Meet Misha Vaidya | Designer & Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Misha Vaidya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Misha, how do you define success?
As a small business owner it’s natural to put an immense amount of pressure on ourselves to ‘succeed,’ to find ourselves battling with endless to-do lists and to spend our days trying to perfect the superwoman routine. Having said that, I believe real success is in finding a balance; being able to ride the wave, as well as well as being able to sit by the shore. Success is often defined as “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Keeping that, and balance in mind, I find myself looking to achieve intentionally, not through luck (though, I won’t turn that away), but through setting clear, precise goals for myself. I view success as a multi-faceted concept, one which looks a little like this: A promise to be kind to myself; to work hard, but to give my brain the rest it needs. To overcome challenges, but to focus on the wins. To be generous with my time, but know when to say no. To strive for accomplishments, but to thoroughly enjoy the journey.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Years and years ago I came across a saying, “I dream my paintings, I paint my dreams.” It’s been something that’s remained true to this day, within every aspect of my creative process and art. Misha Vaidya is a ready-to-wear, women’s wear brand; created for strong, independent, unique women. Established by my Mum and myself, we focus on producing high-quality pieces as sustainable as they are beautiful. We want a woman to be proud of what she’s wearing, and for it to enhance her personality and charisma. We wholeheartedly believe in creating purposefully, ethically and intentionally. Has running a small business been easy? Absolutely not. Has it been worth it? Without a shadow of doubt. It’s allowed me countless opportunities to learn, to think outside the box, and most importantly, to meet a multitude of incredibly talented, inspirational people. Creativity is a gift. It’s openly available, but not always adequately assisted, hence that occasional (dreaded) feeling of creative fatigue. We’ve found that our antidote is collaboration. Through working with countless creative geniuses; bouncing ideas back and forth, sharing goals and sparking new light into the entrepreneurial sphere has allowed us to remain excited and inspired.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, being from London, this doesn’t feel like a hypothetical question; each time my best friends visit, we find ourselves in this (very happy) boat! Miami is such a beautifully unique city, with so much to offer and experience. I’d try my best to incorporate a mixture of outdoor activities (let’s imagine this week isn’t in the heart of summer), interesting restaurants (because, well, food comes first), and places where we’re able to sit for hours (perhaps doing nothing more than chatting). 1. MIA Market, the Design District. I love the thoughtfully-curated menus and sharable dishes. It’s been a hit with all my friends and family. 2. Morada Bay, Key Largo. I’ve had a soft spot for the Keys for years, and Morada Bay feels like an island retreat in the middle of nowhere. 3. Planta, South Beach. Not only are all the dishes delicious, but I love their focus on environmental sustainability. 4. Whip’N Dip, Sunset. Close to home, and by far my favourite little ice-cream ‘shoppe.’ 5. Basement, The Miami Beach Edition. Because who doesn’t enjoy ice-skating, bowling, and fluorescent 90’s style lights? 6. Books & Books, Coral Gables. A unicorn of book shops. Independent, friendly and diverse. 7. Broken Shaker & 27 Restaurant, Freehand Miami. The most beautifully crafted cocktails, delicious food, great music and an open-air space to sit for hours. 8. Bougies Bar, Sunset. Live music, live music, live music!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve always been so incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by supportive, creative, wonderful family and friends. From spending hours sat on the floor creating decor for our New York Fashion Week shows, acting as human clothing rails at pop-up events, to helping with photo shoots and bringing my (sometimes crazy) ideas to life; I have the most incredible people around me. There are far too many to name, but they know who they are and really serve as the backbone of the Misha Vaidya family.

Website: https://mishavaidya.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mishavaidya/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishavaidya/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ByMisha

Image Credits
Photographers: Vlad Lafontant @whoaworks, Laura Pol @laurapol, Gabriel Santiago @shotbyg Models: Jessi Malay @jessimalay, Jess Estrada @jesangeles_, Melissa Ziegler @melissaziegler, Ada Czekolada @adaczekolada_, Carmen Johnson @sillygirlcarmen