Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kinjal Nayar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kinjal , appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I wondered what it would be like to do something in design and fashion during my 20’s but the fear of failure held me back. Also, fashion design seemed a field that was never practical enough, would never earn enough money, there would be too much competition. Who would buy my stuff anyway? etc. Pragmatic me kept holding creatively inclined me back.
Then one day in my 30’s – after having had my first born – and going through the happiest, but also the darkest time in my life – struggling with postpartum depression, I was talking to my husband about losing myself. There was a void I felt. Through lots of conversations with him and reflection on my own, I learned that a huge part of that void was not leaning into my creative side which was yearning to craft a something around aesthetics and style. He urged me to start small…to start styling some of my friends. This would give me a prototype, a testing period and I would learn so much applying things I did so easily in my everyday life on people that loved and cared about me.

My friends were the epitome of supportive. They were encouraging and complimentary of my style and how I put things together and most jumped at the opportunity to be styled by me. I began helping them put capsule wardrobes together, helped them shop for upcoming events and taught them about their body types and which suggested silhouettes that would look great on them. At the end, I gave them a detailed styling guide. I used this styling prototype to make a catalog of the services I offered and built a website. After about three months, I started to get paid styling clients!
But still…the void was evident. What I truly wanted to do was to craft something of my own. I wanted my own line of ethnic clothing that fused two worlds I had always been apart of – America and India.

After testing out 10 vendors who I explained my vision to and failing at least a dozen times, out came 50 pieces of Indo Fusion fashion that I launched at my first pop up in December 2018. The rest is history…

Kinjal , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Kinjal and I am a self taught fashion designer and creative director of Chiffon & Spice. I launched C&S in 2018 with about 50 designs. I always knew that I wanted to do something in fashion and styling. I also knew that I loved traditional clothing from India – but that I also was just as American, having grown up in Queens New York, wearing jeans and sweatshirts throughout my childhood. My style aesthetic was always to fuse these two worlds that were so special to me. C&S helped me do that and so much more. Now I help clients who share the same needs. I offer ready to shop Indo fusion silhouettes that you wouldn’t easily find on the market and I customize aspects of the styles around client requirements. I am most proud of the fact that I never stop learning; be it from my friends, clients, fellow small business owners…Everyone in my life teaches me every single day. Their needs, their own style, their business acumen and expertise; all teach me in ways that I apply in everyday life – much less to my business.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media is a beast for me. I love what I see other small businesses represent on there. I hate doing it myself. I am shy and conscious and wish I could just be in my little corner designing and crafting while the other more skilled people like models and photographers can take the lead on the social media side. BUT. The reality is that social media is an integral tool for any brand so I built a presence by leaning on the side of me that loves talking about styling, blogging about pieces I’d love to have, displayed pieces I did have and talked my photographer friends into taking pictures of me. I also have extremely talented friends who guided me through what to post, what not to post, when to post, algorithms and overall content aesthetics. Even though I am no pro at it, I started by just listening to others who knew how to do it and followed along. Of course, I’m still learning.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I first started my brand, I was clear that I would not make low quality items for the sake of selling an abundant amount. It didn’t make me feel good selling these pieces under my brand and when I imagined being in the client’s spot, I’d cringe. I tested about 10 vendors until I found a couple of workshops who understood my requirements around fabric quality, lining, fitting, trends, turn around times and most of all, my overall aesthetic and vision. The testing period was literally very testing on me! It drained out most of the money I had set aside to start the business and I got pieces that were absolutely useless; ones that I still have lying around ready to donate because I just didn’t have the heart to sell them. Once I found the right vendors though, it was magic!

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.chiffonandspice.com
• Instagram:@Chiffonandspice
• Facebook: Chiffon and Spice
• Yelp: Chiffon & Spice

Image Credits
Photography by Aliah Brand Co. Clothing by Chiffon & Spice