Keeping baby close

Chinmayie Bhat launched her own line of ergonomic baby carriers in an attempt to promote the concept of attachment parenting

How did formal knowledge of design fuel your entrepreneurial journey?

CB: I graduated from an art school and worked in the field of print design and branding for a bit before I started Soul. This definitely helped me have a better understanding of esthetics and the choice of colors, patterns and prints was something that came naturally to me. I already knew how important it is for a brand to have strong communication materials. All these made several things easier for me during the initial stages of Soul.

What inspires you?

CB: I am inspired by all kinds of things! I love following the work of very inspiring people from varying backgrounds doing great work. I get inspired by what people achieve when they love what they do and have their heart in the right place. I draw a lot of inspiration from my interaction with customers. We are always looking at them for more suggestions and friendly advice to make our products and services better.

How do you balance the commercial and creative aspects of your work?

CB: This is definitely one of the biggest challenges most creative people have to deal with. As an entrepreneur it gets even harder. Our brand turned six years old recently and it has taught me a lot. To sustain the brand, my creative dreams have to be commercially viable. I like to take it as a challenge, because it pushes me to innovate. It’s a fine and important balance to achieve.