Since childhood, Nandini Choudhary has been captivated by textiles and weaving, a passion sparked by her mother’s regular visits to weavers to select family garments. Those early experiences ignited a dream: to one day open her own weaving studio. After spending 20 years in the corporate sector, Nandini felt the urge to pursue something more meaningful, something that would enable her to drive social change. When her company abruptly closed in 2019, she saw it as the perfect moment to follow her passion. “I always wanted to do this, but I had a stable job, and I could never think about starting over. When the company shut down, I decided it was time to go after my dream,” she shared. This marked the beginning of Libaas – a textile brand based in Guwahati, Assam.
Establishing Libaas came with its share of challenges, but Nandini’s passion and determination helped her push forward. Organising three exhibitions within a year, she showcased her brand and cultivated a loyal client base. For her, building Libaas wasn’t just about creating a business; it was about empowering women, especially those who were hardworking but financially disadvantaged. “I want to make a difference in the lives of other women. Many of my weavers balance household responsibilities, farming, and raising children alongside their work. If Libaas can support them, I’ll feel I’ve truly succeeded,” she said.
Focusing on handwoven silk fabrics for clothing and furnishings, Nandini invested half her life savings into setting up Libaas. Her vision is to expand her business, particularly by selling locally produced eri and muga silk to designer houses, which would generate more revenue and better support for her weavers. “Diversifying my client base and refining my marketing strategy are now priorities,” she explained. Since starting, Nandini has relied on social media to reach customers, using Facebook to sell her products online.
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The COVID-19 pandemic presented a setback, drastically affecting sales and forcing Nandini to close her physical store. Despite this, her weavers continued to work from home, safely producing materials. As restrictions have lifted, she is hopeful for a resurgence. “Now that people are out again, demand is picking up,” she remarked.
Nandini believes that, as an entrepreneur entering a new industry, one must be patient and focused. “It’s not like receiving a monthly paycheck as you would in a job; running a business requires a different mindset,” she shared.
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