Originally reported and written in July 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

Telling stories thoughtfully through objects and materials has been a core message that Daera — an interior and product design studio based in Delhi — has prided itself on since its inception in 2018. At the intersection of the brand’s sustainable furniture designs and stylish silhouettes, there lies a love for colours and textures shared by Jannat Gill and Sharon Sethi. 

Sharing how their common passion resulted in Daera, Sharon says it was a combination of the right timing and the perfect opportunities. And as most great stories have an unassuming beginning, this one started at a wedding. 

In 2015, Sharon, who was working in California, was in India for Jannat’s wedding ceremonies. Having recently quit her job, Sharon was all set to explore new ideas in the fashion space, perhaps even venturing to test entrepreneurial waters if she could. During the wedding, it wasn’t fashion inspiration and fairytale endings that the two bonded over. 

“We were tinkering with the idea of starting a venture of sorts in the fashion space. While we did come up with the idea for a jewellery line partnering with the artisans of Rajasthan, it wasn’t until 2017 that we got our big break,” Sharon tells The Better India. 

Jannat, who had recently redecorated her new home and been featured in an interior magazine, was being flooded with leads for home decor. She saw this as a wonderful opportunity to put her and Sharon’s fascination for fashion and design to the test by saying yes to these projects. Meanwhile, Sharon, who had returned to the US, was thrilled. 

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