Dimple Mirchandani skilfully juggles her twin passions - Designer Wear and Holistic Nutrition
As a member of the well-known Lalwani business family, it should come as no surprise that 25-year-old Dimple Mirchandani has recently started her own venture – Secret Dresser. It might be a good thing that business is in her blood, and she considers herself lucky that her loving and close-knit joint family inculcated in her a strong set of values. Her mother, especially, is a huge influence in Dimple’s life and has been her pillar of strength in all her endeavours. Her mother’s advice “there is always a way, you just have to find it” has guided Dimple in whatever she does.
As a young, trendy Delhiite, Dimple owns several branded outfits and accessories. However, she faced a conundrum while trying to dispose the designer wear she no longer used. They were rarely used and well-maintained, and she could not bring herself to throw them away, nor did she want them lying unused in her wardrobe for years. When she tried giving them to charity, she realised that people preferred functional clothes and not designer wear with a lot of bling. She also knew a lot of friends and acquaintances who faced the same dilemma. “Many outfits were bought specifically for a wedding or some other event and never used again. Several items were also received as gifts. On the other hand, there is a huge aspirational market for designer products, but these buyers are reluctant to spend exorbitant amounts. This is where Secret Dresser comes in,” says Dimple.
Secret Dresser is a portal for pre-owned branded and designer wear and accessories that are in near mint condition at discounted rates. The website deals in haute couture brands like Sabyasachi , Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor and accessories such as watches, bags, and shoes for both men and women from international design houses like Louis Vuitton , Dior , Karen Millen and Ted Baker. The portal is completely buyer-protected and only lists authenticated goods.
Dimple says, “This portal is all about sharing resources, and aims to increase recycling in a segment that doesn’t see much designer wear. I also hope it will help people buy authentic luxury clothing and accessories at a lower prices, thus saving their money and time spent on searching for knock-offs of original branded clothes.”
Dimple is particular about taking in products, especially clothes and bags, that are in excellent condition and she offers authenticity certificates for international brands at a minimal additional charge. When sellers send over products, her team takes a week’s time for a thorough verification of their authenticity. Only after the quality and authenticity of the items are thoroughly checked and approved, are they listed on the website
Dimple has been practising yoga for ten years now and is also a proficient Kathak dancer. She has completed her degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Manchester, UK and went on to pursue a degree from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, New York, due to her deep personal interest in diet and nutrition. A vegetarian since childhood, Dimple also dabbled in veganism. However, she has gone back to having a few dairy products. She doesn’t feel the need to slot and label herself. Dimple says food habits are deeply personal and when you force yourself to stop eating something or strictly enforce a standard diet in your life, you create a negative energy, which ends up being counterproductive. She says, “For instance, someone can be a meat eater and eat healthy and somebody else can be a vegetarian but follow unhealthy dietary habits that is high in processed food. So we need to correct these false perceptions of what is healthy and what isn’t.”
Dimple also provides consultancy in holistic nutrition for clients during her regular work day, along with her work at Secret Dresser. With a bit of planning, she is able to schedule her work for both her interests, and ensures that neither suffers. According to Dimple, health is a combination of ‘holy’ and ‘wholeness’ and has to balance all important elements of body and mind. A good fitness routine, a balanced diet, and restful sleep habits should ensure
- Being in a constant state of joy ,
- Being free of diseases ,
- Having clarity in thoughts ,
- Having energy all day long ,
- Living each moment fully, and
- Aligning mind, body, and soul.
Dimple says it shocks people when they find out that she has never even had a Crocin, but believes simple changes in lifestyle can make anybody just as healthy.
Some tips she suggests for the readers are:
- Drink plenty of water
- Meditate for 10 minutes in the morning, or spending one hour alone indulging in peaceful activities like reading, writing, or listening to music
- Start the day with a healthy breakfast and having smaller, frequent meals through the day
- Avoid caffeinated drinks and replacing coffee and tea with mint and lemon infusions
- Get at least seven hours of sleep to avoid an imbalance in hormones like leptin and ghrelin
“Most importantly, it is important to think positive and follow your passions and good health will follow automatically,” signs off Dimple.