(September 24, 2025) With academic roots in Australia, professional exposure across China and India, and an instinctive flair for bold, modern design, Vaishali Dahiya, the creative force behind Realm by Vaishali Haute Couture brings a cosmopolitan perspective to everything she creates. Her journey reflects the confidence of a woman who embodies the words of global pop icon and fashion entrepreneur Rihanna, who once quipped, “That girl might beat me, but she can’t beat my outfit.” For Vaishali, fashion is not merely clothing, it is an attitude, an energy, and a realm of self-expression.
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Fashioning a global outlook
Vaishali’s love for fashion began long before she set foot in a classroom devoted to it. As a quiet, observant child, she often found that her clothes spoke for her when words would not. “Clothes gave me power and presence,” she recalls in a chat with Global Indian, remembering how the simple act of dressing well transformed her self-assurance. What began as a personal ritual of self-expression gradually deepened into a calling to help others feel the same confidence.
Her academic path took her to RMIT University in Australia, where she studied fashion business and gained a strong theoretical foundation supported by real-world experience. While pursuing her degree she worked as a sales associate at Myer, one of Australia’s leading retail stores. That role taught her the art of understanding customers, anticipating their needs, and creating a seamless shopping experience, and serve as lessons that continue to guide her brand today.
During these years she travelled to China on academic study tours, exploring one of the world’s largest fashion manufacturing hubs. There she observed large-scale production processes, sourcing networks, and the intense speed of global supply chains. These insights gave her an appreciation of the sheer scale and precision required to meet international demand.
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Building bridges across borders
After graduation, Vaishali joined Deepwear, a fashion agency that works with international brands to manufacture in India. The role was demanding and immersive. From identifying the right factories to negotiating with suppliers, sourcing materials, and managing logistics, she learned every complexity of the global supply chain.
Living and working abroad honed more than her professional skills. “Beyond academics and work, living abroad gave me overall grooming, confidence, and a global outlook,” she says. “It shaped my personality and taught me how culture, professionalism, and adaptability influence business.” These experiences continue to inform her approach, helping her merge international best practices with the richness of Indian craftsmanship.
Realm: Where heritage meets bold innovation
Returning to India in 2021 with a wealth of global insights, Vaishali launched Realm by Vaishali in 2022. The label was born from a desire to create a space where traditional Indian artistry meets modern, international design. “For me, Realm carries a spirit of boldness—what the international fashion industry calls provocation fashion,” she explains.
Each garment reflects this philosophy: intricate hand embroidery combined with contemporary Western silhouettes, rare sequin shapes, unexpected colour palettes, and unconventional elements like mother-of-pearl. These creations are designed not merely to be worn but to create impact, command presence and embody individuality on any runway in the world.
Transforming heritage into impact
For Vaishali, being a Global Indian is about far more than exporting beautiful clothes. “It’s about exporting ideas, standards, and creativity,” she says. By merging Indian craftsmanship with global sensibilities, she creates year-round work for artisans and builds supply chains that meet international benchmarks. Her vision is to showcase Indian artistry to the world while generating livelihoods and pride at home.
Vaishali Dahiya
Overcoming challenges with global grit
Establishing a young independent label in competitive international markets has brought its share of obstacles. Educating consumers about the true value of craftsmanship in an age of fast fashion remains one of her biggest challenges. At the same time, she notes that in today’s digital era, brand presence and public relations are everything. Without visibility and credibility, clients hesitate to invest in a new label.
“Entering global markets as an independent brand has meant overcoming scepticism with persistence, professionalism, and storytelling,” she says. “Challenges never go away. They only evolve. Each one has pushed me to build Realm not just as a fashion label, but as a brand with identity, credibility, and a global voice for Indian artistry.”
Inspired by fashion’s fearless icons
Vaishali draws inspiration from Gianni and Donatella Versace, icons who proved that fashion can be glamorous, sensual, and provocative even when the industry leaned toward conservatism. “My creations embody a similar balance—provocative yet classy, drenched in glamour yet grounded in elegance,” she notes. She experiments with bold cuts, daring details, and rare embellishments while refining them through sophisticated silhouettes and luxurious fabrics.
Her ultimate goal is ambitious yet crystal clear: to establish Realm by Vaishali as a truly global fashion house where Indian creativity is celebrated abroad and translated into livelihoods and pride back home. “The life lesson I carry forward—and one I’d share with anyone—is that criticism will always come when you dare to be different. The key is to stay rooted in your vision, because true impact comes from pushing boundaries, not playing safe,” she signs off.
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