We take customer feedback very seriously
Meghstudio is a homegrown brand based in Udaipur, Rajasthan, co-founded by Meghna Doshi, Mahima Doshi, and Kavisha Doshi in June 2020. Renowned for its artisanal quality and aesthetic allure, Meghstudio specialises in hand-painted garments inspired by the beauty of nature. Each piece, including sarees, lehengas, and more, is meticulously crafted with vibrant colours, intricate floral motifs, and embellished with pearls and sequins for an elegant touch. As a made-to-order brand, Meghstudio prioritises quality, customer satisfaction, and customisation, creating unique, timeless pieces tailored to individual preferences. The all-women team behind Meghstudio embodies a passion for art and creativity, making it a sought-after choice for wedding functions and intimate gatherings. The brand operates a flagship store and atelier in Udaipur, serving an elite clientele both domestically and internationally. Co-founder Kavisha Doshi speaks to Fibre2Fashion about Indian ethnic wear, customer feedback, girlcore and much more.
What role does cultural heritage play in contemporary fashion design, especially in a diverse market like India?
Cultural heritage is the essence of any ethnic wear brand in India. Indian wear labels consistently incorporate cultural elements into their collections, whether through specific art techniques that empower local artisans or by using silhouettes from various regions across the country. Several outstanding designers are bringing Indian culture to global markets by fusing contemporary and traditional designs, making Indian fashion more relevant and admired than ever. This blend of heritage and modernity not only preserves cultural traditions but also appeals to a diverse and global audience.
How has the rise of e-commerce and social media changed the landscape for fashion brands in terms of marketing and customer engagement?
E-commerce and social media have fundamentally transformed the fashion industry. They provide a global platform for designers, significantly contributing to their growth and success. Social media, in particular, allows brands to showcase their collections to a limitless audience, offering immense potential for reaching new heights when used effectively.
Social media has also increased transparency in the industry. Brands are held accountable for their actions, as social media empowers consumers to call out any wrongdoing. Additionally, many brands use social media to share their stories and behind-the-scenes content, helping consumers make more informed shopping decisions.
Today, a strong social media presence is crucial for all fashion brands, whether new or established. It has become an essential factor in marketing and customer engagement strategies.
How are advancements in technology, such as AI and digital design tools, impacting the fashion industry?
AI and digital design tools have been a great help to all the departments in the industry, from creating designs and collections to managing inventory, understanding customer insights, marketing, enhancing user experience; it has contributed to everything!
How important is sustainability in fashion, and what measures can brands take to become more eco-friendly?
Sustainability should be a top priority for every fashion brand. Decision-making should consider all aspects, from sourcing sustainable fabrics to minimising waste and using eco-friendly packaging.
What inspired you to start Meghstudio, and how did the idea come about?
Meghstudio was started by me, my sister Mahima and our mother Meghna as a result of our combined interest and passion for art and creativity. We started the brand in 2020 when our mother had designed two hand-painted dupattas and both of us took the business online and this is how we started this beautiful journey!
What challenges have you faced in growing Meghstudio, and how have you overcome them?
There have been a number of challenges that we had to face in our journey, and we still do. Especially, being women entrepreneurs, we find many people, who we work with, not taking us seriously and labelling our business as a ‘hobby’ or a ‘timepass’ for merely keeping ourselves busy. Another challenge was to grow our team. Since hand-painting is a skilled art, it was a little difficult to find people who would fit our team. To solve this, we started providing training for the same and to our surprise, this worked very well in our favour, and we were able to expand the team! Today, we have a beautiful team of women who are behind all our hand-painted sarees.
How do you integrate traditional and contemporary elements in your designs?
A blend of traditional silhouette + contemporary designs is what we aim to portray in all our designs!
How do you decide on the themes and designs for each new collection?
We always draw inspiration from nature. It has been the number one inspiration for all our collections. The colours, shapes and sizes of various flowers and leaves around us is what we try to portray in our collections.
Can you explain the process of sourcing materials for your products? Do you have any sustainable practices in place?
We first try to brainstorm the suitable fabrics according to each collection and season. Once decided, we move onto the sampling process where we get the fabric samples from a few of our trusted vendors, and this is how we reach the selection point. During this process, we always try to minimise waste and try to get maximum sustainable fabrics in our collection.
How do you ensure quality control across your product line?
Customer satisfaction is of paramount importance to us, and a big part of that depends on the quality of our garments. We make sure all the fabrics are checked before any painting or embroidery is started. After this, the fabrics are painted and embroidered with utmost care. Once a garment is ready for dispatch, it is checked again before it is finally packed.
What role does customer feedback play in your design and production process?
We take customer feedback very seriously. In fact, we have changed a few things here and there in the course of our business because of a few clients’ feedback. Some of our client customisations also inspired a few of our pieces which later became a hit!
Can you share any memorable customer stories or feedback that have impacted you and the brand?
A client of ours once wanted colour customisation for our Hibiscus chiffon saree. We were very sceptical of the combination she chose, and we were almost about to turn it down, but we did not. We posted one flat lay image of the saree on our page and the saree became a hit! So much so that it still is our number one bestseller!
What trends are currently driving the fashion industry, and how do they influence design and production processes?
One of the prominent trends currently driving the fashion industry is girlcore fashion, characterised by hyperfeminine styles such as pink hues, rosettes, and florals. Our latest collection is inspired by the girlcore aesthetic, and it is exciting to see other brands also drawing inspiration and creating their own unique interpretations of this trend.
What are your future plans for Meghstudio in terms of expansion and new product lines?
We aim to stock up Meghstudio with multi-designer stores across the globe and get listed on multiple online platforms. We also plan to venture into resort wear and fusion wear to cater to a larger audience.
How do you see the fashion industry evolving in India, and what role do you envision Meghstudio playing in that future?
The Indian fashion industry has always been rapidly changing and growing, especially in the last couple of years. The type of designs and silhouettes we get to see now is unparalleled. There is a lot more experimenting, playing around with colours and prints, and taking risks when it comes to fashion. Brands now are also very conscious about the impact they have on our environment which means lesser wastage and more responsible decisions. In short, it is only getting better and definitely, competitive.
At Meghstudio, we aim to keep providing our customers with fresh designs and revolutionise the saree industry. We also wish to generate more and more employment opportunities for women.
20230103183907.png)
