In August 2024, three private school teachers, Tiajungla, Nati and Nasen, witnessed their vision come turn into reality as they celebrated the grand opening of their bridal boutique in Tuensang Town, Dressingdreams. Tuensang’s first ever bridal wear boutique, Dressingdreams offers wedding gowns, veils accessories, shoes etc. at affordable rates.
Sharing their story with Nagaland Tribune, the trio said that the boutique is the result of nearly three years of scrimping and saving. Their journey involved various side hustles, including selling second-hand clothes and shoes and even cow dung for manure, showcasing their dedication and resourcefulness.
“If you have a will and determination, anything is possible”, Tiajungla said highlighting the perseverance that brought this vision to life. “If we can achieve this while managing demanding teaching schedules, then anyone with a dream can”, the founders said, encapsulating their message of determination and hope.
The founders of Dressingdreams recognized the gap in the market where local brides had to travel long distances to cities like Dimapur or Kohima for their dream dresses, often incurring high travel and accommodation costs. By establishing the boutique in Tuensang, they aim to make the process simpler and more affordable. “Our goal was to offer high-quality bridal gowns at reasonable prices”, said the founders.
Tiajungla emphasized the importance of understanding local needs, “As locals, we can better address the specific needs of our community. We know that finding the perfect dress can be challenging, especially with fitting issues and communication barriers when shopping away from home. Our boutique aims to bridge that gap.”
The founder shared the most challenging thing about the Dressingdream was finding a courage to take a risk to open a store. They added that so far in their short journey, building relationships has been the most important learning besides networking, advertisement, reaching out to people in different ways.
Acknowledging the “great help” received from family, friends and well-wishers, the founders of Dressingdreams said that this humbling experience drives them to maintain discipline, consistency, hard work, perseverance and above all keep trusting in God.
Assuring brides of a comfortable and relaxed shopping experience at the boutique, Tiajungla, Nati and Nasen said: “The wedding dress trend is more exciting and diverse than ever before. Whether it’s about dreaming of a timeless classic or something more modern and daring. There’s a gown available for every type of bride. Timeless A- Line silhouette continue to be favourites among the bride. We also see many brides opting for sleek silhouette redefining bridal elegance and is a trend that’s perfect for the minimalist bride who favours a less-is-more aesthetic. Ballgown wedding dresses has been a staple in bridal fashion for centuries and continues to be a top choice for brides who want to combine elegance with grandeur. The most important thing in choosing a wedding dress is to reflect bride’s personal style which will make her feel confident and beautiful.”
On the efforts they have made to increase the appeal of their boutique, the founders emphasised on window display, customer friendly service, focus on the store front, pricing and tasteful interiors.
The founders of Dressingdreams advised entrepreneurs aspiring to open bridal boutiques to research market trends, identify target brides, create business plans, find suitable location, secure business licences and permits, hire sales consultants and assistants. Lastly, be ready to be on your toes at any given time, Tiajungla, Nati and Nasen added.
