In a recent article, Fashionista spotlighted the entrepreneurial story of acclaimed designer Priya Ahluwalia, as featured in The Creative Entrepreneur — the new book by Carolyn Dailey that reveals the behind-the-scenes business journeys of 10 inspiring creative leaders. Priya’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when raw creative vision meets business-savvy determination—and it’s filled with valuable takeaways for anyone trying to carve out their own path in the creative industries.
From launching her brand without a runway show to landing a career-defining partnership with Adidas thanks to a single Fashion Week display, Priya demonstrates that being ready, visible, and open to connection can change everything. “That was my first runway show and it was incredible,” she recalls. “David Beckham and Pharrell were there. That took the brand to a different stratosphere.”
For Priya, human connection has always been at the heart of her business growth. “At the end of the day, it’s only human beings who do business,” she says. “Being able to get on with people and show how you bring them value—that’s really important.”
But don’t call it “networking.”
“I hate the word ‘networking’—it doesn’t have to mean some sort of seminar where you wear a name tag,” she says. For her, it’s about genuine interactions: bumping into someone at the library, sparking spontaneous creative conversations, and building a tribe that believes in you. “No person is an island, no person can create and build these amazing businesses on their own.”
Priya’s success is rooted in that spirit of openness and experimentation. She’s collaborated with Ganni, Paul Smith, and Mulberry, created an AI-powered upcycling platform with Microsoft, and now directs short films with Ridley Scott’s Black Dog Films—an opportunity that literally slid into her DMs on LinkedIn. “As a woman, it can feel scary to be a polymath… but I realised, if I don’t know something, I’m just going to learn it.”
That spirit of curiosity and self-trust is something she encourages all creatives to embrace. “Understand and learn every part of your business. The buck stops with you. At the beginning, I was designing, pattern cutting, sewing, packing, shipping. But the key is to know the craft yourself.”
She also doesn’t shy away from the tougher realities of running a business: the burnout, the responsibility, and the emotional toll. “We’re only human and we can’t be perfect all the time… That’s why it’s really important to make sure you have a good support network.”
Her parting advice for aspiring creative entrepreneurs?
- Build strong foundations with solid systems and processes
- Be disciplined about your bandwidth—“walk before you can run”
- Keep a close eye on your spending
- Hone your unique point of view—“What sets your idea apart from anyone else’s?”
Priya Ahluwalia’s journey proves that creativity and entrepreneurship aren’t opposites—they’re two sides of the same powerful coin.
Want more insights like these?
Read Priya’s full story—and nine others—in Carolyn Dailey’s new book:
The Creative Entrepreneur: A Guide to Building a Successful Creative Business from Industry Titans.
And if you’ve read the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews are a huge help in getting the book into more creatives’ hands! If you’ve found inspiration in the book, we’d love for you to share your thoughts—just a few lines go a long way!