From street to ramp: Vaishali Shadangule's journey from India to Paris Haute Couture

Women who overcome adversity and follow their dreams are always an inspiration. A young woman named Vaishali Shadangule is becoming a role model for the new generation. Vaishali tells the story of how she came from a small street in India to the fashion ramp of Paris.

Vaishali (46) is the founder and designer of the brand Vaishali S. She started her career in 2001. Vaishali is also the first Indian to appear in the official calendar of Paris Haute Couture. Vaishali's collection, which promotes environmental protection and Indian design, gained global attention. Inspired by nature, the Breathe collection has become a hit on the fashion scene.

Vaishali is currently taking the Paris fashion ramp by creating waste-free designs. Vaishali's designs are an example of how fashion can be as eco-friendly as it is stylish.

From street to ramp

Born into an ordinary family in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Vaishali left home at the age of 17 to pursue a degree in computer engineering. She arrived in Bhopal with no prior knowledge of the city, but she was determined to succeed despite those who said a woman could not achieve such goals.

While working as an office assistant to cover her study expenses, the idea of fashion came to mind. She joined a local college, bought fashion studies books, and studied at home. Meanwhile, she received a placement offer in Gujarat but felt that Mumbai was the right place for her dreams.

Upon arriving in Mumbai, Vaishali struggled to find a job and faced many hardships. Eventually, she secured a job at a gym but never gave up on her dream. She began giving fashion tips to gym-goers. One of the women at the gym was the first to tell her that she had a flair for fashion and should design clothes.

In 2001, Vaishali took a loan and started a small boutique. Initially, she made clothes with the help of local tailors. Later, when she began making clothes herself, she noticed leftover fabric being wasted. She started creating new designs from the remaining fabric.

In 2012, Vaishali had the opportunity to showcase her work at a fashion show for the first time. Since then, there has been no looking back. She has presented 24 fashion shows to date. She has participated in the Paris Fashion Show and the Milan Fashion Week, becoming the first Indian woman to participate in both prestigious events.