Nikita Karizma is one of the uniquely gifted fashion designers and influencers you should know about. She is a British-Indian fashion designer taking over the industry with her unique designs and stunning apparel. A member of the British Fashion Council as of 2022, Nikita has marveled the entertainment scene with her collections and has worked with numerous A-list celebrities across the globe. “We dress the world’s most influential it-girls, from Hollywood A-listers to UK stars and Bollywood film stars in India,” Nikita adds.
Some of the most influential celebrities Nikita has worked with include Kylie Jenner, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Winnie Harlow, Gwen Stefani, and Janhvi Kapoor. Though still young in her career, Nikita highlights dressing Paris Hilton for her music video with Kim Kardashian as a notable career highlights as she aspires to scale to even greater heights.
However, the fashion industry also stands out as a highly competitive industry, and you genuinely need to have something unique and authentic with a touch of unmatched creativity to make a name for yourself. That said, Nikita says you should be ready to invest in your dream before anyone else can believe in what you do. This was her biggest challenge, as she started her company without any loans or investments.
“I took custom orders from Little Mix for their tours & personal appearances when I left London College of Fashion. I used the money from these commissions to start my company, and have bootstrapped since then,” she narrates.
In addition, diving straight into entrepreneurship and evolving naturally while learning everything from raw experience can be tough, but it also offers the best lessons. Nikita had to source the right team who believed in her vision and dream. This meant learning what to look for in her colleagues and for her company. To her, having the right team on board significantly boosted her business, even in 2020, when the world was battling with the COVID pandemic. “Navigating my studio through COVID was an entrepreneurial exercise through an economic storm. So many of my favorite design houses shut during the pandemic, but we focused on entrepreneurship during this time,” she says.
Nikita advises other ambitious individuals to focus on their passion and craft. Find uniquely identifiable notes in your craft where people recognize you for your product or service. Remember, your skillset can continually evolve. Establishing an unquestionable work ethic characterized by hard work, professionalism and integrity will give you an edge over the competition. Nikita believes in staying grounded and humble regardless of the noise coming your way. Also, be nice to people and make them feel good, as it leaves them with a happy, long-lasting impression of you. “You don’t need to follow the rules—find your own path in the industry,” Nikita adds.
Having already bought a commercial property, Nikita says that the next big project is to start construction. Nikita’s goal for this year is to establish the dream workspace for her brand, which will help improve their service delivery. Additionally, Nikita looks forward to creating a branded aesthetic for filming and communication to help improve the brand. “I would love to release more collaborations with musicians. We released a collaboration this year with my friend Antigoni and her clothing line Antonia Bronze,” Nikita concludes.
Photography by: Courtesy of Nikita Karizma
