This week, Emirates Woman speaks to Shivani Aggarwal, Founder of her hand printed label, ANI Clothing. Known for their maximalist wardrobe staples, the brand has gained a widespread international recognition since its launch.
Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
After launching in 2020, Aggarwal creatively designed ready-to-wear pieces, that took wearable art to the next level. From her unique tie-dye creations to meticulous attention-to-details, the brand garnered traction on a global scale as the prints stood out from the rest.
Despite facing logistical challenges on the way, she pursued her dream to own her own clothing brand and continuously innovated. While every collection is “an art studio in motion”, the backend creative process, takes its fair share of time and energy to stay ahead of the curve.
To delve into her story further, Emirates Woman sat down with her to see how it all began as an entrepreneur.
What was your favourite subject at school?
My favourite subject was Business Studies. I was always drawn to real-life case studies, working through challenges gives me the satisfaction of a well-spent, productive study session.
What was your first job?
Believe it or not, my first job was being everything at ANI Clothing. I handled design, customer care, packing, marketing, social media, and production, all while in college. Having interned with Inditex brands and export houses, I was comfortable juggling multiple roles. But in truth, my first real paycheck came from ANI Clothing itself.
Shivani Aggarwal, Founder of ANI Clothing
What brought you to Dubai?
About two years ago, we received our very first online order from Saudi Arabia, and since then, there’s been no looking back. While India remains our production powerhouse, Dubai and Saudi Arabia are where we saw a great expansion potential. So naturally, my work and passion brought me here with open arms.
What inspired you to enter the fashion space and launch ANI?
It might sound cliché, but fashion has been my dream since childhood. I studied design knowing it’s what I was meant to do even if I never fully envisioned having my own brand. ANI Clothing was born in college, starting with a humble Instagram page that unexpectedly went viral. That’s when I realised people genuinely appreciated what we were creating and that’s how our story truly began. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Talk us through the concept?
Our concept is unapologetically maximalist, whether through bold prints or standout denim, our goal is to make a woman feel avant-garde in her ready-to-wear pieces. We hand paint our prints, drawing inspiration from conversations with our team, our travels, anything that captures our imagination. Textile exploration is at the heart of our brand. Simply put, we make art wearable, in the most comfortable, beautiful way without sacrificing the essence of ready-to-wear.
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What are the key elements of your role?
ANI is literally part of my name, so the brand feels like an extension of me. I call myself the multi-tasking genie, from marketing and merchandising to design approvals, vendor calls, budgets, and beyond. However, the core of my role is shaping the brand’s language, telling its story authentically, and placing ANI where it deserves to be on an international stage.
Talk us through your daily routine.
I’m a proud workaholic. My mornings start with OTP approvals instead of coffee (the founder’s version of an espresso shot). Then comes a workout, shower, and office. I dedicate time to connect with my team, and then I shut my Zoom to dive into strategy, ideas, and endless lists. Evenings are for tennis my little “me-time” and nights often go into checking website traffic. I end the day with dinner, a thriller, and my husband. Somewhere in between, I always reflect on what I did right and what I could do better.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
Consistency is everything, drop the ego and treat your work like your baby. Progress is slow, like training at the gym, but patience builds results. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for help. I used to hold back, but once I started cold-emailing industry seniors, I realised how many are willing to share wisdom.
Tell us more about the pieces?
At ANI, fabric is our canvas, we paint our own prints and develop custom textile blends that you won’t find elsewhere. Think denim and cotton reimagined in our language. Every collection is like an art studio in motion, alive, creative, and experimental. Our pieces are designed for every occasion: casual, semi-formal, even festive. We want you to feel like your best self, like a good hair day turned into a good outfit day, effortless, but head-turning.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
When brands began copying us, I was crushed. But someone reminded me: they can copy your products, but they can’t copy your talent, your team, or your hard work. That changed my perspective completely.
And what is the worst?
“As a founder, just oversee, don’t get too involved.” That’s not me. I believe in delegation, but I also believe in showing up, sharing opinions, ideas, and sometimes even “mom-style” nagging with my team. I can’t just float above it all; ANI is too personal for that.
What’s the biggest challenge you have had to overcome?
Legal hurdles, trademarks, licensing, these processes can feel endless. But every challenge has taught me something new, and I’m learning to navigate them one step at a time.
What’s lies ahead for the brand?
Expansion, inside and out. We’re growing our factory space and ANI family internally, while also preparing for the global stage. The love we’ve received across demographics has been overwhelming, and the next chapter is about taking Ani everywhere.
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Images & Feature Image: Supplied
