a href="http://techcircle.vccircle.com/2016/05/13/online-apparel-rental-platform-klozee-shuts-down-co-founders-join-livspace/" target="_blank">closed</a> operations. 
 
Others startups operating in this space include Revamp My Closet, which was also recently acqui-hired by Spoyl, another online platform. 
 
Big Money to be made, apparently 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=PricewaterhouseCoopers&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">PricewaterhouseCoopers</a> estimates the global sharing economy will grow from $15 billion today to $335 billion by 2025. However, its yet to pick up big time when it comes to apparel. Transportation, accommodation, and food and beverages sectors are doing better. 
 
Flyrobe estimates the fashion rental market, including western and ethnic wear is worth $4-5 billion today. 
 
Rental economy picking up? 
In India, the idea of rented apparel has been reserved to graduation, fancy dress competitions and theme parties. 
 
However, as large scale immigration to bigger cities across the country picks up, investor interest too is growing. Back in November, furniture rental company <a href="https://www.rentomojo.com/" target="_blank">RentoMojo</a> raised $2 million in funding and Klozee raised a seed round from TracxnLabs and angels in August. 
 
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo/51891607.cms">Image Source</a>

This unique online apparel rental
portal just raised one of the largest funding rounds in recent times

India’s flourishing start-up culture implies people here are increasingly interested in starting their own venture. But most of them accept defeat even before starting one. “Where am I going to get the funds from?” – the thought plagues their minds and keeps them away from taking that giant leap. Leaving a stable, secure and smooth life in service to jump into a risky business affair is not an easy decision after all. Lack of funds, therefore, is the plight of every new kid on the block wanting to foray into the world of <keyword id="428085" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="start-ups">start-ups</keyword>, more so in India. 
 
With no social security like in the US, difficulty to get loans from banks until one has collateral and with venture capitalists not ready to invest less than Rs 7-8 million, where can Indian start-ups today raise money from? 
 
The answer is: Angel investors or angels as they are better known as. A group of angels invest nearly 2-3 crore in a start-up if they see potential and future proposition in their business plan. 
 But it’s not that simple is what we realized after talking to one of India’s first angels and now a key player in the entrepreneurial eco system, <keyword id="164919" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Padmaja-Ruparel">Padmaja Ruparel</keyword>. 
 
 She is the first to have set up an angel network in India, which is now called the <keyword id="328347" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Angel-Network">Indian Angel Network</keyword>. It comprises over 350 investors including the who's who of successful entrepreneurs and dynamic CEOs from India and overseas who bet their money on start-ups. She claims of having invested in 20 start-ups out of which merely 2 have failed so far. Business Insider spoke to Padmaja to bring you five things angel investors look for in start-ups before parking their money in them. Here's what they are: 
 
MASS APPEAL OR NICHE? 
 An angel investor is more likely to invest in your company if you are a <keyword id="6357823" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Big-Bazaar">Big Bazaar</keyword> than a <keyword id="667" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ritu-Kumar">Ritu Kumar</keyword> sort of fashion label. That means companies catering to large and high growth market are what angel investors look at, because mass appeal equals to high returns. 
 
“We look at need value over aspiration value. So start-ups catering to the needs of large section of people would be our choice over those who are targeting a niche segment and are more of aspiration value to masses,” says Ruparel. 
 
INNOVATION 
 
Innovation attracts angel investors for sure – be it a product design innovation, improvement in a current product’s performance, in its delivery system or a complete new innovation in what you have for your target audience. It should be a crucial innovation that either solves your customer’s pain point, makes things easier for them or gives them a new experience altogether. 
 
“When mobile phones came, they corrected the reception quality of landline phones and also helped people in moving around easily while talking. It was not only improvement but also value addition for customers. Another example is companies today have outsourced several business processes to BPOs. These third party service providers have created that space for themselves. So, innovation either needs to be something different or a business done differently,” explains Ruparel. 
 
FOCUS ON SETTING UP BUSINESS OR RAISING MONEY? 
 
If you want to build and run a successful business, an angel investor is interested in you, however, it’s not if you simply aim to raise money from them. 
 
“Raising money should be one of the milestones in your journey to establishing a full-fledged business. Only then will investors, who are themselves at high-risk in investing in start-ups, come to you,” says Ruparel. 
 
IDENTITY, OBJECTIVE AND A CLEAR BUSINESS PLAN 
 
Get your basics clear if you seek angel investment. So before pitching, ask yourself “am I a product or a service, what is my differentiator in the market, who is my competition, who is my target audience, am I addressing a pain point of the target customers or am I adding value, what’s is my business proposition.” If you have clear-cut answers to these questions, you are in! 
 
TALENT 
 
A talented and passionate team to drive your start up and make it a success – this is one of the most crucial things you need to impress angels. Ruparel says 75 per cent of her evaluation is usually on the talent of the team and their ability to pull off the plan. 
 
“Start-ups don’t have a large team. The small pool of resource that they have needs to be a talented lot. It’s tricky because talent comes with money and start-ups don’t have the money. That’s a challenge but if you can work it out, you are good to go,” says Ruparel. 
 
“I’d personally prefer an A grade team with a B grade business idea than a B grade team with an A grade idea, because great ideas are only great when they are implemented well and you need a fantastic team to do that,” she concludes. 
 
(Image credits: BCCL)

No funds for your start-up? Here are 5 things you need to attract angel investors

<ul><li>The Plaza has many first stores of brands like <keyword id="6999" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="valentino" source="Orion">Valentino</keyword>, Tory Burch, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Tiffany, Ladurée and Pottery Barn.</li><li>It has 66 luxury brands under one roof, sprawled across 7,50,000 square feet.</li><li>It has services like personal shopping assistance, hands-free shopping with baggage drop, butler service. </li></ul>For the rich of Mumbai, there is a new top-end destination which brings 66 luxury brands under one roof – <keyword id="13712512" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jio-world-plaza" source="Orion">Jio World Plaza</keyword>. The sprawling 7,50,000 square foot mall is strategically located at the heart of island city — mushroomed by banks, investment banks, PE offices and more. The mall also boasts of many debuts. Brands like Valentino, Tory Burch, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Tiffany, Ladurée and Pottery Barn opened their first stores. It also has many recent entrants of India like Balenciaga, <keyword id="17613" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="giorgio-armani" source="Orion">Giorgio Armani</keyword> Café, Pottery Barn Kids, Samsung Experience Centre, EL&amp;N Café and Rimowa. The mall which opens doors to the public on November 1, houses the best of the best in fashion like <keyword id="5940" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="louis-vuitton" source="Orion">Louis Vuitton</keyword>, Gucci, <keyword id="30247" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="cartier" source="Orion">Cartier</keyword>, Bally, Giorgio Armani, Dior and Bulgari. Indian designers like Manish Malhotra, Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, Rahul Mishra, Falguni and Shane Peacock, and Ri By Ritu Kumar also have their stores there. “Our envisioning of the Jio World Plaza is aimed at bringing the best global brands to India as well as highlighting the prowess and craftsmanship of top Indian brands; and hence create a very unique retail experience," said Isha M Ambani, director, Reliance Industries. Baggage drops and butler services The mall, however, is not about shopping alone. It also has entertainment offerings which include a multiplex theatre and a well-curated gourmet food emporium with world-class restaurants. That’s a far cry from the food courts of most malls. “Services like personal shopping assistance, VIP concierge, taxi-on-call, wheelchair services, hands-free shopping with baggage drop, butler service, and baby strollers amplify the Plaza's commitment to the consumer To cater to the aesthetics of its audience with high-taste, the Plaza is suffused with art. With marble-clad floors and soaring vaulted ceilings, it also boasts of an artful play of soft lighting. Its structure is inspired by the lotus flower and other elements of nature and is designed by a US-based team, the company says. The shopping concourse is punctuated with sculptural columns that act as a visual thread weaving design continuity into the fabric of the space. “The Jio World Plaza is more than a retail destination; it's an embodiment of aesthetics, culture, and leisure," says Ambani. The Plaza seamlessly integrates with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, the Jio World Convention Centre and the Jio World Garden, making it an all-encompassing destination for visitors.

Not just brands, Jio World Plaza has butler services, baggage drops, personal shopping assistants

New Delhi, Reliance Brands, part of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), is planning to buy Ed-a-Mamma, a kidswear brand promoted by Bollywood actress <keyword id="6354526" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alia-Bhatt" source="Orion">Alia Bhatt</keyword>, according to an industry source. The leading retailer would ultimately acquire the company, which specialises in providing sustainable clothing options for kids at affordable rates. Talks between Reliance Brands and the kidswear retailer, which mainly sells online are in the final stages, the industry source said. According to a media report, the deal is estimated to be around Rs 300 crore. The deal would help strengthen Reliance Brands' play into the branded kidswear segment, which is rapidly growing in the country. Ed-a-Mamma brand is owned by Eternalia Creative and Merchandising, in which Alia Bhatt is a director. The company was incorporated in 2019. An e-mail sent to Reliance Brands remained unanswered by the time of filing of the story. Established in 2007, Reliance Brands has collaborated with of over 50 international brands and operates over 2,000 stores in India. It has a portfolio of brand partnerships which includes AK-OK, Armani Exchange, Bally, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Canali, Coach, Diesel, Dune, Emporio Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gas, Giorgio Armani, Hamleys, Hugo Boss, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Mothercare, Muji, Paul &amp; Shark, Paul Smith, Pottery Barn, Ritu Kumar, Salvatore Ferragamo, Satya Paul, Steve Madden, Superdry, Scotch &amp; Soda, Tiffany &amp; Co, Versace, Villeroy &amp; Boch and West Elm. While RRVL is the holding company of retail operations of billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd.

Reliance Brands to acquire Alia Bhatt-promoted kidswear brand Ed-a-Mamma

<ul><li>The video of Welspun India’s CEO Dipali Goenka dancing with her colleagues, to the tune of Muqabla song from the Street Dancer 3D, has gone viral on the internet </li><li>The 50-year old Joint Managing Director and CEO of the ₹4,500-crore (over $600 million) Welspun India. </li><li>This is just one party on the road to the targeted $2 billion in revenue by 2022</li></ul>The video of Welspun India’s CEO Dipali Goenka dancing with her colleagues, to the tune of Muqabla song from the Street Dancer 3D, has gone viral on the internet. Many industry leaders,<a href="https://twitter.com/Varun_dvn/status/1230035375734784001"> bollywood actors</a> and politicians applauded the 45-sec video giving a glimpse at a ‘happy workplace’. But the 50-year old Joint Managing Director and CEO of the ₹4,500-crore (over $600 million) Welspun India has a lot more to her credit than a viral video. 
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="hvgoenka" handlename="Harsh Goenka" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1100471315016732672/VQXLpkHZ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="13586" retweetcount="2226" status="Rare to see a CEO dance and have fun in an office setting. That’s the way to create a happy culture @DipaliGoenka… https://t.co/DHDlNz8Gy9" createdat="1582045195000" id="1229812801889357824"></div>





 The reason for the celebration: Welspun India, which makes towels, bathrobes, and bedsheet, registered a whopping 55% growth in net profit for the third quarter ending on December 31, 2019, sparking hopes of a turnaround amidst gloomy prospects for the entire sector. This is just one party on the road to the targeted $2 billion in revenue by 2022. Goenka had a tough start as the boss 
 
 <div type="image" title="BCBE8AC1-8420-48A1-A8D7-E84E24DD23EC" msid="74211911" hostid="261"></div> Goenka was a homemaker, and the wife of <keyword id="949657" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Balkrishan-Goenka">Balkrishan Goenka</keyword> (the Chairman of the <keyword id="157753" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Welspun-Group">Welspun Group</keyword>) until she decided to become an executive back in 2002. She became an entrepreneur with a new business line, Spaces, a brand that targets premium for towels and bedsheets at a domestic level. Nine years ago, in 2011, Goenka shook the textile industry in India when she took charge of the company. Some industry leaders thought the “Welspun has lost its mind” <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/business-wire/forbes-ranks-dipali-goenka-as-the-16th-most-powerful-businesswoman-in-asia/article8446854.ece">reported Forbes</a>. ‘Is she here because she is a part of the management?” <a href="https://wow.outlookbusiness.com/dipali-goenka/">Goenka told the media</a>. Two years later, she became the joint managing director in 2013. A few years into the business, Goenka proved the skeptics wrong. Welspun India’s annual revenue was nearly ₹5,500 crore last year. In fact, a look at the stock price of Welspun India shows that the real wealth generation for investors happened only after she took over. 
 
 <div type="image" title="welspun india share price" msid="74211828" hostid="261"></div>





Source: Google Finance Now, the company expects the WelHome and Spaces brands to touch ₹3,500 crore, according to an Edelweiss report, by next year whereas the current market value of entire Welspun India is just ₹4,500 crore. What makes her achievement special is that she has managed to grow the company at a time when the textile industry has been struggling to survive. Particularly, the textile exporters from India have been losing out <a href="https://scroll.in/article/810671/three-charts-show-how-indian-textile-industry-lost-the-race-to-bangladesh-and-vietnam">cheaper competition from Bangladesh and Vietnam</a>. The early setback Sexism was not the only challenge for Goenka. One of the biggest setbacks for the group was in 2016, when Target Corp, second largest value retailer in the US, informed their customers that Welspun India sold them substandard bedsheets. 
 
 <div type="image" title="Capture" msid="74211847" hostid="261"></div>





 At the time, Target gave about 10% of Welspun India’s billion-dollar revenue every year. Their market cap took a steep fall of 54% — from ₹103.34 billion to ₹46.97 billion between August 19, 2016 and August 30, 2016. Goenka <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/garments-/-textiles/how-welspun-india-is-emerging-from-a-crisis-that-rocked-its-credibility/articleshow/69706022.cms">took responsibility and met all her customers </a>including JCPenney, Costco, <keyword id="80487" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="walmart">Walmart</keyword> in the US to Sainsbury in Europe. In 2017-18, the company’s gross sales fell by 9%. But the company seems to have recovered from that now. It was ranked as the <a href="http://outlookindia.com/outlookmoney/investment/the-weaver-welspun-india-2122">top home textile suppliers in the US in 2017 </a>and has a distribution network in over 32 countries including US, UK, Europe, Canada and Australia. The good fight Goenka has not only chased her corporate aspirations, she has also strongly backed gender equality. “The biggest change is that the percentage of women has gone up from 7% to 23% in our workforce. IQ is not the only thing that will take an organisation forward. It is also the EQ. And that’s the balance women bring,” Goenka<a href="https://wow.outlookbusiness.com/dipali-goenka/"> told Outlook Business. </a> While prodding other billionaire-owners of big businesses like <keyword id="46425" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anand-Mahindra">Anand Mahindra</keyword>, <keyword id="55796" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kiran-Mazumdar-Shaw">Kiran Mazumdar Shaw</keyword> and <keyword id="111343" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Adani">Gautam Adani</keyword> to make their workplace more fun, Goenka has also become the face of a changing corporate culture in India. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/article/escorts-share-price-and-inside-story-of-how-market-value-nearly-doubled-in-a-new-book/articleshow/73763872.cms">The inside story of how Escorts turned around to become a nearly ₹10,000-crore company</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/profit-margin-on-jockey-and-speedo-shrinks-shows-page-industries-q3-earnings/articleshow/74119148.cms">Biting slowdown is squeezing Page Industries' profit margin on Jockey and Speedo</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/manish-malhotra-ritu-kumar-sabyasachi-and-other-top-designer-clothes-are-available-for-rent-thanks-to-this-indian-startup/articleshow/72326885.cms">Manish Malhotra, Ritu Kumar, Sabyasachi and other top designer clothes are available for rent thanks to this Indian startup</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/everybody-needs-a-haircut-says-celebrity-stylist-jawed-habib-who-does-not-fear-the-effect-of-a-slowdown/articleshow/74132791.cms">Star hair stylist Jawed Habib reveals why $30 million franchise hasn't cut prices this slowdown</a>

Welspun CEO Dipali Goenka is more than a dancing CEO⁠— she’s a homemaker-turned-CEO engaged in the good fight

<ul><li>Three of the star kids making their debut next year are starring in Zoya Akhtar’s Netflix original, The Archies. </li><li>Though his debut project is yet to release, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda has already signed his second film, with National Award-winning director, Sriram Raghavan. </li><li>Shah Rukh <keyword id="6355601" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="khan" source="Orion">Khan</keyword>’s son Aryan Khan will also be debuting in the industry, but as a writer-director and not an actor. </li></ul>The magic that Khans, Kapoors and Kumars bring to the silver screen might be waning, but fret not. Come 2023, a new set of stars are all set to make their debut — and needless to say most of them are star kids. The third generation of the Bachchan family has also been bitten by the acting bug, and the Khans who ruled the Bollywood since the 80s are now launching their children in the industry. Three of them are making their debuting with the same film, Zoya Akhtar’s Netflix original, The Archies - which generated a meme storm after the teaser dropped. <div type="javascript" title="Instagram" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[ ]]></cdata></div> <div type="twitter" handle="Purba_Ray" handlename="Ray Stings" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1591309239305506816/7dvm8pbv_normal.jpg" favoritecount="37" retweetcount="6" status="Zoya Akhtar knows everyone will watch the Archies, either to critique the star kids for their acting skills or priv… https://t.co/WtcGnSo6nf" createdat="1652584899000" id="1525677763814129664"></div> <div type="twitter" handle="LOLrakshak" handlename="Kajol Srinivasan - Turned on by unsolicited advice" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1579840068919111681/3v55LlAS_normal.jpg" favoritecount="47" retweetcount="0" status="A more apt name for Zoya Akhtar's movie would be 'The Suhanas'.#Netflix #thearchies" createdat="1652529345000" id="1525444752384020481"></div> <div type="twitter" handle="zaithakoor" handlename="zai" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1305087925307105281/ku6WCzGt_normal.jpg" favoritecount="10" retweetcount="0" status="The fact that they might call jughead, juggu or juggy in zoya akhtars #TheArchies is already making me upset" createdat="1652722473000" id="1526254791097479168"></div> A lot of current stars like Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Ananya Panday hail from film families. While star kids have been flocking the industry for a long while–since the era of Twinkle Khanna, Kajol, Sunny and Bobby Deol, and others – not all of them have fared well with the audience. <div type="image" title="Khushi, Jahnvi and Shanaya Kapoor" msid="96254907" hostid="261"></div>Now, it’s up to the next generation of newbies to prove their mettle. So here’s a look at the new star kids on the block, hitting the screens – both small and big – next year: <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Suhana Khan" comment="subhead2" text="Suhana Khan">Suhana Khan</cmsannotation> Suhana Khan, the daughter of Bollywood’s Badshah Shah Rukh Khan, will make her digital debut in director Zoya Akhtar’s upcoming <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdhnd2uqVyR/?hl=en">Netflix film, The Archies</a>. She's also been <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/celebrity/story/shah-rukh-khan-daughter-suhana-khan-brand-ambassador-maybelline-2358838-2023-04-12" data-type="tilCustomLink">named</a> the brand ambassador of the New York-based beauty brand Maybelline. Suhana, who also grabbed eyeballs (and a fair share of criticism) when she appeared on the cover of Vogue in 2018, technically made her acting debut with the 2019 short film <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9SKzvqD2vQ&amp;ab_channel=TheodoreGimeno">The Grey Part of Blue</a>. The film was selected to be showcased at the 2019 Miami Independent Film Festival. <div type="image" title="Suhana Khan" msid="96254956" hostid="261"></div>Suhana, who is 22 years old, attended the NYC Tisch School of the Arts in New York. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Aryan Khan" comment="subhead2" text="Aryan Khan">Aryan Khan</cmsannotation> Shah Rukh Khan’s eldest son, Aryan Khan, has decided he does not belong in front of the camera, but behind it - as he’s debuting as a writer and director in Bollywood. <div type="image" title="Aryan Khan" msid="96255037" hostid="261"></div> He recently <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1JVwjqwPX/">completed </a>the script for his web series and shared the news on Instagram. Khan will also be directing the series under the Red Chillies Entertainment banner, owned by his father. While the series is expected to go on floors in 2023, its release date hasn’t been provided yet. Aryan graduated from the University of Southern California in Bachelor of Fine Arts, Cinematic Arts, Film and Television production in 2021. Aryan has previously dubbed the Hindi versions of Disney’s The Lion King (2019) and Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004), with his father. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Agastya Nanda" comment="subhead2" text="Agastya Nanda">Agastya Nanda</cmsannotation> The grandson of Bollywood’s original ‘angry young man’ Amitabh Bachchan, Agastya Nanda is all set to appear on the digital screen with Suhana Khan in The Archies. Bachchan also <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdhnfXKK_fv/?hl=en">shared the film’s poster on his Instagram </a>to congratulate Nanda. The son of author Shweta Bachchan and businessman and Escorts Chairman Nikhil Nanda, Agastya is only 22 years old. <div type="image" title="Amitabh Bachchan and Agastya Nanda" msid="96255791" hostid="261"></div> Though his debut project is yet to be released, Nanda has already <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl6AbvfsQcm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=99831153-2f4e-44b8-a078-577a33757bc5">signed </a>his second film - National Award-winning director Sriram Raghavan’s upcoming war drama Ikkis. Based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, Ikkis also stars veteran actor Dharmendra. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Khushi Kapoor" comment="subhead2" text="Khushi Kapoor">Khushi Kapoor</cmsannotation> The younger daughter of late actor Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor is all set to follow her sister, actor Janhvi Kapoor’s footsteps. Khushi, whose fashion game has already made her popular among GenZ, will join star kids Suhana Khan and Agastya Nanda in Netflix’s The Archies. As <a href="https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81134807#:~:text=Director%2Fproducer%20Zoya%20Akhtar%20and,Watch%20all%20you%20want.">per Netflix</a>, The Archies is a live action musical set in 1960s India. <div type="image" title="Khushi Kapoor" msid="96255754" hostid="261"></div> While her sister Janhvi learned the ropes of acting from the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, Khushi chose <a href="https://www.nyfa.edu/videos/tag/khushi-kapoor/">to study acting </a>at the New York Film Academy before she made her debut. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Shanaya Kapoor" comment="subhead2" text="Shanaya Kapoor">Shanaya Kapoor</cmsannotation> Daughter of actor Sanjay Kapoor and jewellery designer Maheep Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor is the latest star kid to be launched by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. Shanaya, who is the cousin of Sonam and Arjun Kapoor, will be seen in director <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaoS1GnNGYr/">Shashank Khaitan’s Bedhadak</a>, alongside actors Gurfateh Pirzada and Lakshya Lalwani. <div type="image" title="Shanaya Kapoor" msid="96255661" hostid="261"></div> Shanaya was an assistant director on her cousin Janhvi’s film, Gunjan Saxena. She has also bagged ads for brands like Samsung, Ritu Kumar and Naturali. She even made a brief appearance on the reality show starring her mother, Netflix’s Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Junaid Khan" comment="subhead2" text="Junaid Khan">Junaid Khan</cmsannotation> In 2021, actor Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan signed a film with Yash Raj Films. Multiple reports have stated that the film is based on the 1862 Maharaj Libel Case. As per <a href="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/aamir-khan-opens-son-junaid-khans-bollywood-debut-aditya-chopra-saw-one-screen-tests-liked-offered-script/">Aamir Khan’s own admission</a>, Junaid had auditioned for Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy (streaming on Netflix), but was rejected. Junaid also starred in his sister, Ira Khan’s debut play Medea, based on Euripides' Greek play of the same name. <div type="image" title="Junaid and Ira Khan" msid="96255618" hostid="261"></div> Taking off from his father’s love for serious cinema, Junaid selected a legal drama as his debut project. As per reports, he will be playing a lawyer in the film. Also, like his father, Junaid too is conspicuously absent from social media. But he did grab the headlines last year for his incredible physical transformation. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Pashmina Roshan" comment="subhead2" text="Pashmina Roshan">Pashmina Roshan</cmsannotation> Daughter of music director Rajesh Roshan and cousin of actor Hrithik Roshan, Pashmina Roshan is all set to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CeSxM0ZgXxx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=83e60a10-0e14-4add-94a7-47f24ad22617">debut in the romantic drama Ishq Vishk Rebound </a>- a remake of the hit 2003 film Ishq Vishk which was Shahid Kapoor’s debut movie. The reboot also stars actors Rohit Saraf, Naila Grewal and Jibraan Khan. <div type="image" title="Pashmina Roshan" msid="96255597" hostid="261"></div> As per reports, Pashmina Roshan studied at Barry John’s acting school. Aged 27, she is one of the oldest stars on the list. In 2018, she also <a href="https://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/reviews/the-importance-of-being-earnest-english-play-review.asp#">starred </a>in Jeff Goldberg Studio’s production of Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Alizeh Agnihotri" comment="subhead2" text="Alizeh Agnihotri">Alizeh Agnihotri</cmsannotation> Daughter of actor and producer Atul Agnihotri and fashion designer Alvira Khan, Alizeh Agnihotri will be <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1B366BlAR/?hl=en">debuting </a>with director Soumendra Padhi's next film. Padhi, who won the National Award for his film Budhia Singh: Born to Run, also directed the Netflix original series Jamtara. <div type="image" title="Alizeh Agnihotri" msid="96255548" hostid="261"></div> Only 22, Alizeh is also actor Salmna Khan’s niece. She <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0LCPRHi4C/?hl=en">graduated </a>from the SOAS University of London in 2018, and has an elder brother, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3UFN3QgYgq/?hl=en">24-year-old </a>Ayaan Agnihotri. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Ibrahim Ali Khan" comment="subhead2" text="Ibrahim Ali Khan">Ibrahim Ali Khan</cmsannotation> If <a href="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/karan-johar-fox-star-studios-launch-ibrahim-ali-khan-hridayam-remake/">reports </a>are to be believed, Ibrahim Ali Khan may soon be following in the footsteps of his parents – actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Arora, and sister Saif Ali Khan. The young nawab may be debuting with the Hindi remake of the 2022 Malayalam hit Hridayam. <div type="image" title="Ibrahim and Sara Ali Khan" msid="96255500" hostid="261"></div> Ibrahim is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgwasqhscsv/?hl=en">currently working </a>as an assistant director on Karan Johar’s upcoming drama Rocky Rani KI Prem Kahani. In fact, he even made a fun video with Bhatt and Singh, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CXanQEgDLxG/?hl=en">recreating a scene </a>from Karan Johar’s blockbuster family drama, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Aasmaan Bhardwaj" comment="subhead2" text="Aasmaan Bhardwaj">Aasman Bhardwaj</cmsannotation> Aasmaan Bhardwaj, the son of ace film director and music composer Vishal Bhardwaj, will also be making his directorial debut in 2023 with the dark comedy, Kuttey. Slated to release on January 13, 2023, the film stars Arjun Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Tabu, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kumud Mishra, Shardul Bhardwaj, and Rashmika Mandana. <div type="image" title="Aasmaan and Vishal Bhardwaj" msid="96255366" hostid="261"></div> The managing director for Vishal Bhardwaj Films, Aasmaan describes himself as a writer, musician, and amateur golfer on his Instagram account. He graduated with a degree in Bachelor in Fine Arts in 2019, from the School of Visual Arts in New York. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/a-quarter-of-indian-gig-workers-salaries-grew-by-50-in-the-last-one-year/articleshow/96253213.cms">A quarter of Indian gig workers’ salaries grew by 50% in the last one year</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/how-many-startups-turned-unicorns-in-2022-in-india-check-out-the-list/articleshow/96248261.cms">New Indian unicorns get rarer in 2022 as funding winter sets in</a>

From Suhana Khan to Agastya Nanda: star kids making their movie debut in 2023

Feeling hungry and you don’t want to go out have a solution. <keyword id="51958" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="YES">Yes</keyword> you call it <keyword id="830092" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zomato">Zomato</keyword>. You open the app, find the delicious offerings nearby and done. In one click, you are relishing on Chicken Do Piyaza and some Pulao in half an hour. 
 
 If you are crazily interested in fashion, admit it, you have searched for a similar app where you can find designer wears nearby, click on the likes and wear beautiful dresses to weekend parties and dates. But no more would you need to feel sad. For <keyword id="3645274" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Findow">Findow</keyword> is one such start up, which you can call the Zomato of fashion. 
 
 
All you need to do is download the Findow app in your smartphone. Put in your shopping location, what you are looking for and then browse through the 300 plus options available on Findow. With Findow you not only save time, money but also eliminate any middle person who may not be able to convey your design details aptly to the designer. It your personal fashion on your finger tips. 
 Launched in July this year by <keyword id="3832622" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="zarine-ahmad-bajaj">Zarine Ahmad Bajaj</keyword> and <keyword id="108541" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Himanshu-Kumar">Himanshu Kumar</keyword>, Findow has recently received an undisclosed amount of seed funding from investor <keyword id="3645275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Raj-Singh-Bhandal">Raj Singh Bhandal</keyword>, director at Next Media Works. 
 Findow piloted its application through <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword>, <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IOS">iOS</keyword> and their website and since then has received a whopping 2000 plus downloads from shoppers across Mumbai and Delhi. Findow has also received great traction from the retailing communities spanning premium, high-street and luxury brands that include <keyword id="75186" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gucci">Gucci</keyword>, Dior, <keyword id="265839" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hermes">Hermes</keyword>, Ritu kumar, <keyword id="11510" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manish-Arora">Manish Arora</keyword>, Anju Modi and <keyword id="32440" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="rahul-mishra">Rahul Mishra</keyword>. 
 “Our app is to simplify shopping for users and offers various categories like Bridal, Luxury, Men, <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Women">Women</keyword> etc . Shoppers can get a keen sense of what's in the market and blend it with their own style requirements by the use of this app,” <keyword id="26240" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="zarine">Zarine</keyword> told <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword>. 
 
So how did the idea come? The app was conceptualized by Zarine and Himanshu Kumar. “There have been so many instances where friends or family constantly ask me about where to shop, what's new around and are there more options to choose from etc. We felt there was a need to streamline the fashion marketplace, by providing information (of the brand), pictures (of the store and pieces of garments/apparel available), locations, designers/brands etc. we ensure that our users find every piece of information about what they are looking for. This information helps them to simplify shopping,” added Zarine. 
 
Being their first venture, Findow is presently functional in New Delhi and are spreading to Mumbai, Banglore and other metros and two tier cities in India. 
 
The model is based on hyper-local advertising and also takes into account user preferences - this combination is scalable to quite a large extent. 
 
“We are looking at markets with high level of online and omni-channel penetration, the online channel contributes a maximum of 15 percent to the retail market. As India’s retail market is geared to scale up from $650 million to $1 trillion by 2020, the opportunity is great for all types of players in the retail industry,” Zarine told Business Insider on expansion plan.

The Zomato of fashion is here

Recession or no recession, the Indian <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=wedding&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">wedding</a> industry is only going to flourish. When we speak about <keyword id="6358814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wedding">wedding</keyword>s, a host of other arrangement such as venues, food, decorations, theme, clothing, etc also come along, which can’t be ignored if you want to host an upscale wedding. 
 
A lot of money goes into shopping, especially on attires as everyone wants to wear the latest fad in the town. 
 If the Indian <keyword id="562840" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="wedding-industry">wedding industry</keyword> is estimated to be valued over $38bn, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=fashion&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">fashion</a> industry is about 10% of this. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Meet-8-of-Indias-finest-photographers-for-your-pre-wedding-shoot/articleshow/51995100.cms">Meet 8 of India’s finest photographers for your pre-wedding shoot</a> 
 
The brides and grooms -to-be want their <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-average-Manhattan-wedding-costs-20000-more-than-anywhere-else-in-the-US/articleshow/51732253.cms">attires</a> to be just out of a Bollywood movie and there is no compromise on that. 
 
On the bride’s side, a lot of thought goes into zeroing in on the right lehenga, or saree for the wedding day. Money is usually not a constraint as girls are ready to spend upwards of Rs 1 lakh. 
 
“It completely depends on people. Designer lehengas start at around Rs. 40,000 but brides are known to spend up to Rs 20 lakh on their wedding day outfit. Most mainstream fashion designers such as Anita Dongre, Ritu Kumar etc. are priced over Rs 1 lakh,” said Sanna Vohra, founder of Wedding Brigade. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Bachelorette-parties-can-happen-on-a-tight-budget-too-Heres-your-complete-guide/articleshow/51894879.cms">Bachelorette parties can happen on a tight budget too. Here’s your complete guide</a> 
 
It is important to note that brides spend on clothes, makeup and jewellery for more than one wedding event or function such as engagement, sangeet, cocktail, hen’s night, etc. as well as for their wedding trousseau. 
 
So, if you are one of the girls who are looking for some latest trend and direction in selection a lehenga, here are the latest fads. 
 
 
 
Pastels are big this season: Vohra suggests brides are opting for unique pastel hues like mint green, peach, blush pink etc. Pantone is the trend of the year, Rose Quartz (blush pink) and Serenity (powder blue) found themselves in the collections of leading fashion designers. 
 
Benarasi &amp; Traditional Weaves Traditional weaves: These are in this season and incorporating benarasi weaves in your wedding outfit is one of the biggest trends this year. Besides benarasi, wearing a patan patoda lehenga or kanjeeveram lehenga is also a trend to watch out for. 
 
Printed: Brides opting for less heavy outfits are looking for unique printed wedding ensembles where the look is just as "heavy" but it does not weigh the bride down. This the big trend destination weddings 
 
Statement motifs: Wedding lehengas with large statement making motifs are a big hit with fashion forward brides. Motifs such as an elephant, mahal jharokas and even birds are a way brides are giving their traditional lehenga a new twist. 
 
Dupatta- Vohra suggests less or Double Dupatta are trending. For the wedding, the double dupatta trend has been on for some time and is here to stay. This involves one that is draped and one that is worn on the head. For other wedding events, the "dupatta-less" look is in- either the dupatta is attached to the lehenga or the blouse is a long or crop top silhouette. This look has been seen in the collections of many designers such as Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra. 
 
New age blouses: Switching up the blouse is a big trend. The crop top blouse, the lock jacket blouse and the bolero blouse are trending. 
 
Nawabi / Bajirao Mastani: The movie ‘Bajirao Mastani’ has been a big hit with brides and the 'Nawabi' look is a trend that's still very much in! Brides are looking at the sharara silhouette even for their wedding day and traditional 'mughal' style workmanship is popular. 
 
Monotone lehengas: Contrast is out and monotone lehengas are definitely the hot trend. 
 
Bling via shimmer/ self on self sequin: Brides looking for bling should embrace the "shimmer" and "sequin" trend. Self sequin and self shimmer (where the sequin or shimmer is the same colour as the fabric) is a big trend. The gold lehenga is still a big trend from 2015 that's going to be popular in 2016 too. 
 
The White Bride: Surprisingly, the white lehenga is a big new trend on the block that the fashion forward bride is adopting.

No bride-to-be should miss these latest and amazing wedding attire trends

<ul><li>In an interview with Business Insider India, <keyword id="7420771" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Naaz-Joshi">Naaz Joshi</keyword>, revealed her journey of becoming three-time Miss Diversity 2018 in India. </li><li>She was abandoned at the age of 7 and gang raped at the age of 11. </li><li>Despite all these odds, Naaz sponsored her own education and studied fashion design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) however found it difficult to land a job at design houses. </li><li>She went under sex reassignment surgeries in 2013 and started her career in modelling. </li><li>Her next endeavour is to push for legal marriages for the LGBTQIA+ community. </li></ul>Aizya Naaz Joshi created history when won the Miss Diversity 2019 pageant for this third time, at Port Louis in Mauritius. She is also the first Indian trans-woman to appear on the cover of a national magazine. Even after many successes, Joshi is yet to win the hearts of her own family. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="naaz_joshi" handlename="naaz joshi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1158602022016315392/rBV4oCgO_normal.jpg" favoritecount="6" retweetcount="1" status="India's first transgender to bag an international crown for India https://t.co/SBBhLTsKPd" createdat="1536577340000" id="1039106795946553344"></div>



















 "My father still is not accepting me. He strongly believes that I have brought shame to the society and the family. He asked me not to use his last name," Naaz told Business Insider India. ‘I had no idea what rape even meant.’ Naaz was born a transgender to a multicultural family. Her mother is a Muslim while her father is a Hindu. In spite of having a twin brother and another younger brother, and she was always the odd one out. "When I grew up a little,all the relative told my parents to send me to the trans (hijra) community. But they declined it and wanted me to study,” she says. Yet, they did not want Naaz to stay with them either, so they sent her away to an uncle in Mumbai. The hardworking youngster took up a job at a restaurant where she washed utensils and cleaned tables. All was well until a male cousin raped her when she was 11 years old. "The sad part was that I had no idea what rape even meant. I got to know much later. All I remember is that I was brutally injured.” By the time she realised, it was too late to find a legal battle as evidence was lost with time. The government is fighting an uphill battle to reduce abuse against women, but sexual violence against transgenders is all but ignored. One of the grave indiscrepancies is with punishment. While those who abuse women could be jailed for seven years or more, in the case of transgenders it is <a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2154077/india-no-country-transgender-women">defined as physical abuse and punishments range from 6 months</a> to two years. Education failed to become the passport to future Naaz had hoped that education will sort her life. At the age of 12, she started working at a dance bar in Mumbai to support her education, when they were still legal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="“I had to pretend to be a 16 year old girl to get work,”" auname="Naaz Joshi"></div>



















 She had encountered other trans women who danced at the bar. Despite all these odds, Naaz sponsored her own education and studied fashion designing at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). She later completed her MBA in marketing from IMT Ghaziabad. "Despite working for big labels like Ritu Kumar and Ritu Beri, I found it hard to get a job," she says. She even pursued a diploma to become an air hostess. Even with a stellar resume and being a NIFT topper, she was forced to take up a job at a massage parlour in South Delhi. “As soon as they get to know about my gender, they used to ignore me,” she laments. As many as 89% of <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/left-alone-just-2-of-trans-people-stay-with-parents/articleshow/65380226.cms">qualified transgenders in India do not find employment</a> in India. The gender pay gap is worse with transgender women . Naaz underwent a gender reassignment surgery in 2013, and started modeling. 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Naaz Joshi at Roshni Nilaya in Mangaluru My life changed when I appeared on the cover of Tehelka Magazine, the title of which read: "How people like Naaz Joshi are turning the way we see men and women”. In 2017, she was floating on cloud nine when she became won Miss Diversity. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="naaz_joshi" handlename="naaz joshi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1158602022016315392/rBV4oCgO_normal.jpg" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" status="@BiggBoss @BeingSalmanKhan https://t.co/NXdvlMuK1z" createdat="1454013495000" id="692808931446382592"></div>



















 Even when they are hired, transgenders face the problem that most women do, a blaring pay gap. And for transgenders, the pay difference is as deep as 191%. In her chosen field however, women make more money. "If companies pay ₹35,000 to a female model for a ramp walk or shoot, then it is likely that a trans woman with experience will get only ₹12,000," she informs. A fresher usually earns ₹5,000 for a shoot and if you are a woman with experience in the fashion industry it can go up to ₹35,000 but a trans women with years of experience still earns merely ₹12000. While, the pay hike is 600% for a women, the pay is generally only 140% more for a trans women. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The treatment that she receives isn’t great either. "The companies pay us little, they behave like they are doing us a favour by featuring us," she says. Naaz wishes that people would treat her like any other women. The Miss Diversity also doubles as a social activist to raise awareness about HIV among women and children. She plans to visit villages near Delhi on September 6 to create awareness on <keyword id="6362797" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="section-377">Section 377</keyword> and the importance of a socially inclusive society. Her next endeavour is to push for legal marriages for the LGBTQIA+ community. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-story-of-nitasha-biswas-indias-first-trans-beauty-pageant-winner/articleshow/70825424.cms">India's first trans beauty pageant winner's journey from hunger and abandonment to a symbol of empowerment</a>

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