But could a girl from a small town in India pursue this dream of fashion design? Niki decided the answer was "yes". And it may have been this upbringing of appreciating things until they fell apart (shoes were worn until holes appeared), mending clothes until they could no longer be mended (her mother undid her skirt hems as she grew taller), and hand-me-downs from older siblings that helped her grasp the importance of clothing.
After all, the single new dress Niki received annually, from age 9 through 12, was proof to her mother that she had a different eye for fashion than most children her age. The tradition of selecting a new frock for Diwali meant scouring for a specific color, design, and comfortable fabric, while her peers were less discerning. This ritual was important to Niki—and while she knew she was choosing a "cute dress", it was so much more than that.
Fast forward 25 years later, and Niki's desire to launch her own brand of "cute dresses" was reignited by supportive conversations with her partner. This encouragement turned into action, and the Cute Dresses brand was created, giving life to a dream that had been long buried.
Niki knows she won't be the last young woman to tuck away her dreams in favor of security and supporting her family. She wants her story to spread far and wide, giving hope to every young girl, from those in the small villages of developing nations to the fast-paced metropolises around the world. The message? Don't let your dream die. It's always possible, no matter who says otherwise.