Want to be born ‘me’ again
Who is she, quick read…
Neishaa is a designer and India market catalyst. Together with her team and associates Neishaa works with clients in Indian Retail & Education sector. She will be launching her designs on classic tailored wear, and accessories “uprooted” inspired by Indian sensibilities with a global flair this year.
As a India market catalyst she works with clients to develop and deliver their brands in India by enabling understanding of India’s diverse consumer and cultures. She is equally passionate about working with Indian brands with global ambitions.
She has over 15 years of experience in design and communication working with global brands who entered India. She was titled ‘Shining Woman Entrepreneur’ by Readers Digest.
Neishaa is a spirited campaigner of Project Crayons, a charity founded by her family in India that supports health, education and rights of marginalized children & youth. She aims to raise global awareness and enable collaboration to co-create sustainable models of inclusive growth in India.
The philosophical version, for those who may want to read more about me…
It continues to be an interesting journey from being a shy child to a crazy boss/die hard task master to waking up every morning feeling humble and in gratitude of all my successes and precious family friends and team who make life worth every challenge…
Life’s best lessons
No one ever tells you that it is ok to fear (fear is normal), it is ok to freak out (to be so nervous that you forget all your lines) before a client presentation, it is ok to make mistakes and stand up to it , loose your cool but remember to say sorry because today will pass and tomorrow will be a new day and you can make choices… believe in your dreams (dream wildly) and make them happen (and making those dreams come true, it is up to you)
Moving Changing Learning
As a child i travelled constantly going to 6 schools up to the age of 16. This has taught me to deal with change, make things work, embrace new cuisines, cultures & traditions. My father taught us to be disciplined and rise stronger every time we fall. My mother taught us to keep smiling through thick & thin and care for every one around us. I am a student for life.
Looking back at the Design Entrepreneur
In the early nineties design was not taken as a serious career choice. And the advertising industry was a big no no for girls from good middle class families. But my parents were very supportive and recognised my arty crafty bent as a child. That is why i say i have never worked a single day in my life as i love what i do and do what i love. After a short job stint i co-found & pioneered the concept of design & communications studio in Mumbai in the mid nineties . Being a 20 something i had a lot to prove to the world, with naivity comes fearlessness. I learnt to be a entrepreneur on the job. We grew from 3 to 30 big team which was a size unheard of in that decade and worked with Global and National brands. Being an entrepreneur is not a 9 to 5 job, it is about 20 hour days and facing the impossible day after day. This teaches one the importance of loving what you do and persistent hard work.
Today being a Designer is all encompassing
I enjoy freedom & constraints to design, write, shoot, film, illustrate, create, collaborate and really use all my creative forces in my work. Designing for brands to designing my art+fashion clothes collection to designing for social change for example a Mobile class room that teaches in the slums of Mumbai co-exist comfortably in my studio. Culmination of Cultures makes me who i am, being born to parents who came from different parts of India and having married into a different culture it continues to be… living and working any where in the world with a sense of deep rooted Indianess from within.
Making a difference through Project Crayons an NGO that empowers children, youth and communities through health education and rights.
As a young woman i had the opportunity to work with my mother’s humble dream of educating children from poor local communities and protecting the girl child for over 15 years. Today in the capacity of a voluntary director, campaigner of Project Crayons i believe every child and young person deserve a life of dignity, deserve a fair chance in life.
We run 8 grass roots projects
It started as a school in a small village in Mangalore that now educates over 300 children from 3 villages that did not have a school.
Home for the girl child Udaan Ghar – which today houses 70 young girls in Mumbai.
YOUNG WOMENS WELFARE CENTRE – A home & empowering through skills education and enterprise.
EMPOWERMENT DREAM PROGRAMME – Sponsoring education for children.
SCHOOL ON WHEELS – Putting children back into education through a innovative mobile classroom on the bus.
AASTHA – Emergency Medical & Ambulance Services for the Homeless
GULLY CRICKET – Using sports as a tool to create new learning environments for children and young people along with their communities.
EYE – Employment & skill training for Youth at our Community development centres.
“My surroundings have always mattered, in the same way that what i wear has always mattered.”