This is a story of a young girl, who has been a constant topper. However, one fine day she realises that what she is doing is not something that she loves to live her entire life. Her journey of determination. Accepting challenges and making a strong move each time after a setback. That is what this story will be about. Meet Annika Saraf, a Milan based luxury accessory designer with her roots in India.
Annika Saraf calling
After completing her bachelor’s in economics in 2014. She pursues further studies at the London School of Economics. Also, political sciences to pursue a masters’ degree in the subject. However, her calling lay somewhere else. Spearheading the luxury segment is always closer to her heart. With courage and determination, she moved to Milan. As everyone knows, Milan is a hotbed for all things luxury. From there she embarks on a rather magical journey to dive deeper into the world of luxury. and her calling to be an accessory designer in the future.
Matching Skills with Qualification
To back herself with technical knowledge. She completed an intensive course in Accessory Design from Istituto Marangoni. Following it with a masters in Luxury Accessory Design and Management. A firm believer of experiences over materialism. She couples with a keen interest in arts too! Annika gives shape to the concept of a product. That is a fusion of both of these elements. She keeps improvising. During the final lapse, her project got selected. To be launched in the Fall/Winter 2020. On a global scale with an Italian brand with a heritage of more than 110 years, Borbonese. The product proves to be a blockbuster hit. It led her to work in Borbonese, Italy.
Journey of Changing Career – Choosing her passion
Annika pursues her Bachelors in Economics from Delhi University. After which she did her Master from the London School of Economic and Political Sciences. When a conversation with her father struck hard. That makes her think about why she is not? rather she should be choosing her passion over the career she is presently pursuing. Her father says her ‘If you feel this is not the thing you want to do for life, then you should really do something towards which your inclination is!
You have always been passionate about designing so you must pursue it. Rather than regretting it 5 years down the line. It does not make any sense of you not loving what you are doing. As this is a sensitive time of your life. If you don’t want to do something, you should not do that! Think and if fashion is your love then be accessory designer, which you wish for.
Her Dad gave her an example about his generation. Where there was no access to the internet. Moreover, understanding what is happening around in the world. They had to do things that were common. Excelling at only what everyone was doing. That turns out to be the perfect professions such as Doctor, CA, Teacher, Nurse etc. Going out of the box was never a choice for them.
Later, she took a step that’s bold enough. Towards learning about designing and fashion even with no background.
The Biggest Milestone she achieved
The biggest milestone that Annika achieved was in the final semester of her masters. There has been a design competition by an Italian brand with a heritage of more than 110 years, Borbonese. She won the competition and also started working for them. That’s how she entered the luxury industry as an accessory designer at age of 23 years, It was the biggest milestone achieved by her as her batchmates and friends who took part in that competition had more experience in the Luxury and Fashion designing industry than her.
Her advice to budding entrepreneurs
Annika advises the budding entrepreneurs to ‘Find a mentor for themselves, as it is very important to have someone whom you can look up to’. She says that ‘You need to have someone who can guide you when you are stuck. It could be a friend, professors who are a little experienced in the field, on whom you can rely for advice.
She never had a mentor. Of course, she had a friend who was experienced and guided her when needed. But she advises the budding entrepreneurs, to talk to people, get to know their experiences, what to expect from what you are doing, from where you are and where to go. So having a mentor is very important.
Struggles & Challenges
Annika says that Language has been a very big struggle for her initially. Adjusting with the people and the culture around them is yet another hurdle she has to overcome. Moreover, she comes from a completely different industry. She says that the Fashion world is not the warmest. “They judge you on everything you do.” When she begins working for Borbonese. This turns out to be the rough phase for her to adjust to the environment. As all the people speak Italian. Even though she understood it, she could not speak fluently. It turns out to be mentally stressful to attend meetings that are 5 hours long. Where the language spoken is Italian. She has to first translate it in her mind and then take the notes. Making her favourite subject very stressful emotionally and mentally.
Further, she has always excelled academically and has been a topper. At the design school, she could not see that happening for almost 2 years. This led to a lot of disturbance in her mind. She questioned herself if she did the right thing by leaving her economic studies.
The competition in the fashion industry is very high and the jobs are very few. It is really difficult to get a job or even an internship as an accessory designer. So for an outsider, it might appear to be very fancy but the real insides are not really good, says Annika. Mental struggle is the biggest challenge that she has to face.
You have it and its time to nail it
Annika says, there was a lot of mental and physical stress she had gone through. She have to travel to 2 different cities for work which was a little hectic for her. But at the end of the day, what kept her moving ahead is the thought that ‘I chose this life and if I want to make something out of it, I have to face all of this and have the deaf ear for the things that are not serving good.’
When things used to get too much she would take a day off and not do anything and calm herself. As she knew whatever she was doing, she loved it and wanted to do it for her life.
She believed that she is not even 1 per cent of the person today that she was 5 years back, this struggle made her what she is today and it's worth where it is taking her. In the end, either you can give up and or push yourself further, she says.
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