Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fashion but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Veronica Tharmalingam, Founder of Veronica Tharmalingam - Luxury Evening Handbags and Jewelry, located in Beverly Hills, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a luxury handbag and jewelry designer. All my handbags and jewelry are handmade and are limited edition. My customers are both men and women who are looking for something out of the ordinary and want to own a statement piece that creates the wow effect. Their purchase holds power: They are buying sustainable fashion - we do not mass produce and keep our carbon footprint to the lowest by using what's already available in the market, and 30% of all sales go towards charity in India and Srilanka towards child labor abolishment and better medical care.
Tell us about yourself
I was born in Chennai, lived there until I was 12, and moved to Paris. Even though I am and will always be a Chennai girl, I wouldn't say it's just my Chennai background that shaped my work. It's much deeper than that; being of Tamil origin and growing up in that culture, and being immersed in all the colorful sarees, gold jewelry, and accessories of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and India contributed tremendously, of course. But it's mostly by watching my mother do her shopping for sarees and jewelry that I learned how to mix and match colors and jewelry patterns that are not common combinations. The stories she would tell me about her mother and my grandmother helped me develop an eye for fashion and colors. I guess it is safe to say that it is kind of in my DNA… in the 30s and 40s, my grandmother was very avant-garde and a style icon in her city. Even before Fashion Week existed, she would tell her tailor to make an outfit inspired by a movie she saw, and she turned heads wherever she would go with her sarees and would always mix and match her gold jewelry.
My mother was the same. She would place custom orders at the stores for sarees and gold jewelry with unusual color combinations that would throw off and surprise the salespeople, and they would even warn my mother that it was not going to look pretty, etc. She would be so sure of her choices, and of course, the results were always amazing, and the store would order more and sell out each time. She was a trendsetter and couturier herself. She would tailor clothing for herself and us (me and my brother) that would always have a wow factor jewelry. My mother had a very keen eye for fashion and what would be trendy in the future. So, I grew up observing all this and unconsciously soaking it all in. Ultimately, this is what led me to combine saree raw silk and jewelry techniques.
When I moved to Paris, France, I was scouted on the streets and became a model. I worked with major brands in Europe and Asia and walked the ramp for Paris Fashion Week for Haute Couture. This experience expanded my vision for style and fashion. This helped me develop my own style, which mixes Indian boldness and French sophistication. I would always carry an accessory that was from India every time I went out, and people would always stop me and ask about it. This is how the idea was born; I realized this is a unique combination of fabric and jewelry that could resonate with women around the world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am extremely proud and humbled to see that our pieces are getting a lot of attention on red carpets like the Emmys and BET Awards, and from international editorials like Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Glamour, L'Officiel, to mention a few... and of course this interview right here with Go Solo Story.
I have to give props and am very grateful to my amazing PR Piera and her team at PR SOLO, who have been advocates for our vision and the brand since day one.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It's like being a mom: you just don't have time to take a break. There are literally no excuses not to do what you need to do to keep the ball rolling. You are sick with a 105 F fever; you still keep at it. Like my 5-year-old daughter aptly says when I tell her I'm not well, "mommy, here let me kiss you to make you feel better, now let's play."
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be kind to yourself.
- It's ok to make mistakes; we learn from them and move on.
- Continue to do things that you love and that make you happy.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I have both a handbag and a jewelry line at the moment. The name of the handbag line is the Rani Collection, which means queen in Tamil, while the jewelry collection is named Maheswary, after my mother. My vision for these collections and my brand, in general, is to empower every woman to cultivate her uniqueness. My bags and jewelry are a symbol for women to find and nurture the graceful authority and the regal elegance that exists within themselves. To own a Veronica Tharmalingam handbag and jewelry is to dare to express this inner warrior queen every day with class, authenticity, confidence, and style. This is tied into the names of each model, which take inspiration from unique women from the past and present.
The Rani Collection has six statement handbags that were initially designed for evening wear but evolved into daywear. I see these as show stoppers with bright colors and intricate details to make that statement even with a pair of jeans. All the handbags except for one are made of raw silk and are lined with the royal blue VT brand color inside. I am also a practical person, and I do not like heavy handbags, so I made it a point to make my bags as light as possible. Even with the intricate artwork, you will see on them, we picked very light and high-end materials. Another problem I wanted to solve was to have actual space inside the clutch, for example. I've always heard my girlfriends complain about their clutch or evening bags not having space to put basic essential things inside them. Even my smallest clutch can fit a phone, lip gloss, car key, and 1-2 credit cards (YES!! For real). Another thing I wanted to ensure was that these bags were versatile. By changing the way the straps hook onto the bags, you can achieve multiple looks.
The Maheswary Collection is my jewelry collection. It started off as my own private collection that I hand-picked from skilled artisans around India. I had not initially planned to bring these to market, but again, the positive feedback I got whenever I would wear these led me to start thinking about incorporating them as part of my brand. I developed a deeper relationship with the artisans, and they are now part of the team and work on statement jewelry pieces - there are literally only one or two of each model. And our new addition is the new Maldives drop.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://veronicatharmalingam.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veronicatharmalingam
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veronicatharmalingam/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/veronica-tharmalingam/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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