From a Teenage Dream to The Desi Closet
When I was sixteen, I told my dad I wanted to work in fashion.
He couldn’t quite comprehend it. In our generation, the narrative was clear: study something substantial, get a degree, choose stability. The arts were beautiful, yes — but not necessarily practical. Not necessarily safe.
Now, years later, I often chuckle with him and say, “Well… look.”
Not only did I end up in fashion, but I built the most incredible community because of it.
And sometimes I wonder — was this my midlife crisis?
Just kidding.
The truth is far simpler and far more tender. When my daughter was born, all I wanted was to be there. For the school drop-offs. The pick-ups. The extracurricular activities. The quiet moments that shape a childhood. I didn’t want to miss her growing up because I was building someone else’s dream.
So I built my own.
I truly believe our lives are a reflection of the actions we took long before we could see the outcome. The small, brave decisions. The quiet persistence. The late nights. The belief that maybe — just maybe — this could work.
When I launched Desi Closet, I didn’t have a five-year plan. I didn’t have investors or a grand strategy. I had a newborn in my arms and a laptop in front of me. That’s it.
The website? Built by me.
No massive tech team. No fancy developers. Just determination, Google searches, and a deep desire to create something meaningful.
What people don’t always see is that in those early days, I was declined many seats at many tables. Doors that didn’t open. Opportunities that didn’t materialise. Rooms where I wasn’t quite taken seriously yet.
And that’s okay.
Because time has a beautiful way of shifting things.
Some of those very same tables that once had no space for me now welcome me warmly. And while that feels affirming, it also taught me something far more important.
It taught me the value of belief.
Because when you’re just starting out, you don’t need grand applause. You don’t need a spotlight. Sometimes you just need one person to look at you and say, “I believe in what you’re building.”
Having walked that road, I have a perpetually open invitation to a seat at my table. I may not always have the biggest platform or the most resources to offer — but I can offer belief. I can offer encouragement. I can offer sincerity. And sometimes, in the beginning, that’s more than enough to give someone the boost they need to keep going. (This is not only business related, but even if you just need a pick me up one random Tuesday when its raining)
At the time, I didn’t envision what Desi Closet would grow into. I simply wanted flexibility, purpose, and a way to honour both my passion and my role as a mother.
Fast forward five years — my daughter and my business have grown side by side. And that thought alone fills me with emotion.
Both have crossed the five-year mark.
Both have stretched me, taught me, humbled me.
Both have made me stronger.
What overwhelms me most is the gratitude.
For the clients who became friends.
For the strangers who called me for the first time and left a lasting impact.
For every woman who trusted my brand with her special moments — her events, her celebrations, her milestones.
Fashion, for me, was never just about clothing. It was about identity. Heritage. Confidence. Belonging. It became a bridge between who I was at sixteen and who I am now.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: sometimes the dreams we whisper as teenagers don’t disappear. They wait. Patiently. Until we are brave enough — or ready enough — to bring them to life.
And to anyone standing at the edge of something new — I see you.
If you are building quietly, dreaming boldly, or holding an idea in your heart that feels both exciting and terrifying… I salute you. Starting something new requires courage most people will never understand.
Take the step anyway.
Do it even if your voice shakes.
Do it even if you feel fear sitting beside you.
Do it before you feel fully ready.
Fear is not a stop sign. It is often proof that you are stepping into growth.
The life you want may be waiting on the other side of that one brave decision.
With love and gratitude,
Suvarna Gangai
Founder|The Desi Closet SA
Ps : This photo during a shoot in Paris left me spellbound - It reminded me that my daughter is growing into the women she is always watching. I hope she is forever spellbound by the life I have lived and that it keeps her far from an ordinary life.
