Conversations with Shweta Rao

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shweta Rao. 

Hi Shweta, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I am originally from India and back there traditional clothes & jewelry are considered heirlooms and blessings from ancestors. When I migrated to the United States, I brought with me a piece of my culture in the form of fashion. I have always had a niche for fashion and styling. My page The Sixyard Saga is all about that passion & my love for Indian wear. When I started my page in 2019, this was a medium to share my stories, stories about my fashion, my passion & our cultural influence. You will find snippets about sarees, Indian weaves & a bit of skincare and makeup. Today, we have an audience of around 22K from all over the world. There is something for everyone from every age bracket.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely is not easy to reboot and restart a career, especially for a mom in her 40s and in a field that she is not educated in. But that is where passion takes over. I have taken utmost interest in planning outfits and looks for any family event since I was a kid; browsing through fashion channels & magazines is a stress buster, I swear by to date. I am proud that I get to do something that I truly believe in & most importantly, one that I enjoy.

The word “influencer” has become quite common in today’s world, so the challenge is always creating the right content and reaching the audience that truly values & appreciates it. It has been a journey of self-discovery and pushing boundaries. A challenging yet exciting one for sure.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Indian fashion is fading among south Asian women living abroad. While growing up in India, we saw the saree as a way of life, today it is looked upon as something that is cumbersome or that is restricted to cultural events. I aim to “normalize” a saree or other Indian wear just how we saw it in India, keeping it real, relatable & wearable. There is much more to this outside of the Bling & Bollywood & I strive to bring that out. Creating an awareness about Indian wear, fabrics, and fabric art is what I aim to achieve through The Sixyard Saga. In an era where social media is ruled by late millennials & Gen Z’s, I think I can proudly say that I have created a space for myself with a niche that is not so common in the western world.

We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
Switching gears with a career is always a risk. You never know how and if there is going to be a payback. I have been fortunate to be blessed with a family that has been so supportive of this decision and has always encouraged & motivated me. After almost 3 years, I can proudly say that this risk has been totally worth it & I am enjoying every bit of this new phase of my life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: the_sixyard_saga
• Facebook: thesixyardsaga