We recently connected with Ravali Madap and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ravali thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I’m a software engineer by profession and have been working in IT for several years. But deep down, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit – a constant desire to start something of my own. Over the years, ideas like opening a restaurant, starting a café, or selling homemade food often crossed my mind. However, between a demanding job and personal responsibilities, I never quite had the time or clarity to fully pursue them.
After my second child was born, while preparing to return to work, I had a project delay – and for the first time in a long while, some time to pause. That’s when the idea of a kids’ clothing boutique, focused on Indian festive wear, took shape.
Living in the U.S. without sewing skills or access to Indian fabrics, I reached out to a tailor I trusted – someone who had previously stitched outfits for my children. With our housewarming coming up, I designed a few outfits for my kids. They turned out beautifully, and the response from family and friends was incredibly encouraging. Excited, I dove deeper: researching fabrics, finalizing designs, sourcing samples, even creating a logo and brand name. I shared my vision with close friends, and they all gave me positive feedback.
But just as everything was coming together, the tailor backed out due to personal reasons. I was heartbroken. I had spent months planning, working around a newborn, and pouring my energy into building this dream – and suddenly, I had to put it on hold. I returned to my full-time job, and with the busy pace of work and motherhood, I didn’t revisit the idea.
Then, about a year later, I lost my mother. It was the most difficult time of my life. She had always been my biggest support, and her loss left me shattered. I couldn’t imagine going back to work, but I knew she wouldn’t want me to lose myself in grief. To heal, I began looking again for something creative and fulfilling – something that would help me honor her strength and belief in me.
That’s when I came across handcrafted, embroidered jewelry made by skilled Indian artisans. Intricate, colorful, and unlike anything I’d seen before, it felt like a fresh and meaningful idea. As a child, I had always loved art and craft – and that creative instinct was still in me. I began connecting with artisans, ordering samples, and studying their work. Quality was and remains my top priority. I only wanted to offer pieces I would proudly wear myself.
When I received my first batch, I was amazed by the craftsmanship. It sparked something in me. I registered my LLC, finalized the brand name, designed the logo, created an Instagram page, and began photographing and sharing my jewelry online. I built a small portfolio to share with friends and family, and their reactions were full of enthusiasm and support.
After launching, my very first customer was my aunt, who purchased a resin necklace set for her daughter’s sangeet event. That first sale felt like a true blessing – and soon after, more orders started coming in from friends and family. Their support meant the world to me.
I also began signing up for local vendor events to set up stalls and reach new customers. At my very first event, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive — customers were drawn to the uniqueness and beauty of the jewelry. Their appreciation and purchases gave me the confidence that this new concept was something truly worth investing in. That reassurance from real customers — seeing their reactions, hearing their compliments — pushed me to explore further.
Driven by that momentum, I started expanding my collection. I wanted to continue supporting handmade artistry rooted in Indian tradition, but with a global appeal. I added hand-embroidered headbands, clutches, and handbags – again, carefully ordering samples and reviewing quality before including them in my lineup.
After a few more successful events, I added terracotta jewelry made by skilled artisans in India, working closely with them to customize unique designs that aligned with my brand’s aesthetic. Every new addition followed the same journey: research, collaboration, quality checks, and feedback.
So far, I’ve participated in six vendor events, and each one has been a positive and encouraging experience. With every event, every customer, and every conversation, I’ve gained more insight and inspiration.
This journey has been full of ups and downs – from uncertainty and delays to grief and rediscovery. But through it all, I’ve continued to follow my passion, fueled by the belief that my mother’s strength and love still guide me. I’m committed to growing this business thoughtfully by bringing new designs, honoring artisan skills, and connecting with people who appreciate meaningful, handmade art.
Ravali, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m a software engineer by profession and a creative entrepreneur at heart. For years, I worked in the IT industry, but I always carried the dream of starting something of my own – something that combined creativity, culture, and personal meaning. I explored various ideas over time, from food ventures to kids’ fashion, but life’s responsibilities often got in the way.
The turning point came after the birth of my second child and a temporary delay in my job project. I used that unexpected window of time to explore a long-held idea: launching a boutique for kids’ Indian festive wear. I poured months of energy into it – researching, sourcing fabrics, collaborating with a tailor, and even creating a logo and brand name. But when the tailor had to back out, the project came to a halt, and I returned to full-time work.
A year later, I experienced the most difficult loss of my life: the passing of my mother, who had always been my biggest support. It was a deeply painful time, and I knew I needed something meaningful to keep myself grounded – something that honored her strength and inspired me to move forward. That’s when I discovered hand-embroidered jewelry made by Indian artisans.
As someone who has always loved art and design and jewelry, I was immediately drawn to this intricate, vibrant form of wearable art. I began collaborating with artisans, ensuring quality, and building a small collection. My focus was clear: to offer beautifully handcrafted pieces that tell a story – rooted in Indian tradition, yet appealing and accessible to a global audience.
Today, I offer a thoughtfully curated collection of hand-embroidered jewelry, terracotta jewelry, embroidered headbands, clutches, and bags – all handmade in India by skilled artisans. Each piece is a celebration of craftsmanship and culture. I’m especially proud that my brand not only supports these artisans but also brings their work into new spaces where it can be appreciated and cherished. As a small business, I have set a goal to donate 1% of our sales to help feed children facing hunger- a small but meaningful way to make a difference.
What sets my brand apart is our emphasis on quality, uniqueness, and cultural storytelling. Every product is personally vetted, and my design process is collaborative and intentional. I don’t rush – I build collections slowly, based on feedback, craftsmanship, and customer experience. What makes these products truly unique is how lightweight, bold, and customizable they are. Designs can be tailored to match a child’s favorite things – think whimsical ice creams, colorful donuts, fluttering butterflies — turning each piece into something playful, personal, and full of joy. For women, we offer creative, elegant options perfect for parties, beach outings, weddings, or statement everyday looks in an elegant color palette.
My first customer was my aunt, who bought one of my pieces for her daughter’s wedding event. That small but powerful moment gave me the confidence to keep going. Since then, I’ve participated in vendor events, built a growing community of customers, and launched a brand that reflects who I am: creative, resilient, and deeply connected to my roots.
For anyone discovering my brand for the first time, I want them to know that this is not just a business – it’s a personal journey of healing, discovery, and expression. Every piece I sell carries heart, intention, and heritage. I wear many hats in this journey – I design some pieces myself, customize others in collaboration with artisans, and personally oversee every step of the process, including long calls with the artisans for design discussion, constant monitoring during their making. Being far away and being in different time zones is also sometimes challenging, but my love for it beats all the odds. From quality control and inventory management to photography, content creation, bookkeeping, and even sales, I manage it all. There are days it feels overwhelming balancing life as a mom of two young kids along with household responsibilities, but it’s this very hustle that fuels my passion and keeps me going. I feel incredibly proud that what once lived only as a dream has now taken shape – a business built with heart, creativity, and a whole lot of perseverance.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
When I started dreaming about launching my own business – whether it was a restaurant, a boutique, or something creative – I felt I couldn’t take that first step until everything was perfectly in place.
But life didn’t allow for that waiting. Between juggling a full-time job and raising my kids, I kept putting off my dream because it never felt like “the right time.”
The real breakthrough came when I let go of the belief that I had to know everything before I began. I learned to trust the process – test, tweak, listen to feedback, and keep showing up. Today, I’m not just a designer – I wear every hat in my business – from product development to photography, from accounting to packaging. It’s not perfect, but it’s real, and it’s mine. On the go, I have learnt a lot of lessons that I did not know before I got into the business.
And that’s a lesson I carry every day: Start messy, stay curious, and let passion lead the way.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
When I decided to start my business, I knew I wanted to grow it organically. My idea was to start slow, test the waters, and understand the response before investing more. So, I used a small amount from my personal savings to get my first set of products. I didn’t want to take on too much financial risk without knowing how people would react. Fortunately, those initial pieces started selling quickly, and I reinvested the earnings right back into the business to order more. That cycle of selling and reinvesting helped me grow steadily, without external funding – just passion, patience, and a bit of strategy. Right now, my business is still small, but when it grows, I will have to keep learning how to handle finances in a better way. As said everything is not perfect until you get into it.
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