BUILDING LEGACY

Anita & Yash Dongre are firm in their vision for the label's futuremindfulness in business and life

- Barry Rodgers

When designer Anita Dongre embarked on building her fashion empire at the age of 25, she leaned heavily on her family to realise her vision. "The beginning was tough; I was struggling and initially doing everything alone. Then, I sought help from my younger sister, and later, my brother joined us. When we started, there really was no established fashion industry in India," she recalls.

The venture began with just the three of them and has since expanded into an extended family of over 2,500 employees. "I've always enjoyed working with my family because our values have been aligned from the start, and we continue to share the same vision. Even when I gave birth to my son, Yash, I took him to work with me every day," she says.

Despite working closely with her family, Anita tells ELLE, "We all zone out on Sundays. I think it's very healthy to take that one day off from work to spend time with family and not discuss work at all. It's a good balance, and that's something we've always practised."

With her son, Yash, by her side, serving as director and president of business operations at the House Of Anita Dongre, Anita feels the label is in good hands. "He (Yash) is the future, and he brings so much to the table. I recognise that tech is an integral part of our operations. Given Yash's youth and expertise, I rely on him to handle those aspects. Our company is quite tech-forward, with significant investments in various software solutions. His deep understanding of tech and ability to keep up with the latest advancements have been invaluable," says Anita.

BUILDING A LEGACY