Fashion & Apparel Retail · Brand Strategy · Family Business Advisory
Sadashivan Sanker
Founder, Studio Teertha · Creative Head, Disha Lifestyle
30+ Years
In fashion, apparel & lifestyle retail
4 Brands
Shoppers Stop, Globus, Big Bazaar & Disha Lifestyle
Mix & Match
Pioneer — redefined Indian women's ethnic fashion in 1997
Studio Teertha
Design think tank & product development studio, 20+ years
About Sadashivan
Sadashivan Sanker is a fashion retail strategist and creative director with over 30 years of experience across India's most iconic retail brands — Shoppers Stop, Globus, Big Bazaar, and Disha Lifestyle. He is best known for pioneering the Mix & Match women's ethnic section at Shoppers Stop in 1997, a merchandising innovation that fundamentally changed how Indian women shopped for ethnic fashion and has since become standard practice across the industry.
He is the founder of Studio Teertha, a design think tank and product development studio he has run for over 20 years, helping brands, manufacturers, and traders create strategic, market-relevant collections that combine creative direction with commercial viability. At Disha Lifestyle, he founded and led the Indian & Indo-Western division from scratch, launched the KamiKubi online vertical (now on major e-commerce platforms), and transformed a family-run wholesale unit into a 100+ employee structured organisation with multi-fold revenue growth.
His advisory is particularly valuable for fashion and apparel businesses navigating the transition from traditional or family-run operations to modern, scalable retail formats — and for brands launching or repositioning in the Indian ethnic and Indo-Western wear market.
Career Track Record
- Founded the Indian & Indo-Western division from scratch
- Launched KamiKubi — online vertical now on major e-commerce platforms
- Transformed a family-run wholesale unit into a 100+ employee structured organisation
- Drove multi-fold revenue growth across top-line and bottom-line
What He Advises On
- Fashion and apparel retail strategy — buying, merchandising, and category management
- Brand launch and positioning for Indian and Indo-Western wear labels
- Retail format design and customer experience innovation
- Family business advisory — professionalising operations and governance
- Multi-brand and private-label strategy for apparel retailers
- Vendor network development and supply chain coordination
- Building and leading buying, merchandising, and design teams
- Transitioning traditional textile or apparel businesses into modern retail formats
- Online/D2C vertical launch — from concept to e-commerce platform listing
- Design & sampling oversight, apparel construction, and costing
As an Educator
Sadashivan has consistently shared his industry knowledge through workshops and faculty roles spanning design, retail, garmenting, and business practices. His vision: to empower 100 master artisans within five years and bridge the gap between untapped potential and professional expertise.
CEPET, Andheri
1996 · Taught Apparel Construction and Costing
Rachana Sansad
2007 · Visiting Faculty — practical industry insights
INFD Ahmedabad
Workshop · Retail workshops
Pearl Academy
2022 · Session on Creativity and Commercial Viability
ISDI
Workshop · Children's Wear workshop
World Trade Centre
2024 · Garmenting workshop for women from neighbouring slum communities
Frequently Asked Questions
Book a Session
Online or in-person · India
Core Skills
- Apparel construction & costing
- Category management
- Design & sampling oversight
- Team building & training
- Corporate systemisation
- Brand launch & positioning
- Vendor network development
- Supply chain coordination
Vision & Mission
Vision: To empower the future of Indian craftsmanship by cultivating 100 master artisans within the next five years.
Mission: To provide specialised fashion education to students facing financial barriers — transforming economic hardship into technical mastery and professional dignity.
Advisory Packages
Choose the engagement that fits your stage and goals