Leaders

The digital world and fashion have evolved progressively over the decades, changing with time, taste, and trend. But few could have predicted that both of these disciplines would complement one other so effectively. Fashion design has advanced to new heights and may now be learned through digital mediums. One of the early proponents of the merging of the two industries was ShwetaBatra.

The perceptive entrepreneur gauged a skill gap in the fashion designing space and believe that e-learning was the right medium to make learning accessible for all. Shweta thus founded Fashive in 2019. Based in Singapore, the platform is a holistic and cross-functional e-learning platform for various fashion-related education need.

At the helm of affairs is Shweta, who also functions as the CEO. She comes armed with a master degree in Textiles and Apparels. The astute business leader has created an amalgamation of industry and professional training expertise based on industry learning standards. Today she leads her team at Fashive to be independent, responsible and agile. 

In an in-depth interview with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine team, Shwetashares with us her thoughts on leadership, and professional experience as an entrepreneur in the edtech and fashion industry.

Take us through your early educational journey and prior industry experience that you bring to the table. What motivated you to establish Fashive?

I grew up in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The vibrant customs and colorful costumes have always influenced my fashion sense. I earned a Master Degree in Textiles and Apparels from ShreematiNathibaiDamodarThackersey Women's University, Mumbai. Following that, I began working as a trainer at NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) in Delhi. I then joined In Gap Inc., where I was in charge of merchandising and vendor management. I spent a long period working at the Textile and Fashion Industry Training Centre in various roles, and I am currently an Academic and Examination Board Member there. I worked as a consultant at the International Trade Centre as well.

Through personal experience I noticed a gaping skill and knowledge gap in the fashion industry. Although training is the greatest method for overcoming skill difficulties, it is frequently limited owing to scheduling, cost, region, and the availability of high-quality training information. As a result, I recognized that the fashion sector needed a digital gateway that was both inexpensive and meets the demands of the industry, and so Fashiva was founded.

Give us an overview of Fashive. What are the platform's primary features and capabilities? Also, throw some light on the various courses that the platform offers?

Fashive, founded in 2019, is a dedicated e-learning platform that offers a wide range of fashion-related courses. It is a full-featured digital learning platform for the fashion industry, developed by industry professionals. The organization has built an experience to provide opportunities to fashion students and professionals to study and enhance their skill sets. It offers accumulated industry and professional training expertise, according to industry learning standards that create functional efficacy.

It ensures high-quality learning content that can be implemented instantly by using digital interactive solutions that allow for simple comprehension at any time and from anywhere in the world.

Fashive offers professional soft skills training as well as technical fashion courses including Merchandising, Footwear, and Fashion Essentials. It also provides specialized courses such as Fashion Design & Product Development, Footwear Sketching, Garment Costing, Quality Assurance in the Apparel Industry etc. For innovative learning, we employ tools such as video and gamification. Fashive also gives lifetime access to the gateway, allowing them to learn at any moment.

The startup has been accredited by the CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certification and awarded as finalist of APAC EdTech Venture Competition.

As the primary leader at the firm, how do you drive growth within Fashive?  What is your leadership philosophy?

Fashive has a culture of knowledge sharing, is open to change, accepts input, and accepts supports when it needed. We had a fantastic marketing plan when we launched Fashive, but Covid-19 had a big impact on it, and we had to adjust our game plan rapidly. We used another medium to approach people. However, because of my team's agility, we were able to churn and adjust product requirements. Fashive puts employees at ease as they work because if employees are provided with a pleasant working environment, the company will grow by default.

“Fashive has a culture of knowledge sharing, is open to change, accepts input, and accepts supports when needed”

My leadership philosophy is to empower employees. I allow my team makes decisions because they are capable of making judgments and improvements on their own.

What are some of the most significant trends developing in the global fashion space? How do you keep yourself well aligned with the periodic evolutions occurring in the marketing landscape and the tech world?

The most significant trends developing in the global fashion space are people, particularly the younger generation, have become increasingly concerned about environmental sustainability. Manufacturers can no longer manipulate customers due to advancements in technology. As a result, many organizations are now talking openly about bringing transparency to their sourcing strategy and ethical practices.

I keep myself up to date by reading voraciously and taking several courses. I am a United Nations fashion consultant, so working directly with the industry provides me a much broader understanding of what is required. I also attend global events such as Première Vision in France and Textile Executions in China and Hong Kong to learn about emerging trends.

As a successful business leader what advice would you present to young women and girls who aspire to follow in your footsteps and become successful business leaders and entrepreneurs?

Women have always been held back by a complicated combination of societal impediments. They face several societal restrictions as well as household duties. As a result, they overestimate their transferrable talents. They manage families, relationships, and society by employing transformation skills, which they may also utilize to operate a business. All they need is a dream, a passion, and the bravery to pursue it. I would advise young ladies to push themselves and pursue their dreams.

Shwetabatra, CEO And Co-Founder, Fashive

Shweta is CEO and Co-founder for Fashive responsible to bring digital learning solution for the fashion industry to improve the skill set and develop lifelong learning culture. Shweta is a dynamic go-getter, with a keen sense of fashion business and an unparalleled passion for training!