Neeru Bhasin - It's never too late –The entrepreneurial spirit of a woman in her sixties

By BWA Envoy
November 29, 2021
2 Minutes Read

Is it ever too late to start a business? Time to change the taboo around women entrepreneurs wanting to relive their second innings. It has never been easy for women to prove their mettle, especially for women trying to make a name from scratch. The times are changing and, women are the silver lining in the cloud of grit and passion. Here is the inspiring story of an entrepreneur, Neeru Bhasin who, gracefully proved that age is just a number and it’s never too late to start afresh.

A fashion designer by passion, Neeru Bhasin initially started her entrepreneurial dream in her 20’s giving a new look to women with her head-turning designs. But with the onset of motherhood, her flourishing clothing line was put on hold. Rising like a phoenix from the past, Mrs. Bhasin re-started her endeavour in her second innings eight years back and defied the societal norms with her design store - ‘The Atelier Design’. She took her passion for designing to another level when she revived the traditional dying art of embroidery and also embraced the livelihood of embroidery and handicraft artisans through her boutique.

Neeru helps and provides opportunities to those artisans who are from economically weaker sections. Workers who have been losing their livelihood because of the commercialization and mass production of clothes are employed at her factory in Chirag Delhi. Run by women & men of different ages, the criteria of employment are basic, skills of embroidery and stitching. Helping people who would otherwise not have had any income is indeed commendable.

“I was always been interested in creating art. So I feel like my clothes reflect art which can be worn by women who want to feel beautiful not only on special occasions but also in day-to-day lives. One thing I pride myself on is how wearable my clothes are. My designs have received a lot of appreciation, encouraging me to start my boutique,” says Neeru Bhasin.Her collection is a fusion of traditional handiwork with modern style to suit all ages. She further adds, “I like combining different styles of embroideries like Parsi and Kashmiri, Dabka, Tilla, etc.,”.

True to her word, Neeru’s outfits mainly exhibit hand embroidery, retaining the traditional work that has been part of our rich cultural heritage. Adding this old-world charm gives a personal touch to her outfits, especially one would imagine at weddings. “These designs never go out of fashion which is the USP of my boutique”, adds Neeru backed by her years of experience. She believes that the pandemic can only be a “pause” button to the business but not a “stop” button. The complete lockdown was a difficult time for Neeru, yet she paid her karigars salary through her saving to help them survive and not succumb to this situation. Her advice to women who want to become entrepreneurs is “Be passionate about what you do and, if your stuff is good, you are bound to grow.”