Today we’d like to introduce you to Richa Pathak.
Hi Richa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in India surrounded by textiles, craft, and artisan fairs, so clothing was never just clothing to me. It always carried a story of the hands that made it, the place it came from, and the life it would eventually become part of.
My professional path started in a very different direction. I trained as a lawyer, but over time I kept feeling pulled back toward design and textiles. After moving to the U.S., becoming a mother, and going through different seasons of life, I started noticing a gap in my own wardrobe. I wanted clothes that felt beautiful and thoughtful, but also easy. Pieces I could actually live in.
That is where RIHLA began.
RIHLA is a Raleigh-based womenswear brand rooted in India’s heritage craft traditions. We work with artisan partners in India to create modern, easy-to-wear clothing using techniques like hand block printing, weaving, and natural textiles. The heart of the brand is to make clothing that feels soft, special, and effortless, while honoring the people and processes behind it.
Getting here has been a steady and humbling journey. I have learned everything from design and production to photography, marketing, customer service, and building a brand from the ground up. There have been many challenges, but every collection has helped me get clearer about what RIHLA stands for: thoughtful clothing, ethical production, and pieces that bring ease and beauty into women’s everyday lives.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but I do think the harder parts have shaped the brand in important ways.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to build a fashion brand from the ground up while staying true to our values. With RIHLA, we are not trying to produce quickly or cheaply. We work in small batches, use thoughtful fabrics, and partner with artisans and production teams in India, which means the process takes time, patience, and a lot of problem solving.
There has also been a big learning curve in understanding the business side. As a small founder-led brand, I wear many hats. I am involved in design, production, photography, marketing, customer service, operations, and everything in between. Some days that feels exciting, and some days it feels overwhelming.
Another struggle has been finding the right balance between creating something meaningful and making sure it works commercially. I have had to learn what our customer truly needs, what she responds to, and how to keep refining without losing the heart of the brand.
But the challenges have also made me more focused. They have taught me to slow down, listen better, and build RIHLA with more intention. Every difficult season has brought more clarity about the kind of brand I want this to be.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about RIHLA?
RIHLA is a women’s clothing brand built around ease, craft, and quiet beauty. We create dresses, blouses, skirts, and everyday pieces that are meant to feel considered, but never overworked.
Our focus is on clothing that women can truly live in. The kind of pieces that make you feel pulled together without asking too much from you. Soft fabrics, relaxed silhouettes, thoughtful details, and prints with a point of view are central to what we do. We are especially drawn to garments that feel effortless on the body, but still carry a sense of romance and intention.
What we are becoming known for is that balance. RIHLA pieces are feminine, but not fussy. Detailed, but still wearable. They have a softness to them, but they are not plain. I want our clothing to feel like something you reach for instinctively, whether you are getting dressed for a weekday, a dinner, a trip, or a moment when you simply want to feel like yourself again.
What sets RIHLA apart is the way we approach design from both feeling and function. A sleeve, a lining, a belt, a pocket, a print, a trim, the way a dress moves when you walk, all of those choices matter. We are not interested in making clothes that only look good in a photograph. We want them to hold up in real life and become part of a woman’s own rhythm.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that RIHLA has a clear voice. It is rooted in craft, but it does not feel nostalgic. It is modern, but not cold. It is beautiful, but still easy. That balance is what I hope women feel when they wear our pieces.
What I would love readers to know is that RIHLA is still young, but it is being built with a lot of care. Each collection is small and intentional, and every piece is created with the hope that it becomes something a woman returns to often. Not because it is loud or trendy, but because it makes getting dressed feel softer, simpler, and more meaningful.
What’s next?
The future for RIHLA is about growing with intention. I am not interested in building a brand that feels rushed or overly trend driven. I want RIHLA to grow in a way that feels steady, thoughtful, and true to the reason it began.
We are looking forward to deepening our collections and creating a more complete wardrobe around the RIHLA woman. Dresses will always be central to the brand, but I am excited to continue building out pieces like blouses, skirts, and separates that women can wear often and style in their own way.
I am also looking forward to telling the craft story in a stronger and more visual way. There is so much beauty in the process, from the printing and weaving to the small details that make each garment feel special. I want our customers to feel more connected to that journey and to the hands behind what they wear.
As the brand grows, I hope to expand our presence both online and through thoughtful retail partnerships. We are still young, so this season feels like a time of refinement: understanding our customer more deeply, strengthening our point of view, and building a foundation that can support long-term growth.
The biggest change is really clarity. Each year, RIHLA feels more like itself. I am excited for the brand to become more confident, more recognizable, and more rooted in the kind of clothing we do best: pieces that feel easy, beautiful, and meaningful in a woman’s everyday life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rihlalife.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rihlalife/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rihlalife
