TRISHALA BHANSALI

DAUGHTER OF GWALIOR ROYAL SHRIMANT YASHODHARA RAJE SCINDIA AND LEADING CARDIOLOGIST DR SIDDHARTH BHANSALI, TRISHALA BHANSALI IS A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK. THE US-BASED ENTREPRENEUR TELLS HELLO! HOW SHE FOUND A PASSION PROJECT THAT BROUGHT HER BACK TO HER ROOTS

- SANGITA SINGH

She graduated from New York University with a major in metropolitan studies and focus in journalism. A brief stint of non-credit classes at Parsons School of Design followed, as did an MBA from LIM with a focus on fashion entrepreneurship. After acquiring these badges of honour, Trishala worked as a buyer for contemporary womenswear in Manhattan and eventually launched Lekha, a brand for women’s clothing dedicated to the memory of her late grandmother Rajmata Vijay Raje Scindia, whose maiden name was Lekha.

Here, Trishali speaks to HELLO! about life hopping between New Orleans and India, her inspirations and how she blends the two cultures into the creations of Lekha.

When did you decide to launch Lekha?

I hoped to have my own design-focused business since I was a teenager. But it was just a dream with no intended steps to get there. In 2016, I was working for a lifestyle brand that placed emphasis on handmade goods—many from India. Soon my brother got engaged to a woman from Bengaluru. I came to India three times that year. I loved combing through the fabric markets, which brought back nostalgia of doing the same when I was younger with my father. Bringing these fabrics over to our family tailor in Mumbai and watching them go from concept to creation made me realise how how much I wanted to be—and could be—connected. That, coupled with a desire to do something on my own from my hometown of New Orleans, pushed me towards starting Lekha.

What memories of your grandmother do you have? What were the stories about her that you grew up with?