Name: Archana Walavalker
City: Mumbai, India
Occupation: Co-founder and Creative head of Stylecracker
ST: Please tell us a brief about you.
Archana: I started off working at
L’Official as a stylist and then was a part of the launch team at Vogue India
as a Fashion Editor. After that I’ve styled celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Varun
Dhawan, Deepika Padukone, and Aishwarya Rai. I’ve styled for films like Kapoor
& Sons, Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania and Student of the year to name a few. I
am the founder and Creative Director of StyleCracker (in which Alia Bhatt is an
investor) and have spearheaded the styling team since inception.
L’Official as a stylist and then was a part of the launch team at Vogue India
as a Fashion Editor. After that I’ve styled celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Varun
Dhawan, Deepika Padukone, and Aishwarya Rai. I’ve styled for films like Kapoor
& Sons, Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania and Student of the year to name a few. I
am the founder and Creative Director of StyleCracker (in which Alia Bhatt is an
investor) and have spearheaded the styling team since inception.
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Archana: Oprah Winfrey! Because
she’s just epic, unbeatable, fearless, kind and the greatest philanthropist all
at the same time. What’s most inspiring about her is that she’s taken the
ugliest time of her life and made it her life’s mission to spread awareness towards
the betterment of human kind. She’s made opportunities for and helped millions
around the world.
she’s just epic, unbeatable, fearless, kind and the greatest philanthropist all
at the same time. What’s most inspiring about her is that she’s taken the
ugliest time of her life and made it her life’s mission to spread awareness towards
the betterment of human kind. She’s made opportunities for and helped millions
around the world.
ST: How
are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
Archana: It’s not just about one
day. Everyone (including me) needs to take personal responsibility, use our
voices, platforms and influence to spread the right message. I want to work
closely with the youth everyday because I believe they are the future and are
going to take us forward. I don’t want to shy away from having lofty goals to stand
up and work towards a happy, equal world, free of misery.
day. Everyone (including me) needs to take personal responsibility, use our
voices, platforms and influence to spread the right message. I want to work
closely with the youth everyday because I believe they are the future and are
going to take us forward. I don’t want to shy away from having lofty goals to stand
up and work towards a happy, equal world, free of misery.
ST: What is the most important message you want to send out to all
the women around the world on this occasion?
the women around the world on this occasion?
Archana: A message of hope. I want
to work towards uplifting a culture shift in our society. Even the smallest act
of courage matters as long as you are willing to take a step forward and to
create value wherever you go.
to work towards uplifting a culture shift in our society. Even the smallest act
of courage matters as long as you are willing to take a step forward and to
create value wherever you go.
ST: What
according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
Archana: Women empowerment is
celebrating women and women having freedom and independence.
celebrating women and women having freedom and independence.
ST: What
would you say are the main challenges facing women at present in India?
would you say are the main challenges facing women at present in India?
Archana: There are quite a few
actually. Female infanticide, dowry, domestic violence, equal education, equal
pay for equal work, sexual harassment and women being objectified.
actually. Female infanticide, dowry, domestic violence, equal education, equal
pay for equal work, sexual harassment and women being objectified.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years?
Archana: Empowering women through
StyleCracker. I want to ensure that they have an accessible personal shopper
and to create an opportunity for them to use their creativity to be successful
and independent.
StyleCracker. I want to ensure that they have an accessible personal shopper
and to create an opportunity for them to use their creativity to be successful
and independent.
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| Archana Walavalker |
