Presented by Poornima N Ramakrishna · Founder, Dreams & Designs · 2026
My Vision for a Fashion Studio, a Fashion Institution, and a 15-Year Legacy
Twenty years in fashion — designing, teaching, stitching, and building. This is my plan to take everything I have built and create the business it was always meant to be: a studio, a school, a community, and a lasting institution.
A Note Before You Begin
Fashion found me when I was young, and it never let go. What started as a love for fabric, needle, and thread quietly became a craft, then a profession, then a calling — and eventually, a studio that I ran for over a decade from a small space in Vijayanagar, Bangalore.
The work was never glamorous from the outside. It was long hours, careful hands, difficult fittings, last-minute alterations, and the quiet satisfaction of watching a bride see herself complete for the first time. It was teaching a student who had never held a needle and watching her open her own boutique two years later.
Dreams & Designs is not a new idea. It is the next step of something that has been quietly growing for twenty years — and this document is my attempt to lay it out honestly: what I have built, what I want to build, and why I believe the time is right to do it properly.
I am sharing this vision with trust, in the hope that you see what I see — and that together, we can build something that lasts well beyond just a busines.
My Concept
Dreams & Designs is a concept born from two decades of immersion in Indian fashion — designing bridal wear, teaching the next generation of entrepreneurs, mastering 15+ embroidery techniques, and quietly building a reputation that makes clients travel across the city just to sit in my studio.
My vision is simple but ambitious: build West Bangalore's first truly integrated fashion destination — where a bride can commission her complete trousseau, a housewife can learn to stitch professionally, a young girl can discover embroidery, and a small retailer can source quality supplies, all under one roof and one community.
But my vision does not stop at one studio. This is a 15-year plan to build a fashion institution — starting with a single location in Nagarabhavi, Ullal, or Chandra Layout, growing through technology and community, and eventually touching every city in India through franchise, education, and a digital platform that reaches the world.
I have proven I can build, teach, create, and sustain. Dreams & Designs is not a new idea. It is a new chapter of a business that has already run for 14 years — now properly resourced, properly structured, and ready to scale.
"I have spent twenty years creating beauty for others. Now I am building a business that grows by creating real opportunity — for skilled artisans, for women who want to work on their own terms, for students who want to build something real, and for every bride who deserves to carry a piece of Karnataka's living craft with her. This is not charity. This is how we grow."
— Poornima N RamakrishnaAbout Me
I do not bring just a skill — I bring a complete, operating business in a box. The curriculum is written, the processes are tested, and the supplier relationships are firmly in place. My reputation is built, my clients exist, and my community is real. What Dreams & Designs needs is a physical space, the right structure, and the resources to scale what already works.
Aari work, Maggam work, Zardosi, Kundan, Gota Patti, Mirror work, Kantha, Kasuti, Crewel, Bridal embroidery, Mixed media embroidery, Cut work, Bead and Sequin work, various knot work, and White work — across traditional, regional, and contemporary styles. Advanced pattern drafting, draping, and grading. Wilcom Embroidery Software, Seamly2D, CLO3D, Marvelous Designer — bridging traditional craft with digital production.
"Her teaching method is so nice that even a fresher will become a professional. I travelled from Electronic City to Vijayanagar just to learn from her. I recommend her 200%."
— Verified UrbanPro Student"Best teacher in the city. I am amazed how I picked up the skills so quickly. I can now confidently do bridal embroidery. She always encourages students to do more."
— Verified UrbanPro StudentThe Partnership
Dreams & Designs is built on three complementary roles that cover every dimension of the business — creative mastery, capital and digital operations, and craft execution. Each partner has a defined role, a documented roadmap, and a deliberate plan to build individual credentials alongside the business.
Each partner has a year-by-year development plan covering role evolution, skills to acquire, professional credentials to build, CIBIL score development from Day 1, and loan eligibility milestones. This is documented in full in the Partner Roadmaps document.
→ See: DD_Partner_Roadmaps_Phase1My Business Model
Dreams & Designs is not a single-service studio. It is a diversified fashion ecosystem where each pillar generates its own revenue, feeds the others, and creates a community that makes the whole stronger than the sum of its parts.
Custom garment creation for every woman, every occasion. From everyday saree blouses to 30-piece bridal trousseaux. A 24-hour express option no competitor in West Bangalore offers.
From deeply traditional hand craft to computer-aided precision. 15+ techniques under one roof that no single competitor can match.
Ten years of teaching. 200+ students. A 50% entrepreneurship rate. A scalable platform reaching students online from anywhere in the world.
A curated retail store open to the public, students, and the studio — both in-store and online. A customer magnet that creates recurring revenue without appointments.
Auxiliary Revenue Streams
Beyond the four pillars, D&D offers a full spectrum of support services — each one adding resilience, diversification, and new entry points for clients who become loyal customers of the core pillars.
Our 24-hour express service runs across all service categories — saree blouses, alterations, embroidery, pico finishing, kuchu, and cushion covers — with the same quality standards as regular orders. A dedicated express queue runs every day. If delayed beyond 24 hours at our end, the express premium is fully refunded. 30–50% express premium on standard price.
Expanding the Ecosystem
Every bride who walks into Dreams & Designs needs more than clothing. She needs a complete experience. These three wings extend D&D into adjacent spaces that are natural, logical, and deeply profitable — each one reinforcing the others.
A bride needs to see herself complete — the dress, the make-up, the hair, the draping — all together. The D&D Beauty Studio starts as an in-house capability, grows into a revenue-generating wing, and eventually becomes a school vertical that trains make-up artists, hair stylists, and saree drapers.
Model: Partner with 3–5 freelance artists who use D&D as their booking platform. D&D earns 15–25% commission. Graduating students join the artist roster. By Year 3: a D&D Beauty Talent Agency.
Not every bride wants to own every piece she wears. The Couture Rentals wing gives brides access to premium, curated designer pieces at a fraction of ownership cost — while generating revenue every time a piece goes out.
Innovation: The Cost + 10% Programme — a bride commissions a bespoke piece at cost + 10%, wears it, then returns it to D&D's rental collection. She saves ~50% on the outfit; D&D acquires a high-quality rental piece at below-market cost.
Every great garment starts with exceptional fabric. The Bridal Fabric Floor is a dedicated, curated section of the store — a destination in itself — stocking Indian silks, luxury occasion fabrics, embellished panels, and offering expert consultation.
Why it changes everything: A bride who comes to buy fabric for her lehenga sees the embroidery samples, meets Poornima, hears about the Kasuti Trousseau, looks at rentals, books a make-up trial. One fabric visit becomes a ₹2–3 Lakh relationship.
My Signature Heritage Initiative
Kasuti is not just a bridal initiative — it is my centrepiece heritage project. I am building the most complete Kasuti ecosystem in India: sourcing, creating, teaching, preserving, and partnering with the weavers and artisans who carry this tradition in their hands.
Kasuti is Karnataka's ancient folk embroidery — a needle art of extraordinary precision worked on fine silk fabric using four distinct running stitches. It is a GI-tagged art form, traditionally worked on Ilkal silk — itself GI-tagged — creating a double heritage in a single garment. Both Kasuti and Ilkal weaving are under severe pressure from mass-produced imitations. D&D is here to change that.
Every Karnataka bride should take at least one authentic Kasuti piece with her as a remembrance of her roots. Not a machine-made imitation. Genuine, hand-worked Kasuti — certified, documented, and created by a named artisan whose community has carried this art for generations.
By Year 5, D&D aims to be the largest organised buyer and marketer of authentic Kasuti work in Karnataka — generating not only revenue but also government recognition, media attention, and international market access.
The Kasuti Ecosystem — Six Dimensions
Community & Employment
Small, structured clusters of women in West Bangalore who want to work — on their own schedule, from their neighbourhood, earning real income from real craft skills. This is not charity. It is a supply-chain strategy that also transforms lives.
Begin with 5 clusters of 4–6 women each across Ullal, Nagarabhavi, and Chandra Layout. Tasks: kuchu & tassel making, saree fall & pico stitching, basic embroidery, packaging, and quality finishing. Weekly paid work — ₹5,000–10,000/month per woman, flexible hours.
Invest in upgrading cluster skills — moving women from finishing work into production work, from production into specialised embroidery, and from embroidery into teaching assistant roles. Top performers become D&D-Certified Artisans.
The clusters formalise into the Dreams & Designs Artisan Collective — a registered producer cooperative eligible for government grants, CSR funding, NABARD infrastructure grants, and international craft market access.
My Publishing Strategy
Publishing is the highest-leverage brand-building tool available to any expert. A book earns while you sleep, teaches while you are in the studio, and commands respect no Instagram post can replicate. The series spans craft mastery, business education, cultural preservation, and personal legacy — becoming the intellectual backbone of the D&D brand.
The launch book — the definitive guide to Kasuti embroidery, Karnataka's GI-tagged silk weaving traditions, and what a complete, culturally rooted Karnataka trousseau looks like. Part cultural history, part stitch guide, part bridal inspiration. Gifted with every Kasuti Trousseau purchase.
India has over 100 documented saree draping styles — most women know only 2 or 3. This illustrated guide covers regional traditions, occasion-specific styles, and step-by-step instructions for modern contemporary drapes — with a companion video series accessible via QR code.
The practitioner's handbook for every aspiring Indian fashion entrepreneur — drawing directly from 14 years of running a successful boutique and 26+ course curriculum. The book Poornima's Boutique Management students have been asking for since 2015.
The saree blouse is one of the most technically demanding small garments in Indian fashion — and one of the least well-documented. 50 blouse designs with full pattern drafting instructions, cutting guides, sewing techniques, and embroidery placement guidance.
How Technology Powers D&D
Technology at D&D follows one rule: it must make the artisan's work more valuable, not replace it. A computer embroidery machine does not replace Poornima's Kasuti knowledge — it amplifies it, making her designs repeatable at scale. Every technology investment must be justifiable in production hours saved or revenue unlocked.
Fortever XL computer embroidery machine, Wilcom 4.5e digitising software, Ralston industrial machine, industrial sewing machines, overlock machine, and finishing equipment — a complete production floor ready from Day 1. No capital outlay required for production machines.
Transition from hand-drafted patterns to Seamly2D (already in toolkit, free). A blouse pattern that takes 3 hours by hand takes 45 minutes digitally — and resizing across 6 sizes takes minutes. By Year 4: bank-financed professional CAD/CAM system (Lectra or Optitex), reducing fabric waste from 15–20% to 5–8%.
Year 1: POS system, Google Workspace, WhatsApp Business, Zoho Inventory, Instagram & Google Business — all live on Day 1. Year 2–3: Shopify website, CRM, Teachable LMS, email marketing. Year 4+: custom D&D mobile app, AR virtual try-on, franchise management portal, and multi-location ERP.
The D&D Technology Principle
The studio that pairs 20 years of craft mastery with 21st-century production technology wins on both quality and speed. That is the studio D&D is building — not by replacing human skill, but by extending it.
Investment Discipline
My Community Engine
The Bangalore Sewing Club is not a marketing tool. It is the community at the heart of Dreams & Designs — a gathering of women who love to create, learn, and connect. Every member is a potential client. Every client is a potential member. Every member is a walking ambassador for D&D.
What the BSC Does for D&D
BSC Growth Plan
My Digital Presence
The online channel runs parallel to the physical studio from Day 1 — not as an afterthought but as the growth multiplier that takes D&D from West Bangalore to a national and eventually global brand without the capital cost of a new location for every new market.
Legal Structure Through the Journey
Legal structure is not a one-time decision. The right structure at each stage protects assets, enables growth, formalises relationships fairly, and creates the conditions for lasting value. What follows is a summary of D&D's legal journey — full detail is in the Legal Roadmap document.
Full compliance from Day 1: Partnership Deed, GST, MSME/Udyam, Shops & Establishment, Professional Tax, Trade License, Trademark filing. Monthly GST returns, quarterly advance tax, annual ITR-5 and partners' ITR-3. CIBIL building begins Month 1 for all three partners.
Convert to LLP via Form 17 + FiLLiP. Annual MCA filings: Form 11 (30 May) and Form 8 (30 Oct) — ₹100/day no-cap penalty if missed. NSDC training partner empanelment. Equipment loans with CLCSS 15% subsidy. CGTMSE-backed collateral-free expansion loans.
Franchise Disclosure Document, Franchise Agreement (5–8% royalty), Trademark Sub-License Agreement, Operations Manual as registered copyright, Supply Agreement. State-wise GST registrations for each new state. LLP branch office filings (Form 15) for each new location.
Holding company with subsidiaries: D&D Retail, D&D Education, D&D Manufacturing, D&D International. Section 8 Foundation with 80G + 12A tax exemption. FCRA registration for international grants. AICTE or university affiliation for formal degree programmes.
Every legal step — from the first Partnership Deed clause to the final IPO evaluation — is documented in detail, including cost estimates, timelines, which officer to approach, and what to watch out for.
→ See: DD_Legal_Roadmap_CompleteGovernment Support & Schemes
D&D sits at the intersection of women-led enterprise, MSME manufacturing, vocational skill education, traditional craft revival, and cultural heritage preservation. This rare overlap means D&D qualifies for an unusually wide range of Central and State government schemes — with potential non-dilutive support of ₹80–150 Lakhs across the first 10 years. What follows is a summary; the full scheme-by-scheme guide with application steps is in the dedicated documents.
The highest-priority schemes for D&D in its founding years — accessible with minimal CIBIL and zero to low cost of application.
Once CIBIL reaches 700+ and three years of ITR are filed, D&D's most powerful funding instruments become accessible.
D&D's Kasuti revival work qualifies for a category of support unavailable to most fashion businesses.
As D&D scales nationally and internationally, an entirely different tier of institutional support becomes available.
Full scheme details — eligibility conditions, application steps, which officer to approach, which documents to prepare — are documented in two dedicated guides: one for D&D as a business, one for every person in the D&D world.
My 15-Year Growth Roadmap
Every great institution is built one year at a time. Each phase unlocks the next. Each year's actions are designed to create the conditions for the year that follows.
One studio. Every pillar live. A community begins. The Kasuti story is told. The first book is written. Women start earning.
Studio: Grand Opening — all four pillars operational from Day 1. All auxiliary services live. Kasuti Trousseau pilot (10 pieces). Women's Cluster pilot (5 clusters, 25 women). Beauty Studio partnerships active. Couture Rentals pilot (15–20 pieces). Bridal Fabric Floor with dedicated space.
Digital: Complete online presence from Month 1 — website, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp Business, Etsy (20+ design files), Google Business. Bangalore Sewing Club launched. First 50 digital products live by Year 1 end.
Credentials: Book 1 "Karnataka's Golden Thread" released at bridal season. Trademark filed. AWAKE and FKCCI memberships active. Press introduction for Kasuti Trousseau. All three partners' CIBIL clocks started Month 1.
Each service gets its own dedicated space. Technology upgrades production. Online education launches. LLP conversion in Year 4. First institutional bank loan.
Studio: Reorganised into dedicated Express, Embroidery, Supplies, Bridal, and Sewing units. Bank-financed equipment: CAD/CAM, rhinestone cutter, second computer embroidery machine. Recording studio set up (₹2–3L). Women's clusters scaled to 50–60 women; Kasuti artisan training begins.
Structure: Partnership Firm converts to LLP in Year 4 — all three partners as Designated Partners. First CGTMSE-backed bank loan (₹10–50L). SAMARTH training partner empanelment. NSDC training partner registration. CLCSS subsidy on all equipment purchases. Cent Kalyani loan for second studio expansion.
Education: LMS fully live — all courses available online. Live classes 2x/month. Beauty school launched as school vertical. Online course partnerships with fabric & craft brands.
D&D grows beyond its first studio. The franchise model is designed and piloted. Education becomes a recognised institution. The Artisan Collective formalises.
Locations: 2nd studio (RR Nagar or Kengeri) and 3rd studio (North Bangalore or Jayanagar) open. Franchise model designed and piloted with 3–5 partners. Franchise fee structure, SOP manual, and Trademark Sub-Licence Agreements in place before any franchisee signs. Chennai and Hyderabad: first franchise studios in Year 7–8.
Education: Custom mobile app launched. YouTube channel: 100,000+ subscribers. Podcast launched. Industry-recognised D&D certification. Alumni network: 10,000+ graduates. D&D Scholarship: 20 underprivileged women annually.
Artisan: D&D Artisan Collective formally registered. 100+ women artisans. NABARD cluster development grant applied. First export sale of Kasuti products to Indian diaspora.
D&D is no longer a studio. It is a brand — with 15+ locations, a national online education platform, and the beginning of an international presence.
Network: 15+ D&D studios (own + franchise) across South India. Dubai: first international franchise studio. Abu Dhabi and Singapore following. Annual D&D Bridal Collection: seasonal launch event and press coverage.
Institution: D&D Fashion School: 1,000+ annual enrolments. Online: 50,000+ active learners. D&D Certified: industry-recognised qualification. Poornima: national media presence — columns, TV, podcast guest, TEDx speaking circuit.
Artisan: D&D Artisan Collective: 500+ women. FCRA registration received — first international grant from craft preservation foundation. Ministry of Textiles recognition for artisan development work.
100+ locations. India's most recognised fashion education brand. An international artisan export business. A founder whose name is synonymous with Indian craft mastery.
Scale: 100+ D&D studios (own + franchise) across India. Present in all major metros and Tier-1 cities. International: UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, UK. Annual D&D Fashion Week — own industry event with national coverage. Artisan Collective: 1,000+ artisans; ₹5Crore+ annual craft export turnover.
Education: D&D Fashion Institute: accredited B.Voc programmes. 100,000+ active online learners worldwide. Alumni who are business owners: 25,000+. Government: national partner for skill development in fashion & textiles. Book series: all 15 in print, in every fashion school library in India.
Exit Options: (1) IPO on BSE SME Exchange, then NSE; (2) Strategic sale to fashion conglomerate at premium; (3) Remain private with professional management and clear succession. All three options available — the right choice made together at that time.
Supporting Documents
Each supporting document goes deep where this vision document goes broad. Together they form a complete institutional planning package for Dreams & Designs. This vision document is the entry point — the documents below are the workbooks.
Twenty years of experience. A proven business in operation. A 15-year vision that is detailed, actionable, and grounded in real knowledge of the market. The studio, the assets, the curriculum, the community — they all exist, and they all come with me. What comes next is the chapter where it all scales.