Naturally Nked blogger Nikita Ladwa recently launched her fashion brand The Naked Laundry. A collection of crop tops aimed at both the Western and Indian market, inspired by pure, subtle, muted tones. Nikita tells us more about her fashion journey and how she went from being a quiet Business Management student to a budding fashion entrepreneur.
Tell us more about yourself, what is your background?
Funnily enough, my background is definitely not a straight line. I graduated with a Business Management and Economic degree, and whilst I enjoyed every second, I knew I had this burst of energy, flare and quite seemingly creativeness wanting to come out which wouldn’t be suited for the corporate world.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m on two sides of the spectrum. You’ll either see me wearing quite a lot of earthy nude tones weeks on weeks and then you’ll see a range of spring pastel bolds. A classic in my wardrobe is definitely my midi skirts and satin dresses- comfy yet elegant.
I knew I had this burst of energy, flare and quite seemingly creativeness wanting to come out which wouldn’t be suited for the corporate world
What is your favourite piece of clothing and why?
I am a hoarder for dresses, as we established midis in particularly. I don’t have a favourite as such as it changes all the time depending on my mood, but one thing that does make to my favourite list is it must factor in versatility. Buying a garment that simply takes you from day to evening, or that can be worn in many other outfits is very important to me.
You are based in London, what is the fashion scene like?
London is just London. It definitely lives up to its name, but not only because of the flamboyant fashion scene but the inspiration a simple stroll can cause. London is definitely welcoming to whichever trend you set or follow, and it certainly allows you to develop your own flare.
When did you start with your blog Naturally Nked?
I started blogging in my final year of my degree. I knew the minute that I was going to graduate, I would do everything I could to make the fashion industry accept me despite my corporate background. I set up Naturally Nked almost like a C.V to get my foot through to the door, as well as build a network with like-minded people and just grow as a person! Believe it or not, I was actually quite quiet in my Economic class, and I urged a way to have a voice and this was it.
What is the idea behind the name Naturally Nked?
The name originates to something I am a huge believer in, being naked! Not in the standard term as we all know it, but as one being just pure! Naturally Nked promotes minimalist, where in the world of beauty and fashion, you can still look bold by complimenting your body and skin, naturally.
You’ve been able to work with quite a lot of known brands like Bobbi Brown and Ted Baker; could you tell us a bit more about these collaborations?
In all honesty, I have constantly been pitching myself to brands since the very first day I’d started blogging. Some days, my pitching might not convince them, but others will. It is really all about finding the right kind of brands who sit well with your morals and are able to build an organic relationship.
Buying a garment that simply takes you from day to evening, or that can be worn in many other outfits is very important to me
You’ve recently launched The Naked Laundry; could you tell us more about this brand?
The Naked Laundry was built and designed for the ‘modern’ Asian women who want to be experimental with their taste in style. The idea came about when I was extremely frustrated when none of my blouses for my sari’s fitted me. Often, blouses are made from the end part of a sari, and whilst as women we naturally grow up and down, these blouses are not designed for comfort. I decided to start wearing crop tops and mixing my western wear wardrobe with my Indian wear as I am a strong believer of comfort! I also wanted to showcase crop tops as an essential styling piece that can be worn in numerous amount of ways as well as encourage to keep your wardrobe limited!
Where do you draw inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from a feeling. Often when I purchase other clothing, I always wish something was different; therefore I draw my ideas from that moment and draft it as soon as I have the next chance. I also love seeing what the latest catwalks are showing, and how I could incorporate the feminine and classic elements into my brand.
Your passion will drive you everywhere! It’s no longer about how hard you work; it’s about how smart you work
Could you tell us more about any upcoming projects you are working on?
Not much can be said yet as we are always working on something super exciting, however we are broadening our color ranges in spear it towards summer and featuring plenty of satin with lace!
What advice do you have for aspiring fashion bloggers/designers?
Very cheesy I know, but your passion will drive you everywhere! It’s no longer about how hard you work; it’s about how smart you work. Having a full time job, blogging and my own business tires me out very quickly, but all these things is what makes me thrive to work harder, it gets my adrenaline pumping! It took me three years to work on my business plan, therefore do not rush anything and do plenty of research, even if it simply means messaging someone who you look up to and arranging a short coffee date.
You can shop the collection at www.thenakedlaundry.com
