IKI-CHIC COVER STORY

A brand that is all about fashion, comfort, luxury, and exclusive design. Coming together with its team to indulge the customer in a beautiful shopping experience, IkiChic caters to the finest fashion trends and some fashionable yet comfortable clothes. At Iki-Chic, customers are the foremost priority,

“client loyalty is our company’s supreme aim."

says Additti, the co-founder and head designer at Iki-Chic.

“We have been and will always be focused to provide high-end fashionable attires to our fashion feasters.

The Brand Story

All her life Additti had been actively involved with arts and all kinds of creative stuff. After obtaining her fashion degree, she worked with her father as a fashion designer.

A fashion-conscious soul that she had been her entire life, Additti was always showered with an appreciation for her commendable fashion sense. Despite a long break from her professional life, she had a rich experience of the fashion world and the required knack.

Amidst the turmoil of the Corona Virus Pandemic, Additti again found her calling. When the Pandemic unexpectedly knocked on our door followed by a series of lockdowns, Additti started a onestop online shopping destination for western wear. “The idea stuck with me while I was reading the book IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Frances Miralles and Hector Garcia” , she says. “The title of the book means finding the purpose of your life and as miraculous as it could be, this book gave me exactly what I needed at that moment.

Giving the much-needed direction to her creativity and finding her purpose Additti restarted the creative journey in a new avatar. IKIGAI gave her the purpose and the push that she needed to launch her own fashion brand Iki-Chic, which is named after the book itself. The website delivers high-end comfortable fashion to everyone’s doorstep without any hassle.

The challenges were Big but Temporary

Iki-Chic was launched in June 2020 when Covid was at its peak. “Though the brand was launched during covid, the Pandemic itself was the biggest challenge.”, the founder says. “Initially, every step was challenging. We didn’t have any team and we couldn’t do one-to-one interaction with the applicants. Zoom interviews were conducted to recruit the staff. Then, manufacturing clothes seemed difficult because of the lack of sewing staff. And then it was the photoshoots of the final product because photographers and models were not available. Covid made everything almost impossible.”, Additti elaborates. “Also, party wears not being in demand was a challenge for us which was and is a huge category on our website. ” , she adds.

Eventually, everything fell into its place and soon Iki-Chic became one of the most loved fashion brands. “It’s the love of the customers that helped us fight against all odds and flourish despite all the challenges. ” , Additti adds.

The Brilliant Designer and her Statement Style

The founder, Additti Jain is the designer behind each of Iki Chic’s clothes. Her statement style is every such cloth that makes her feel comfortable yet stylish. She says, “Comfort and style are the things that I always keep in mind while designing so that my customers get the best designs without compromising on comfort. I can say that it’s my statement style.”

Trendy and Latest Product Catalogue

The stunning range of raiment includes many categories like Iki-Basic, Iki-Bae, and Iki-Premium, and customers can find many such categories on the website. The founder, Additti proudly claims that Iki clothes are not only trendy but very comfortable too and would become a glamorous part of every female’s wardrobe. “We have got you covered for every occasion as we have a wide range of comfytyle products on our website. We launch a new collection of high-street women’s wear fashion attires every week just to be part of your esteemed wardrobe.”, she says.

The team starts planning 3 months prior for any upcoming festive collection. To make the collection up to the taste of the latest fashion lovers, the designing team regularly go through the fashion forecast for upcoming trends; watches runways and international fashion shows. The team religiously work on the strategies, material, designs, colors, and prints so they can create the best Iki-fashion for you.

Going International soon

The brand is expecting to go overseas in the coming 5 years from now and hoping to capture the international e-comm market.

Choose Iki-Chic

Iki fashion clothes are the best option to turn your boring wardrobe into a show’s-topper one. And the best thing is that you don’t have to worry about them being expensive because they are not!!!

Additti gladly invites every fashion enthusiast to visit the website and shop for what they love. In her words, “You have every right reason to shop from our website because we offer high-quality international fashion in India at minimal and most affordable prices. We cater to the masses and deliver high-street fashion to every girl’s doorstep.

We have the quickest delivery options and we deliver the products within 2-3 days after you place the order. We have always stood true to our words and we will always have your back when it comes to styling you in a comfy-tyle way.

INTERVIEW SECTION

Additti Jain is the creative head of Iki Chik. Graduating from Pearl Academy in India and FIT, New York, Additti always had a creative mindset and that’s how everything has worked for her in her professional life. A go-getter and a perfectionist, Additti has always achieved professionalism and perfection in her work. Additti finds peace and happiness among her family- two beautiful kids and her husband Himanshu Jain who is her business partner as well. She is fond of painting and cooking. She is the owner of a confident personality and embraces life as it comes to her. It was an awesome experience to get to know her. In the following conversation, she talks about her experiences and how she established herself as an entrepreneur.

ADDITTI JAIN

FOUNDER IKI-CHIC

What does it mean to you to be a fashion designer? Do you think it’s a responsibility and why?

Additti: Being a designer comes naturally to me. I don’t have to make any special effort for designing clothes. I knew my calling was to be part of the fashion industry since I was a young girl. Coming to the second part of the question, yes, it’s a responsibility. I believe any kind of work you do is a responsibility. As a designer, if I am creating something I am responsible for every aspect of my work.

What happens to be the most unexpected source of inspiration for you as a fashion designer?

Additti: Every time I open my grandmother’s almirah, I always get fascinated by her printed sarees. Inspired by her evergreen printed sarees, I am motivated to bring back the heritage era in the modern world. You can even see the same in one of our latest collections which are based on evergreen print designs.

What’s the most ideal environment for you to work in to ignite your creativity?

Additti: Most ideal environment for me would be a place where I am surrounded by positivity and happiness, a place where I have my team working with me in harmony and supporting me in everything that I do. I believe in unity at work, and all moving ahead in sync to accomplish our goals with a team spirit is what I always make sure of.

What are your strengths and weakness as a team leader?

Additti: I am very focused and hardworking since I was a child, I think that, slowly, this has become my strength. I bring my whole team together because, I believe, teamwork is a crucial aspect of my work. Although I started working late in my life, somewhere I feel I have achieved a part of what I have always wanted. It’s still a long way to go but I am content as I am efficiently balancing my professional and personal life very well. Talking about my weakness, I would say that I am a stickler for perfection and that becomes a bit challenging sometimes. When we are working with someone outside our team, it’s tough to find perfection and I require that zeal for my work.

Additti, you have worked with several celebrities having varied tastes and styles. How has your experience been and what did you learn while working with influential personalities?

Additti: Each influencer has a different taste and schedule. They want things to be done in a rush, so we sometimes have to cope-up with their timelines and it gets challenging for us at times. But overall, it has been a fruitful experience working with them.

How do you feel when you see celebrities on TV wearing Iki-Chic clothes?

Additti: I feel so grateful that in such a short span of time we have achieved so many things. Its always a pleasure to watch such influential personalities wearing ‘Iki’ outfits on such big social platforms. We have been associated with top Bollywood shows like Bigg Boss on television, and I take pride in seeing these celebrities wearing our designs so well in their own way. Archana Gautam is the recent celebrity who wore our outfit in Big Boss-Season 16. I was so glad to see her enjoying the attire.

Who is your favorite fashion designer and why?

Additti: Coco channel has to be one of my all-time favorite designers. Her elegantly casual designs inspired women of fashion to abandon complicated, uncomfortable clothes, which is, in a way, what fashion means to me as well.

Considering the responsibility in your field and the work pressure, like everyone your might also feel stressed. What do you do when you feel stressed and under pressure?

Additti: I am very spiritual. So when I feel stressed I chant. I chant a lot to keep myself calm and composed. And I try to spend as much time as possible with my family. When I am with them I feel stronger. Just spending time with my husband and my daughters, laughing with them, and watching Netflix is a big stress buster for me.

If not a fashion designer, which career would have suited you best and why?

Additti: All through my childhood, I had a vested interest in the arts and have grown up honing my creativity. Had I not been a fashion designer, I would have definitely been an artist as I am very fond of painting.

Please share the most cherished and memorable moment of your professional and personal life.

Additti: Professionally, if I have to say, we recently participated in a fashion show for a charity called ‘The Charter Night’ . It was my most memorable moment as it was our very first fashion show. And personally, if I see, I love spending time with my family, my husband Himanshu and my daughters. My entire journey with them has been memorable but holding my daughters in my arms for the first time and bringing a life into this world has to be the most cherished moment of my life.