How Fashion Designer Aditi Agarwal made it to IIM Ahmedabad

Aditi Agarwal

Aditi Agarwal, a NIFT graduate is one of the few faces of IIM Ahmedabad’s 2017-2019 PGPM batch who exemplify "why fit in when you can stand out".

Born and brought up in Lucknow, Aditi was inclined towards designing since childhood. After graduating from NIFT, she joined her family business of hand-embroidered garments and went on to set up "Go Lucknow" an online retail startup.

Later she decided to get an MBA degree and shifted her focus on CAT. Though it wasn’t easy for her to go back to text books, she came out with flying colours in the exam, courtesy discipline.

Next was interview call from IIM Ahmedabad. And what actually helped her convert IIM Ahmedabad call, was her creative background. In an interview with Shiksha, Aditi revealed how her non-traditional background made her feel extraordinary in this journey. Read one.

I’ve been born and brought up in Lucknow. I had an inclination towards design from an early age and was focused towards it from the beginning. Textiles, colors and handicrafts intrigued me and I became passionate about designing and went on to pursue my graduation from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Raebareli, with a specialization in Fashion Design (Apparels). After completing my graduation last year, I joined my family business, which is designing and manufacturing of Chikankari hand-embroidered garments for corporate retail giants. When I joined the business, I focused on building our own brand presence under the name of "Go Lucknow", which is an online retail startup. Apart from selling on our own portal, we have collaborated with various other websites like Flipkart, Amazon, Limeroad and Paytm.

After finishing my Bachelors in Design, I came back home to contribute to the family business, but I soon realized that without a formal training and education, my goal of making my clothing brand a national, or even a global, brand was far from accomplished. Hence I decided to study further and pursue an MBA.

IIM Ahmedabad is what it is. There is a reason that it stands at such a prestigious position and this year when they are promoting diversity in all fields, I decided to go for IIM Ahmedabad. Also, it was my only IIM call.

Discipline is the key. I devoted certain fixed hours to work, and then certain fixed hours to studying per day. Courses at NIFT are extremely practically oriented. To get back to books was a major challenge and I knew that I had to devote those particular hours for studying every day. This is where discipline plays a major role.

My interview experience was confusing because yes, there were high as well as low points. My interview revolved around fashion and those were my high points where I could represent my graduation major in a good light. My low points would be where I couldn’t justify something I had written earlier or wasn’t able to answer a question directed at me. I couldn’t make out from my interview whether I had cracked it or not. 

I didn’t! As I said earlier, there were highs and lows but I am happy that I was able to represent my graduation major in a positive light and I hope designers don’t shy away, and pursue business management if they plan to.

A lot! All throughout my preparation, or even during interviews, when I couldn’t find anyone from my field, I didn’t feel left out, I felt like I stood out somehow and that made me feel extraordinary. I’m so glad that IIM Ahmedabad decided to go forward with promoting diversity this year. It has given people like me a chance to prove ourselves and I am more than motivated to perform to the best of my capability.

It’s perhaps the best decision I have come across. Diversity students may not be very good at regular subjects that the majority might be, but we excel in specialized subjects and that is something to be extremely proud of. This system gives a fair chance to everyone. At the end of the day, we have to understand that what is taken for granted by engineers or management students, is something we have to work very hard for. And getting selected is one thing, the real battle has just begun.

It’s very exciting. There is so much coming your way and so many opportunities to make use of. It gets hectic but the rigor only prepares us of what there is to come our way in our professional lives. There are a lot of extracurricular activities that happen in college throughout the year to balance the academic pressure.

It is not easy; it is going to be difficult in terms of coping up with subjects, but at the same time, it is nothing that you cannot achieve. Perseverance and discipline will help you through. We have been challenging societal norms by means of the choices we have made in the past regarding our education, and we will continue to do so. This will eventually bring about a positive change in the society that we all desire. We will establish that everyone has the right to study whatever they want to, irrespective of where they come from.

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