Sneha Vijan: A Creative Journey from Fashion to The Ladki Wale

My interest in fashion actually began during childhood. I still remember how my mother would stitch beautiful little dresses for my Barbie dolls. Watching her select fabrics, create designs, and bring those tiny outfits to life fascinated me. That was probably my first introduction to the world of creativity and design.

As I grew older, especially during my college years, my fascination with fashion grew even stronger. I loved reading fashion and glamour magazines, following designers, exploring their collections, and observing how fashion trends evolved. I was intrigued by the creativity, detailing, silhouettes, and the stories behind different designers and their collections. I found myself increasingly drawn to this world and knew I wanted to pursue something creative.

That interest eventually led me to take up fashion designing at INIFD (International Institute of Fashion Design), where I could turn my passion into a professional skill.

In 2010, I began my professional journey in fashion, which later led me to design clothing and run my own boutique for around four to five years. I designed outfits for women, men, and children, gaining hands-on experience in everything from fabrics and cuts to styling and understanding individual preferences.

Running my own boutique was an important milestone because it allowed me to experience fashion not just as a creative passion but also as an entrepreneur.

Over the years, my journey naturally evolved into fashion styling, followed by makeup artistry and hairstyling. Looking back, every stage has been connected by one common thread—my love for creativity and helping people express themselves through fashion and beauty.

I have always enjoyed experimenting with makeup, exploring different looks, colours, textures, and trends. Over time, I realised that I wanted to go beyond simply coordinating an outfit and accessories. I wanted to understand the art of creating a complete look, right down to the makeup and hair.

What particularly inspired me was the thought of being able to create a transformation that was not just about appearance, but also about how a person felt. There is something incredibly rewarding about seeing someone’s confidence shine through when they look in the mirror and love what they see.

In 2020, I decided to turn this interest into a professional skill and pursued formal training in makeup artistry at AOFM (Academy of Freelance Makeup).

For me, makeup artistry was a natural extension of my journey in fashion. It allowed me to bring all my creative interests together and offer a more holistic styling experience. Today, whether I am creating a bridal look, festive glam, or an elegant party look, I love bringing fashion, makeup, hair, and accessories together to create something that feels complete and, most importantly, personal to the individual.

When I look back, I feel my journey has been a series of different experiences, each teaching me something valuable and shaping the person and entrepreneur I am today.

One of my first milestones was graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media, specializing in Advertising. Although I was fascinated by the advertising and creative world, at that point it felt a little too unconventional and forward for my family. That led me to explore another creative avenue that I was equally passionate about—fashion. I went on to study fashion designing at INIFD, which became the foundation of my professional journey.

But entering the fashion industry wasn’t as glamorous as it might seem! Before starting my own boutique, I deliberately worked across different areas of the industry, including retail, wholesale, and manufacturing. I wanted to understand the business from every angle rather than just the designing aspect. Those years gave me invaluable practical experience and helped me understand what goes into building a fashion business.

Starting and running my own boutique for four to five years was another major milestone, but it came with its own set of challenges. I quickly learnt that running a business involves so much more than creativity and designing. Managing operations, customers, finances, and keeping the business sustainable required a completely different skill set. Going through demonetization and later the lockdown period tested me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Those phases taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of constantly reinventing yourself.

My journey then took another creative turn when I decided to pursue makeup professionally. I trained in makeup artistry and began working with agencies as a stylist and makeup artist, gaining hands-on experience across different assignments and clients.

After years of learning, working, experimenting, and putting in countless hours, I finally brought all these experiences together and launched The Ladki Wale. By then, I had around 14 years of experience across fashion, styling, makeup, and hair, and I wanted to create a brand that reflected everything I had learnt along the way.

And just when I thought I was ready to take the brand to the next level, Singapore happened! Interestingly, it was only about a year after launching The Ladki Wale. I was honestly quite skeptical about whether I was ready to leave behind what I had built and start all over again in a new country.

But sometimes life takes you in directions you never planned for. Looking back, Singapore has been nothing short of rewarding. It has opened new doors, introduced me to wonderful people, and given me opportunities to grow in ways I hadn’t imagined.

Moving to Singapore was a decision that came with a lot of excitement, but also a fair amount of uncertainty. It was primarily a new chapter for my family, and professionally, it meant putting everything I had built over the years into a new perspective.

Having spent years establishing myself in the fashion and beauty industry in India and having launched The Ladki Wale just a year before the move, I had finally started putting all my experience and efforts under one brand. So, the thought of moving to another country and starting from scratch was quite overwhelming.

Before arriving, I looked at Singapore as a place full of possibilities. Its multicultural environment, international exposure, and vibrant community seemed like a wonderful opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. I imagined that my experience in fashion, makeup, and hairstyling would help me connect with a new audience and explore opportunities in a different market.

However, the reality was quite different from simply relocating and continuing where I had left off. I had to rebuild my network, introduce my brand to people, understand the local market, and establish trust all over again. More than anything, it meant stepping out of a space where I was familiar and confident and becoming a beginner once again.

There were moments when I questioned whether I was ready for this change, especially after putting so much effort into building my business in India. But I gradually realised that the experience and skills I had accumulated over the years were still mine, regardless of where I was.

I think Singapore has been incredibly kind to me, and some of the opportunities that came my way here gave me the confidence that I was moving in the right direction.

One of my first memorable opportunities was getting the chance to glam up an Indian contestant participating in the Miss Singapore pageant. Seeing her go on to win was such a proud and encouraging moment for me. It was one of those experiences that made me feel that my work was finding its place in a new country.

Soon after, I also had the lovely opportunity to glam up a beautiful mom-to-be for her baby shower. That introduced me to another side of the celebrations here. Birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, and other intimate occasions are celebrated so beautifully in Singapore, and I realised there was a wonderful opportunity to bring my styling and beauty services into these special moments.

Another initiative close to my heart has been starting personal makeup and hairstyling sessions under my label ‘Beauty & Beyond’. I began teaching women within my neighbourhood and the Indian community how to do their own makeup and hair. What made this especially rewarding was the diversity of women I got to interact with, ranging from their twenties to 50-plus. It was lovely to see women of different ages discovering new techniques, experimenting with their looks, and becoming more confident in doing their own makeup.

I also explored opportunities to showcase my work by sponsoring fashion shows and setting up booths at exhibitions. These platforms allowed me to introduce The Ladki Wale to a wider audience, interact directly with potential clients, and create awareness about the different services we offer.

Collaborations with event companies have been another exciting part of my journey. I have had opportunities to glam up talented performers and artists, including singer Pratibha Singh Baghel, as well as other singers performing at popular concerts such as Reincarnation. Being associated with such events has been a wonderful way to gain exposure, meet creative people, and showcase my work on different platforms.

Starting afresh in Singapore meant that I had to build my professional identity all over again. Although I came with years of experience in fashion, styling, makeup, and hairstyling, I understood that experience alone wouldn’t build a business in a new country. People needed to discover my work, understand what I offered, and most importantly, trust me.

I started by using social media as a platform to showcase my work, share transformations, and introduce the different services offered by The Ladki Wale. I also realised that being visible within the community was equally important. Participating in exhibitions, sponsoring fashion shows, collaborating with event companies, and connecting with fellow entrepreneurs and content creators helped me reach a wider audience.

Another important part of establishing myself has been building personal relationships. I have always believed that beauty and styling are very personal services. Clients need to feel comfortable with you, trust your understanding of their preferences, and know that you will deliver something that reflects their personality. A lot of my focus has therefore been on creating genuine connections rather than simply looking at every interaction as a business opportunity.

I also believe in the power of collaborations and supporting other businesses. Singapore has a wonderful community of entrepreneurs, artists, event organisers, and creators, and connecting with them has opened doors to opportunities I may not have otherwise explored.

For me, the biggest achievement is when someone discovers my work, experiences my services, and then recommends me to a friend or family member. That trust and word-of-mouth connection mean a lot.

I enjoy creating looks that enhance a person’s individuality. Whether it is bridal styling, festive glam, party makeup, a photoshoot, or a complete look for a special occasion, I love bringing every element together.

My approach is to enhance rather than transform someone completely. I am drawn to polished, elegant looks that suit the individual and the occasion. That might mean fresh, dewy makeup, beautifully styled hair, statement jewellery, or an outfit that makes someone feel extraordinary.

Through Ladki Wale, I aim to offer a convenient, one-stop beauty and styling experience, bringing together makeup, hairstyling, jewellery, and complete styling services. I want clients to feel cared for throughout the process and to receive thoughtful guidance without feeling overwhelmed.

Looking ahead, my biggest aspiration is to establish The Ladki Wale as a recognised and trusted beauty and styling destination in Singapore. I want to build on the experience I have gained over the years and create a brand that brings together everything I am passionate about—fashion, makeup, hairstyling, and personal styling.

Another area I am particularly passionate about is education. Through Beauty & Beyond, I want to reach more women who wish to learn makeup and hairstyling for themselves. I truly believe that makeup is not just about looking glamorous; it is about understanding your own features, discovering what works for you, and feeling confident in your everyday life. I would love to make these sessions accessible to women across different age groups and backgrounds.

I also aspire to collaborate with more fashion designers, event companies, artists, and creative brands in Singapore. Having worked across fashion, production, makeup, and hairstyling, I would love to explore more opportunities in fashion shows, productions, celebrity and artist styling, and destination weddings.

People can connect with me through Instagram at @ladkiwale and @makeupnhairbysnehavijan, where I share my work, upcoming projects, collaborations, and services.

And the best way to support my journey is simply by discovering my work, recommending me to friends and family, engaging with my content, and being open to collaborating. Every referral, every new client, and every opportunity to work with someone new makes a difference.