A few years ago, Gonika Sachdeva quit her corporate job and started a fashion brand with an initial investment of Rs 55,000. Today, it has grown into a thriving business with customers from all over the world and earning hundreds of thousands of rupees.
With a background in corporate governance, Sahadeva, 32, used her organizational skills and business acumen to transition into the fashion industry. A resident of Chandigarh’s Sector 21D, she currently runs two labels. One specializes in corporate uniforms and the other in women’s clothing.
“I passed the secretarial exam in 2016 and joined a general company, but then I decided to retire. I decided to pursue a career in fashion and launched the women’s clothing brand “Proschedle Work” in 2019. In 2015, we expanded our business to uniforms as our second label, UNIKAGO. This allowed me to combine professional expertise with creative aspirations,” Sachdeva said.
She further added, “With UNIKAGO, we have created designer uniforms for food and beverage brands, builders and businesses in the Tri-Cities, completing nearly 16 projects in 13 months.”
The story behind the label
Prosh started in 2019 after Sahadeva designed a costume for her mother and received appreciation from her friends and family. “My first order was outsourcing. Slowly, with grace and consistent ordering, I saved up for a year, bought a machine and hired a karigar. I started with zero capital, but in the second year We saved ₹55,000, saw steady growth and were able to attract international customers.”
UNIKAGO was born during a late night sketch session during London Fashion Week in October 2022. “My brother Rajat suggested I design for companies and do bulk orders. He also came up with the name UNIKAGO, combining my name and ‘unique’ to give it a brand identity.” she said.
From local to global
Initially, her brand catered to domestic customers in Delhi, Punjab and the Tri-Cities, but now has an international presence in Dubai, Canada, the US and Australia. “We customize over 700 designs a year and have served over 500 clients in three years. Many of our orders come from repeat customers and social media.”
UNIKAGO has established itself as a designer uniform brand that combines aesthetics and functionality. “We work with one or two cafes and businesses on average every month,” she added.
“Chandigarh city needs to encourage startups with the infrastructure and planning to maximize the potential of businesses in the city. This will encourage people to find opportunities locally instead of looking elsewhere.” ,” she said on how to retain talent in Chandigarh.
“Governments should provide unsecured grants and business loans and simplify registration to encourage growth and customer reach.”
free time and hobbies
“I like reading spiritual or self-help books while drinking coffee. Books are food for the brain and are essential to staying mentally strong and knowledgeable. I also work out 4-5 times a week. I meditate every day and keep a diary. It has helped me stay grounded,” Sachdeva said.
Quoting Joseph Chilton Pierce, she advised budding entrepreneurs: Start early, embrace the journey, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and learn from them. Keep your eyes on the goal and stay focused. ”
Talking about the charm of Chandigarh, she says, “I love everything about Chandigarh. It’s a perfect and relaxing place. If I had to change one thing, I would like weekends to be more like weekends, just two days instead of seven.”
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