Meet the Designer – Garima Karwariya: Her journey, inspirations, and vision.

As a child, I loved sketching, mainly dolls but with elaborate, detailed outfits. It was my little escape, there's always a friend from either school or college who would share their memory of me sketching and scribbling in the back of my notebooks while killing time during the classes, it was just something I enjoyed. Life, academics, sports and the routine life of a student pulled me away and the hobby quietly slipped into the background. Years later, during the stillness of the pandemic, with the world on pause and my corporate job behind me, I found myself holding a pencil again. Sketching wasn't just a pastime anymore, it became my anchor, a reminder of the joy I had forgotten. And that's how I rediscovered the "Thread" and wove it back to the fabric of my life.

My earliest inspirations were close to home, listening to me mother and aunt recount how they stitched their own suits and dresses inspired from the movies they would watch, buying the laces and gota pattis from their limited allowances, watching them till date getting ready with such grace and joy, I'd started styling my cousins and friends and schooling them with handy tips that I learnt observing. Fashion had always been "my thing", even before I realised it.

Quitting my sales job had been a risk, but it was also a decision driven by a hunger to build something of my own. When the pandemic left me at a crossroads, sketching gave me direction. My sketches caught the attention of my then-boyfriend (now husband), who encouraged me to see them not just as a hobby but as a foundation of a career. And that's how the leap into Fashion began, for the first time, I didn't question whether this dream was practical or whether the business model made sense. It simply just felt right.

With no background in fashion, only an MBA in marketing, I enrolled in an online fashion program to understand the industry and the know hows. It was a complete shift, it was overwhelming but also exciting. I wasn't afraid to be a beginner because internally I felt confident rooted from the happiness I was experiencing. The joy and the support from my people outweighed the uncertainty.

Indian culture with it's rich history of royalties was always fascinating to me. To add onto it came the British era, all my childhood sketches would be a fusion of both and even today my designs reflect a beautiful medley of the two. As Indians fashion is not new to us, it runs deep in our heritage. My design philosophy grew from these roots. Dressing up is an expression of self, a process that brings joy. As often i remind myself, first impression matter, long before words are exchanged, the way we dress speaks for us. And for this reason my focus primarily is on creating outfits that are statement pieces.

Starting from scratch meant navigating a world I didn't fully understand, it wasn't a bed of roses, it was more like planting a rose, and before it bloomed getting pricked by it's thorns multiple times. Finding the right team, learning the local language of the artisans and vendors (which was so different from the textbook) no course prepares you for this, acquiring the right people skill, turning the sketches that felt nearly impossible into reality. The fear of failing lingered, there were days when I questioned my choice, tears were shed but I just couldn't give up, couldn't let it consume me.

Instead, I learned to adapt, to keep going, to learn from everyone around me, even those I was leading. I discovered resilience, quick thinking, and the ability to build on makeshift solutions. Most importantly, I learned that the energy I bring attracts the people who match it, and that's how I built a team that supported not just the brand, but me as a person.

Looking back, I see how much I've grown. I am stronger, more balanced, solution-driven, and confident. No longer weighed down by panic, I take risks with confidence and see challenges as lessons rather than obstacles. Through it all, I've held onto the values that matter most: authenticity, passion, adaptability and respect for culture and traditions.

So why am I starting this blog now? Because stories are meant to be shared. Perhaps someone, somewhere, is holding themselves back, scared to take the leap in the unknown and if my reflections can spark even a little inspiration or courage in their heart, this blog will have served it's purpose. Also this blog because its the story of how Garima Karwariya Designs was born and it just feels right to share it with all.

For me, this space will act as part journaling, part storytelling. It is where I will share the random, reflective thoughts that pass through my mind, lessons I learn as I try to scale my business, inspirations I draw from my travel, the song I heard, the sunset I saw, the person I met or the quiet moments of self-discovery.

These are the first threads of my thoughts, from the fabric which I'm still weaving. I hope, as you read, you find pieces that resonate with your own journey. After all, we are all weaving our lives with threads of joy, struggle, resilience and growth.

Thank you for being here. I can't wait to share more, and I hope this space becomes one where you, too, find inspiration to embrace your journey, thread by thread.