Tanisha Mandolikar had always been passionate about fashion and clothing. She knew that her specific aesthetic and sense of style would appeal to a lot of people. Out of this keen desire to connect with people around, was born the thrift emporium Kiphaayat. But it wasn’t just the sense of style – it was about style with purpose and style that catered to certain needs.
Being a Gen-Z, Mandolikar resonated with her generation’s needs. She knew that they always want to keep up with trends but do not have enough money to constantly buy new things. And as the pandemic had just given a boost to the thrifting culture, a new journey began.
Established in March 2021, Kiphaayat has an online Instagram store and the brand also sells through pop-up stores.
In a conversation with Medianews4u.com, Tanisha explains, “A lot of us resort to fast fashion brands which are not just expensive but are a complete hazard to the environment as well. Many a time, these brands reject the clothes for a negligible defect which doesn’t make sense. And that is where I come into picture wherein I source products from the brands (which are discarded) and sell them at a cheaper price.”
She also gets clothes that are donated and picks up export ‘rejects’. Being focused on promoting sustainability, Tanisha has also taken special care of the packaging, which is entirely eco-friendly.
She adds, “We do not use plastic at all. We make use of paper bags or old Dunzo and Swiggy bags. Also, instead of taping the items, we staple them. We only use paper products, newspapers and jute.”
From handling the logistics and social media channels to reaching out to the vendors and modeling for the clothes, Tanisha manages it all alone. And all this while handling PR for Nei Native, the company behind handcrafted, artisanal desi cow ghee brand A2.
Talking about her journey, she reflects, “I had no prior experience in the fashion industry. But fashion is something that comes very naturally to me and I knew that this is something that I can move ahead with. The journey of my brand has been great. You have to do everything from scratch and you are always on the run. You learn from the mistakes you make and that’s how you go forward. ”
Mandolikar credits her family and friends who have been very supportive. She is also very grateful to her customers who are very understanding, patient and pour love on her products.
While Kiphaayat is already garnering positive reviews from customers, Tanisha is now planning to assemble a team. She feels that with a little more investment, the brand can go on to make a much bigger name for itself.
