Once ‘Smitten’, twice eager
A pair of shoes to go with every outfit sounds exciting! Well, this is the dream that smitten is trying to fulfil. Started by two good friends and connoisseurs of shoes, Aneesha Goenka and Sakshi Sahi started this venture to bring affordable high street fashion to India.
Smitten was conceptualised over a cup of coffee. While both the founders were in love with shoes, they never thought this would also make a great business. When they thought of actually taking this love for shoes to the next level, they started with a sale at their home with select pieces. The response they received was positive, which motivated them to take the brand to exhibitions. And this continued for a while until they took the plunge to start their first store in Bengaluru. A lot of thinking went behind even choosing the apt location and Indiranagar was zeroed in as there are already a lot of independent boutiques and existing clientele. The store itself is designed in a very Boho chic European style and the founders themselves were closely involved in designing the place.
Smitten aims to bridge the gap between high end luxury brands which are very expensive and affordable yet fashionable shoes. Most shoes are sourced from Hong Kong and Aneesha says:
We do have manufacturers who make for us, but they are not completely exclusive, and lot of these styles are exported to other bigger markets but we curate each style for the India market, so we are looking out for styles that will work with us and that will work with our brands, Every single style is hand picked from each of us, so we travel, we curate and we display.
Smitten also introduces one or two accessories every season. The past season they had the scarfs, this season they have jewellery, so it just adds on to the accessory when one wants to compliment the outfit. And this season they have new bags. The handbag designer comes exclusively and looks at the shoes, checks the latest collection and makes the bags in alignment with the theme of the new collection.
Once you walk into this store you are rest assured to be smitten by the collection.
Video credits:
Cameraman: Rukmangada Raja
Editor: Anjali Achal.