At just 15, Chinu Kala faced family issues that led her to leave home with only Rs 300 and a bag of clothes. She spent two nights at a Mumbai railway station, braving numerous hardships with unwavering determination.
In 2014, Chinu founded Rubans Accessories from a small kiosk in a Bengaluru mall. Since then, her brand has sold over a million accessories, a testament to her hard work and dedication.
Chinu had to leave St. Aloysius School in Mumbai during Class 10. Undeterred, she began selling knives and coaster sets door-to-door, earning just Rs 20 a day. Despite frequent rejections she built a reputation and persevered.
In 2007, Chinu made it to the top 10 finalists of the Gladrags Mrs India beauty pageant. Although modelling offered financial stability, she saw its limitations for long-term success.
Chinu married Amit in 2004 who later joined her as a director at Rubans Accessories, adding valuable support to her entrepreneurial journey.
Starting with an initial investment of Rs 3 lakh, Chinu grew Rubans Accessories from a single kiosk to five locations across Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi by 2018.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinu pivoted to online sales which boosted the company’s performance. Today, Rubans Accessories stands as a Rs 104 crore fashion jewellery brand, reflecting Chinu Kala’s resilience and business acumen.