‘I had an amazing time at this school’

She calls herself a true Apeejayite because she joined Apeejay School, Noida in the nursery and left only after taking the class XII Board exams. From there on she went on to pursue graduation from Delhi University; she took up Commerce. But then she decided to shift her focus and took to studying fashion at NIFT.

“I joined the school in kindergarten and never changed. My days were amazing. I loved every minute of it,” says Saloni Kohli, a freelance fashion stylist who has worked with magazines like Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, and Brides Today.

Excerpts from an interview.

What made you take up freelance work?

After working with magazines like Brides Today and Cosmopolitan for some time and understanding the ins and out of the fashion world, I decided to venture out on my own. I wanted to work for myself and at my pace and timing. I have been a freelancer now for five years and it has been a roller-coaster.

What were some of the roadblocks you faced while setting up your venture?

All things take time to settle down. When you start on your own, it takes to understand how everything works even if you know the industry. It takes time to find your rhythm. I think it is perfectly normal to be a slow racer; I have always believed in quality over quantity of work. Today, this has finally paid off.

Has the fashion industry changed post-Covid?

Nothing has changed. Things are the same. Yes, there was a lull for two years but things have picked up where they were left off. The industry is booming once again as always.

What does your work entail?

My work is to create visual storytelling. I conceptualise and then create content for brands and magazines. In layman’s language, it is to organise a photoshoot that then finds its way on a billboard or even television. My work entails everything that goes into creating a visual that people see. Unlike a job which may be from 9 am to 5 pm, as a freelancer, the work timings depend on the workflow.

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“I would label myself as an extracurricular girl. I participated in everything that the school organised or held. I loved sports, dance, debate, and even music. I am still in touch with some of my teachers on social media”

–Saloni Kohli, freelance fashion stylist

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Can you share some memories from your school days?

I would label myself as an girl. I participated in everything that the school organised or held. I loved sports, dance, debate, and even music. I am still in touch with some of my teachers on social media. Also, school principals play an important role in steering students and teachers toward a particular path. In this sense, I would give credit to Dr Rajesh Hasija who was at the school till 2008.

Fashion tips for young working professionals.

I would suggest that people wear what they are comfortable in. Women can play around with colours rather than stick to blacks and blues. Go for pastels and stick with silhouettes. The colour for 2023 is purple and we will see this a lot in the coming months.

What advice would you like to Apeejayites who want to study fashion?

It is better to do a lot of internships to understand where your passion lies since the industry is so vast and there are so many things that one can pursue and stick to. Feel free to explore yourself and experiment.

Is it okay to experiment with your career choices?

Yes, it is normal for young people to explore their options. They don’t have to stick to only one thing. They can change their line anytime they want to; the idea is to work in a sector where your passion lies. You don’t want to have regrets later in life. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have plan B.