Blending Fashion with Social Impact

Hi, I am Prerna Sinha.

I graduated in history from one of the most prestigious colleges in India, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi, and went over to attain an MBA in HR & Marketing. Post that, I worked for over a decade in HR roles in top MNCs and some of the most agile organizations in the country. At different start-ups where I worked, I set up structures, processes and changed the way of work.

In 2017, when I became a mother, I found myself struggling to balance motherhood and a very high-pressure job. I continued to work for 2 more years but in 2019 I realized that my health – both physical and mental-was dipping and that was the turning point of my life. This phase changed me as a person and helped me transition from HR to entrepreneurship. I went on to launch my own brand, my start-up – Urbane Essence and since then it’s been a joyful ride.

The biggest achievement throughout the journey has been the synergy that the brand has been able to create. Just at the launch, we had people from all across the globe visiting us on the website – different parts of America, Europe, West Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the major part being that from India. We have received an enormous response from people keen on associating or even working for the brand in less than 15 days of the launch. A huge number of people from the saree community are reaching out to us to collaborate in any way possible. So the love and warmth the brand has received are overwhelming because the brand itself stands for making ‘women fall in love with themselves, for helping them overcome body shaming and embrace their feminine self, to help them feel free in their bodies.

I also feel honoured to have sourced collections that highlight the deft craftsmanship of tribal artists whose work usually goes unnoticed.

India is a land of art and creativity, characterized by a rich tapestry of colors, fabrics, and art forms. Many art forms, such as Ajrakh, Warli, and Madhubani, originated in India during the Indus Valley Civilization about 2500-3000 years ago. 

Millions of artisans from countless villages across India rely on these art forms as their primary source of livelihood. The legacy of these ancient art forms transcends time, embodying the essence of a civilization steeped in creativity, spirituality, and cultural diversity. Although these art forms continue to captivate audiences worldwide, they have experienced a gradual decline over the centuries, mainly due to globalization.

Growing up in a country where women adorn garments that showcase these art forms, I was deeply inspired to make an attempt to revive them in my own ways. 

I personally feel, like many others, that they are a testament to the enduring beauty and significance of India’s artistic heritage. Hence, when I founded Urbane Essence, I wanted to initiate a movement—a movement to revive these dying art forms and prevent the gradual erosion of traditional artistic practices.

Some of the core values that I follow are:

1. Always work towards a vision – Having a clear, ambitious vision is very important for a business because it helps me steer clear of the obstacles by keeping the ‘vision’ in mind. Vision springs from our dream to achieve something, and I feel dreaming big, daring to dream is super important and basing our vision on that dream brings success closer to a brand.
2. Value people over process – I value people the way I value my life, my family, and my friends. Giving respect, appreciating people, and helping them achieve their highest potential while achieving the business goals is my core business principle.
3. Relationships matter a lot – My relationships with my customers, vendors, employees, and peers are what I hold very close to my heart. I believe working on relationships is as important as sourcing, social media, or marketing strategies.

As an entrepreneur one has to go through many ups and downs, there is uncertainty, risk, and a fear of failure. The more you push yourself beyond these fears the more you succeed. No matter how passionate & romantic you are about your business idea, you have to keep a reality check. You have to be in charge of the business and focus on its financials and always keep working towards the bottom line. There is no single aspect of the business that can get out of your attention, one needs to very closely hold on to all the details, functions, processes, analytics, and people. For a woman, it is very similar to running a household where she has to be in charge of everything. Being aggressive when it comes to business, and letting the soft, pure feeling of love flowing as a mother, wife is something one needs to balance well.

Managing one’s emotions while running a business is quite a challenge because it wavers from excitement, aggression to feeling low and lost at times. As the business moves through different phases, it also keeps affecting the entrepreneur’s emotions. And in such situations, it’s best to keep working on your inner self through meditation, yoga, reading, or any healing technique that one knows of. Balancing the inner and outer quest is a challenge when it comes to an entrepreneur but it’s not an impossible task…it’s simply a journey!

Urbane Essence represents my ‘leap of faith. With this venture, I have tried to combine my love of saree & passionate desire to start my own venture. My endeavour is a shout-out to all the women out there to love themselves and embrace their beauty. And there is no better way to love one than by draping oneself in the attire of their choice! This is the platform where a woman can choose what would make her fall in love with herself.

I love traveling and have travelled widely across India and Europe. Also, I love learning languages, with knowledge of Spanish, German, English, and Hindi. Been a topper in the Spanish language at Delhi University.

I have always held social work very close to my heart. Been actively involved with organizations like Udayan, CRY, NSS, and other social groups that work for children and women. My start-up, Urbane Essence also aims to work for the economic empowerment of women weavers in India.

You can visit our website https://www.myurbane.com/ to check out our collection and shop! and follow us on instagram https://www.instagram.com/urbane.essence/