By Building a global brand in the luxury fashion sector requires navigating complex supply chains, shifting market demands, and intense competition. For women entrepreneurs, these challenges are often compounded by systemic barriers, limited access to capital, underrepresentation in leadership, and persistent bias across industries. Despite growing awareness, the path to building influence and credibility on a global scale remains uneven for women in business.
Kritika kohli, founder of Maison Candelé, is confronting these challenges head-on. Through a brand rooted in sustainability, craftsmanship, and cross-cultural collaboration, she is not only shaping a new model for luxury fashion but also redefining what female leadership looks like in the space. Her journey offers insight into both the structural obstacles women face and the strategic choices that can turn those obstacles into meaningful progress.
Redefining Credibility in a Male-Dominated Space
For Kritika, building Maison Candelé has required more than vision and operational discipline, it has demanded persistent advocacy for her own legitimacy as a leader.
“One of the biggest hurdles has been navigating credibility in spaces where luxury and leadership are still often male-dominated,” she explains.
As a young female founder in a traditionally hierarchical and image-driven industry, skepticism has often come less from the quality of her ideas and more from entrenched assumptions about who gets to lead.
Her approach has been to challenge that skepticism with substance. “I’ve had to prove that purpose and profit can co-exist, and that innovation led by women isn’t niche—it’s the future.”
This dual commitment to values and commercial viability has helped Maison Candelé stand out in a crowded market, while reinforcing the broader point that inclusive leadership is not a compromise, it’s a competitive advantage.
“Earning that seat at the table hasn’t always been easy,” she adds, “but it’s made the journey more meaningful.”
Recognition That Reflects Impact
Amid the challenges of building a global brand, certain moments stand out, not only as markers of progress but as validation of a larger purpose. For Kritikai, one such moment came with international recognition.
“A proud milestone was receiving the Entrepreneur Spotlight Award in Sustainable Luxury Goods,” she shares. “That recognition validated our mission on a global scale.”
While accolades matter, she’s equally focused on the smaller, more personal moments of success, the ones that reflect impact beyond business metrics.
“Just as meaningful are the everyday wins, like seeing our artisans’ work appreciated by customers around the world, or watching someone connect emotionally with the story behind a piece.”
These moments, she explains, offer a more enduring form of motivation. They reinforce why Maison Candelé exists, not only to deliver a product, but to build a brand that connects people, honors craft, and reshapes values in luxury.
Empowerment as a Core Principle
For Kritika, female empowerment is not a peripheral initiative, it is central to both her personal values and her business model. “It’s at the very heart of everything I do,” she says.
Growing up surrounded by strong women shaped her conviction that empowerment must move beyond representation to tangible action. This belief is reflected in Maison Candelé’s operational ethos. The brand partners directly with female artisans in rural India, ensuring fair wages, skills development, and global recognition.
But the commitment extends beyond the supply chain. “Internally too, we create space for women to lead, express themselves, and thrive,” Kritika explains. She emphasizes that this is not a mere business strategy, it is a fundamental responsibility.
By embedding empowerment in every layer of the brand, Kritika positions Maison Candelé as more than a luxury label, it is a platform for sustainable social change.
Guidance for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs in the Arab Region
Drawing on her own journey, Kritika offers clear, practical advice for women in the Arab region aiming to build global brands.
“Don’t wait. Trust your vision and speak with clarity,” she advises. She highlights the power of cultural identity as a distinct advantage in the international marketplace.
“Use your cultural identity as a strength, it’s a powerful differentiator in a global market hungry for authenticity.”
Kritika also stresses the importance of community and support. “Surround yourself with people who believe in your mission, and don’t be afraid to ask for support.”
She cautions against chasing fleeting trends, emphasizing that “the most impactful brands are born from truth, not trends.” Her words underscore the importance of authenticity as the foundation for lasting success.
Empowerment as a Core Principle
For Kritika, female empowerment is not a peripheral initiative—it is central to both her personal values and her business model. “It’s at the very heart of everything I do,” she says.
Growing up surrounded by strong women shaped her conviction that empowerment must move beyond representation to tangible action. This belief is reflected in Maison Candelé’s operational ethos. The brand partners directly with female artisans in rural India, ensuring fair wages, skills development, and global recognition.
But the commitment extends beyond the supply chain. “Internally too, we create space for women to lead, express themselves, and thrive,” Kritika explains. She emphasizes that this is not a mere business strategy—it is a fundamental responsibility.
By embedding empowerment in every layer of the brand, Kritika positions Maison Candelé as more than a luxury label—it is a platform for sustainable social change.
Guidance for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs in the Arab Region
Drawing on her own journey, Kritika offers clear, practical advice for women in the Arab region aiming to build global brands.
“Don’t wait. Trust your vision and speak with clarity,” she advises. She highlights the power of cultural identity as a distinct advantage in the international marketplace.
“Use your cultural identity as a strength—it’s a powerful differentiator in a global market hungry for authenticity.”
Kritika also stresses the importance of community and support. “Surround yourself with people who believe in your mission, and don’t be afraid to ask for support.”
She cautions against chasing fleeting trends, emphasizing that “the most impactful brands are born from truth, not trends.” Her words underscore the importance of authenticity as the foundation for lasting success.
Kritika kohli’s path with Maison Candelé is not just about scaling a luxury brand—it’s about rewriting the script for what leadership in fashion can look like. Her experience underscores the complexities women face in global business, but also the distinct strengths they bring to it: empathy, cultural fluency, and purpose-driven thinking.
By anchoring her brand in sustainability and empowerment, Kritika is not only contributing to the evolution of high-end fashion, but also opening space for a new generation of women entrepreneurs—particularly in the Arab region—to lead with intention and build with impact.
Her message is clear: credibility comes from consistency, vision must be rooted in truth, and global success is entirely possible when leadership reflects both strength and purpose.
