An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Failure is okay to accept. This is something I kept in the back of my head with any business venture. When I started Bandit Queen I was comfortable knowing that if it failed, I would be okay and ultimately I was proud I even started in the first place!
Many in the fashion industry have been making huge pivots in their business models. Many have turned away from the fast fashion trend. Many have been focusing on fashion that also makes a social impact. Many have turned to sustainable and ethical sourcing. Many have turned to hi tech manufacturing. Many have turned to subscription models. What are the other trends that we will see in the fashion industry? What does it take to lead a successful fashion brand today?
In our series called, “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today” we are talking to successful leaders of fashion brands who can talk about the Future of Fashion and the 5 things it takes to lead a successful fashion brand in our “new normal.”
As a part of this series I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Sepali Vakil of Bandit Queen.
Sepali is an entrepreneur with multiple businesses and companies under her belt. She started the Bandit Queen Brand in August of 2019 to fulfill a need to see more South Asian presence in the health and wellness industry while also supporting inclusiveness of all sizes, shapes and shades. After going through her own personal struggles and loss, Sepali wanted to find a way to not only empower herself through fashion, but to also empower others to be the healthiest versions of themselves mentally, physically and emotionally. People always ask what does Bandit Queen mean, what does it represent? Well, Bandit Queen(s) are women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and backgrounds that stand tall with courage and compassion. As Bandit Queens we rule the world, lead by example, and empower those around us.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?
Thank you! Sure, I grew up in the midwest in Cleveland Ohio to immigrant parents from India. I have two older brothers and my parents were business owners. I grew up holding my Indian heritage close to me, but also making my way through American culture. Going through highschool and college — learning the cool trends, and pop-culture but also keeping true to my roots and being a part of my cultural dance competitions each year and going to the temple with my parents and honoring the holidays like Navrati, Diwali, and Holi. Today, I own multiple businesses including an events planning company called Events By Sep, and Bandit Queen, an apparel brand.
Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?
I started as a finance major in college, knowing I wanted to go into business…just not sure what kind. Post college I landed a job in the Auditing and Accounting realm. Sadly, I really disliked it, but I thought that was my path. I was working towards a “stable 9–5” work week. Then, in 2017 I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and I wanted to find a natural and holistic way to help me on my health journey. So I went to Google (and YouTube), but I didn’t see people like me to feel confident in this journey that I was on, or ate the foods I did with an Indian background. I did my best to create an environment that could help me on my journey, while also keeping me motivated and positive. So in 2018 I had the idea to build a brand that focused on Indian culture while also empowering women — no matter their shape or shade. That was something I needed when I was struggling, and thought, perhaps, there were other women who might want the same. That is when Bandit Queen was born, August 1, 2019. It is also my mom’s birthday, who is the baddest Bandit Queen out there! She is always encouraging me, supporting me, and one of my biggest fans! And I am proud to share that today I am no longer diabetic and have even lost 50 lbs.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
It’s not just one story, but many. When anyone leaves a comment or sends us a note on how sexy, confident, proud, etc. they feel in our clothes, jewelry, accessories it makes me feel so blessed. Seeing other women (and now men with the recent release of Bandit King) feel empowered and part of a community, I am touched to have made an impact through fashion and jewelry.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Kindness — Throughout my business journeys, I always lead with kindness. No matter the situation, kindness should always be spread. I was able to build lasting relationships with business partnerships, client relationships, and my personal team by always leading with kindness.
- Empathy — Never judge a book by its cover, being empathic can serve others in many ways. I always told myself that everyone has their own story, a background different from yours, or going through something you don’t know anything about. Business can be transactional at times, I try to add a personal element and let the individual know that I care and business can be handled later. It is how you make others feel and if you can walk away from a conversation. If they leave feeling a little more happier, confident, or comfortable, I did my job!
- Leadership — Training and leading my team with structure, confidence, and mentorship. Leadership energy exchange is contagious. I hope to influence my team so no matter where they go, they can grow in their life, career, or personal development.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
The overall brand is inspired by my South Asian culture while adding a western flair. Fashion is an important part of how people define themselves and others. After going through my own personal struggles and loss, I wanted to find a way to not only empower myself through fashion, but to also empower others to be the healthiest and true versions of ourselves. We want our community to be proud of their culture, shade, and shape!
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?
Live a life you don’t have to vacation from. I used to live a busy lifestyle, surrendering myself to the corporate lifestyle, and not realizing that my social and mental health was suffering. I broke free from that lifestyle and am living as the best version of myself. I am the happiest I have ever been as an adult, waking up with peace in my heart and letting the day flow as it does. Of course work has to get done, but it is on my own schedule and I am the BOSS!
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Do you see any fascinating developments emerging over the next few years in the fashion industry that you are excited about? Can you tell us about that?
We focused on a men’s line for this year and actually just launched Bandit King, our FIRST men’s apparel collection! We have had so many inquiries asking for mens designs and were finally able to make it come together. We plan to continue to implement “Indian” fashion designs to our athletic wear and to give the culture a presence in Bandit Queen. We aim to involve ourselves within the community and help future kings and queens elevate themselves and are looking on how to give back through scholarships and donations. In the next few tears, we anticipate many shoppers and consumers are going to be interested in purchasing from brands that have a message or inspiration beyond a cute style.
Can you share how your brand is helping to bring goodness to the world?
While we continuously push our followers to rediscover their best versions of themselves, we want our community to be a safe space for all shapes, shades, and identities. For example, we host Instagram Lives where we aim to share followers’ stories that can inspire or touch someone else’s journey. Through these community driven live streams, many followers can connect and feel a sense of inclusion.
Can you share with our readers about the ethical standards you use when you choose where to source materials?
The importance of ethically sourced materials is a topic that is not talked about enough within the fashion industry. Bandit Queen wants to minimize the environmental impact. We mostly source our materials through the Los Angeles area, in addition to India. We love to keep the Indian culture and patterns alive through these materials.
Fast fashion has an advantage, that it is affordable for most people, but it also has the drawback that it does not last very long and is therefore not very sustainable. What are your thoughts about this? How does your company address this question?
This is a great question to ask and should be talked about more often! We test all of our samples and products for quality before releasing them to the public. We understand quality standards can suffer through fast fashion, that is why Bandit Queen continuously uses quality fabrics when serving our customers so the fabric not only feels good but lasts long.
Thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand”. Please share a story or example for each.
- Ask yourself what is your “why”? Your passion is your purpose. Don’t chase money, because that never ends well! I am a firm believer that your why will drive you and fulfill you so much and it’ll be the reason you started in the first place!
- Failure is okay to accept. This is something I kept in the back of my head with any business venture. When I started Bandit Queen I was comfortable knowing that if it failed, I would be okay and ultimately I was proud I even started in the first place!
- Networking! One of the biggest lessons I learned is to continuously grow your network so that it can allow you to think differently, internally delevelop, expose yourself to different mindsets, and put yourself in front of new opportunities.
- Having social media! Keeping up with the current market and reaching a wider audience through trending content. It is imperative to be up to date and have a presence on a social media platform to reach consumers worldwide.
- Teamwork makes the dream work! I am a firm believer that in order to grow, you need a support system that can guide you, offer as a sounding board, and to help level you and the business up!
Every industry constantly evolves and seeks improvement. How do you think the fashion industry can improve itself? Can you give an example?
I would love to see more shades and shapes in all brands to continue inclusivity in this current market we are in. Showcasing all shapes and shades of people, while bringing light to their own ethnicities spreads more self love for the consumers.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
My movement would be for people to have financial security so they can live a life they don’t have to vacation from! I think the freedom of time is so important in so many ways. Time is precious, so spend time with your family, wake up doing the things you love, and most importantly chase after your dreams.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Follow at @banditqueenbrand on Instagram and Facebook or find us at BanditQueenBrand.com
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this. Thank you for the time and opportunity!
Sepali Vakil of Bandit Queen Brand: 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.