CHENNAI: Arti Bagdy, the sole proprietor of AB Jewel Collezione, began hosting the Arti Bagdy Fashion Collezione in 2002. The first of its kind in the city then, the Collezione attempts to connect designers to buyers without the hassle of going through retailers. She speaks to CE about her work ethic and family life.
Tell us about your path to success
My journey has been long, I’ve been doing this for 17 years. Back then, people didn’t follow fashion closely. It was hard to convince north Indian designers to come down to the city. Chennai was disconnected from the fashion scene. Eventually word spread and now designers are approaching me. It has been long, but it’s rewarding and I’ve managed to achieve that which I set out to do.
Arti at home versus Arti at work.
I have two girls, and I take a backseat in day-to-day affairs. At work I’m a complete boss…a savage, if you will. I’m a perfectionist because you have to be persistent to execute your vision properly.
How important is family to you?
When I started off in this industry, my kids were very young. I had a lot of support from my family. It was something new and there were a lot of challenges and heartbreak. My husband was a source of silent support as he was understanding and would let me talk to him about the business. Balancing life and marriage is important to me. My girls have grown up, and they’ve seen me through my career. They’ve helped out a lot during the events, too.
What advice would you give your children?
I would tell my children to be passionate about what they do. Don’t look at money and returns at the end of the day. Passion, persistence and dedication are important, and I’m always trying to teach them that.
What do you do during your free time?
I don’t have a lot of free time. I used to be painter. I use oils and watercolours and would paint anything that I liked — scenery, people, anything. It was therapeutic and gave me peace of mind. I also love to travel.
I love going for long vacations, for about four to six weeks. I love to meet people from different cultures and walks of life.
If you could pick a different career, what would it be?
I don’t see myself doing anything else. If I could have an alternative career, I’d like to learn the art of perfume making and wine making, which I already know. My husband and I have made a lot of wine at home.
