All posts filed under: ENTREPRENEUR

Discover passionate entrepreneurs and read their stories

Rootsandleisure_TravelStory1

Nishant Sinha – Founder of ChaloHoppo Shares His Travelling Stories to North East India

“To travel is to live” – Hans Christian Anderson Travelling is something that most of us want to experience but not many may be ready for the real adventure. Hence, only a few experience the thrill and the challenges that fall in the travel trails. Today, we introduce you to a wanderlust and his wonders of wanderings.   Meet Nishant Sinha, whose Instagram profile says ‘”I am one of the cliches of our generation who have quit their jobs to travel and live for today” Nishant is a travelling enthusiast and the founder of ChaloHoppo, a travel company that offers tours to the North East region of India. Today, he chats with us about his travel stories, and the people of the region have given him wonderful memories. Hi, Nishant. It is a pleasure to have you on board. You seem to be exploring North East India a lot, looking at your instagram feeds. Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself and your profession? Currently I would call myself a tourism entrepreneur who is focussed on …

RootsandLeisure_ShibenShisang

Meet the Sister Duo Founders of Local Fashion Brand “Shipen-Shisang” from Nagaland

Introducing the sister duo from Nagaland who founded ‘Shipen-Shisang,’ a collaborative fashion production house that has taken the local fashion scene by storm. Their entrepreneurial journey started in August 2017 in a small Northeastern Indian town, driven by their admiration for handiwork and the dignity of labor. The sisters’ profound understanding of their brand’s worth identifies a need for simple yet uniquely cool and comforting designs in the Indian fashion market. We chat with the founders of ‘Shipen Shisang’ Tutu (L) and Asang (R) R&L: Hi Tuti & Asang, thanks for chatting with us! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Titu & Asang: We were born and brought up in Dimapur, and our native village is Longsa, located in Nagaland’s Mokokchung district. Our design inspirations stem from observing and interacting with everyday people, which is reflected in our classic yet versatile designs suitable for both daily wear and special occasions. “At Shipen-Shisang, we believe that fashion is a powerful form of self-expression that represents one’s beliefs and identity. Comfort and trends are important, but we also …

RootsandLeisure_HomeMadeBeku

My Journey From Being an IT Engineer to Yoga Teacher & Vegan Baker: Ekta Minocha | Homemade Beku, Bangalore

If recent news reports are anything to go by, veganism just got trendy. To the committed carnivores among us, adopting a vegan diet aka no meat, no fish, no dairy, and no eggs, sounds like a dramatic step.  But even if you made the necessary relevant changes to your lifestyle and diet, following through it outside the confines of your home in India gets challenging. That’s where vegan bakers like Ekta Minocha are passionately helping their customers enjoy their journey through veganism. We first came to know of Ekta Minocha and her vegan baking venture, Homemade Beku, through her Instagram profile. Her beautifully decorated, moist, and delicious looking baked goods and vegan savories will make your mouth water. Minocha has also started a blog recently, called The Vegan Birdie, that is already a name to reckon with in Bangalore’s baking community. Whoever said the vegan food was boring? When and why did you decide to become a vegan baker? I started out in the corporate world in Bangalore as an engineer in 2007. Since then, my …

RootsandLeisure_CafeKalimpong

Creating a Space to Promote Kalimpong’s Culture – Meet the Founders of Cafe Kalimpong

“Welcome to the home you never knew you had,” says a writing on a wall of Cafe Kalimpong, the newest addition to a growing number of hipster hangout spots in the tiny tourist town of Kalimpong. Earlier known for its temperate climate, Buddhist temples and traditional handicrafts, Kalimpong is undergoing a silent cafe revolution. A revolution that has set afoot thanks to local entrepreneurs like Praveen Chettri, Navin Chettri and Yawan Rai, young and ambitious owners of Cafe Kalimpong. Tell us a bit about Cafe Kalimpong and its founders. When was it launched? Cafe Kalimpong was launched by the three of us – Praveen Chettri, Navin Chettri and Yawan Rai (me) – on 19th March 2017. “Café Kalimpong” was an obvious choice to name the cafe as our main motive is to promote Kalimpong. Our core idea behind launching this cafe was not just to serve good food but also to create a space to promote Kalimpong by telling stories about our rich history, unique culture and sharing life stories about our beautiful people. What inspired you to launch a cafe?  As …

RootsandLeisure_TheTeaStory

“The Tea Story”Guwahati Combines the Essence of a Tea Bistro and Patisserie in an Easy Style

With its menu brimming with fresh and creative varieties of tea, “The Tea Story” is a space that might tempt you if you are looking for a breather from the everyday stresses of life. In a cozily-designed space nestled in Guwahati, it promises to provide a quiet time of relaxation amidst their selection of the finest teas, and a spread of pastries and sweets. We speak with the bistro’s young and enthusiastic 27-year-old owner, Deba Pratim Das on how to open a viable tea business in the land of tea estates, and more about the offerings of his tea haven and patisserie.    Why did you decide to launch a tea bistro?  I’m Deba Pratim Das and owner of a tea bistro called The Tea Story in Guwahati. I completed my graduation in Hospitality Management from Edinburgh Napier University. I then joined the Marriott Groups of Hotels and Resorts in USA as a F&B Supervisor and worked with them for two years. Coming from the land of tea estates, I have always wanted to learn more and explore …

RootsandLeisure_ASweetEscape

“I Want to Create my Own Dessert Recipes using Local Ingredients” | Baker Atu Jamir from Nagaland

Mondays, the dreaded day when you go back to work or school. Here’s a tip to beat the Monday blues.  How about a ‘sweet escape’ into the world of confectionaries? Think macaroons, eclairs, praline, cheese cake, marshmallows dipped in chocolate sauce! Either that or a look through Atu’s pictures may do the trick. The team catches with owner and baker of ‘A Sweet Escape’, Atu Jamir on her journey of becoming an entrepreneur and baker. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Born in Kohima and hailing from the mystical village of Longsa Village , my name is Atu Jamir and I am currently living in Dimapur. I got married this year with a wonderful man who is also the biggest supporter of my passion and love for baking. I graduated in Economics from Hyderabad University and worked with a corporation for a brief stint of one year. I then returned home, completed my master’s degree and worked as a teacher in one of the reputed schools in Dimapur. During my four years …

RootsandLeisure_JustCheesecakes-Amelia Lalremdiki

Just Cheesecakes : How A Passion Project Turned into a Business Venture | Amelia Lalremdiki from Mizoram

Did you know that cheesecake supposedly originated in ancient Greece and was served at the first Olympic Games? The oldest existing written recipe is credited to Roman politician Marcus Cato around the first century B.C. Fast forward to today, I find myself sitting in a cafe with a cup of steaming hot coffee and a piece of Japanese cheesecake, feeling like I’m eating a slice of history. On that note, today I am specifically dreaming of a slice from ‘Just Cheesecakes’ from Aizawl. Introducing Amelia Lalremdiki – the mastermind behind the brand, to learn about how it all began and how her hobby evolved into a successful business. We caught up with her to discover how her passion for baking led to the creation of ‘Just Cheesecakes’. Imtee: hi Amelia, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your background in baking? Amelia: My name is Amelia Lalremdiki, born and brought up in Aizawl. I recently finished my Masters in Mass Communication. My interest in baking stems from a deeply rooted love …

Lusano Zakiesato from Nagaland is the Fashion Designer of your Dreams

Lusano of ‘Lusano Designs’ has come a long way since she started her label in 2014. Her first international show, a bridal show, was held in Abu Dhabi in  2016. She was also selected to showcase her designs for IRW India Runway Week season 3 under the IFFD ( Indian Federation of Fashion Design Council). Today we have chat with her to know more about how it all started. R&L: Hi Lusano, please introduce yourself to our readers. Lusano: Born and brought in Nagaland, I completed my schooling in Delhi and then went on to finish my fashion designing course from INIFD (International Institute of Fashion Design), Delhi. After that, I signed up for an additional month of pattern-making course as I am fascinated with how the details of patterns can change the whole garment. R&L: What are the key inspirations behind your designs? Lusano: I started working on my brand collection (well actually just ‘my collection’ since I didn’t plan on a ‘Brand’ yet ) in my final year at INFID. At that time, …

Introducing Chocolatier Easter who just Launched her Venture at the Maker’s Market

“All you need is love but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt” – Charles M Shulz Today it gives us immense pleasure to introduce a chocolatier for the first time on our blog! Meet Easter Tepa from Dimapur, Nagaland.  She has completed her diploma in Patisserie from ‘Lavonne Academy of Baking Science & Pastry Art’, Bangalore and has worked in ‘Amande Patisserie’ and Food Hall, Bangalore. ” I am so nervous and excited to launch – finally!” Having tasted her chocolates while she was still getting trained in Bangalore, we knew her stall would be a hit. R&L team had a chat with Easter. Why chocolates ? I returned home (Nagaland) in 2016 with the intention and hope of venturing into the food industry – particularly pastry and chocolates. It has been my passion for a long time now, and although I haven’t set up shop yet, I hope to launch very soon. I am excited about the adventure in this industry, and I plan to start with chocolates 🙂 Have you thought of …

RootsandLeisure_TheSoleSisters

Sisterhood of Soles | Chondamma Cariappa of ‘The Sole Sisters’

Footwear designer, Chondamma Cariappa’s creativity and ambition came together to take her on a journey from one city to another; one continent to another and in the middle of all the wanderings, she realised that soul/sole searching never really ends – it is life’s continuous journey.  Her army background allowed her to explore places and people from a very young age.  When and how did you realise that the sole was going to be your abyss of comfort? I was born in Coorg, Karnataka and the army background gave me the advantage of travelling and exploring places from a very young age. What I realised later was that the different places and the faces inspired me to turn my passion into an enterprise that was rewarding. I worked in the creative department of an advertising firm for eleven years, only and only for the love of shoes! Define ‘The Sole Sisters’ for us.  We were born with an innate love of soles. We started out in 2011 as an e-community of stylish women around the …