This Chandigarh woman quit her corporate job to launch a fashion brand

“In 2016, I cleared my company secretary exam and joined a corporate job, but later decided to leave it. I pursued a fashion course and launched Puroschneedlework, a women’s wear brand, in 2019. In 2023, I diversified into uniforms with my second label, UNIKAGO. This allowed me to combine my professional expertise with my creative aspirations,” Sachdeva said.

She added, “With UNIKAGO, we have created designer uniforms for food and beverages brands, builders, and corporates in the Tricity, completing nearly 16 projects in 13 months.”

The story behind the labels

Purosch began in 2019 after Sachdeva designed an outfit for her mother, which received appreciation from friends and family. “My first order was outsourced. Slowly, with grace and consistent orders, I saved for a year, bought machines, and hired a karigar. It started with zero capital, but with ₹55,000 savings in the second year, we saw steady growth and attracted international clients.”

UNIKAGO came to life during a late-night sketching session for London Fashion Week in October 2022. “My brother Rajat suggested designing for companies and doing bulk orders. He also came up with the name UNIKAGO, blending ‘unique’ with my name to give it a brand identity,” she said.

From local to global

Initially catering to domestic clients in Delhi, Punjab, and the Tricity, her brands now have an international presence in Dubai, Canada, the USA, and Australia. “We customise over 700 designs annually, serving more than 500 clients in three years. Many of our orders come from repeat customers and social media.”

UNIKAGO has established itself as a designer uniform brand, merging aesthetics with functionality. “We work with an average of one-two cafés or corporates each month,” she added.

“Chandigarh should encourage startups with infrastructure and schemes that maximise the city’s corporate potential. This will help people find opportunities locally without having to look elsewhere,” she said about how to retain Chandigarh’s talent.

“The government should offer subsidies or business loans without collateral and simplify registrations to foster growth and customer reach.”

Free time and hobbies

“I enjoy reading spiritual and self-help books, often with a coffee. Books are brain food and essential for staying mentally strong and knowledgeable. I also work out four to five times a week, meditate daily, and journal—it keeps me grounded,” Sachdeva said.

Quoting Joseph Chilton Pearce, she advised budding entrepreneurs, “‘To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.’ Start early, embrace the journey, and don’t fear making mistakes—learn from them. Keep your eye on the goal and stay focused.”

On Chandigarh’s charm, she said, “I love everything about Chandigarh—it’s perfect and relaxed. If I had to change one thing, I would like weekends to feel like weekends, just two days long, not seven.”