Our story

Ikkabaa began with a word that wasn’t meant to be a brand name.

In Gujarati, “baa” means grandmother. Now, in 2022, my two-year-old niece was trying to pronounce my mum’s name, Rita. What should have been “Rita baa” came out as “Ikkabaa.” The name stayed; first as a family joke, and then as something much more meaningful.

Around the same time, my mum had just retired and found herself a little lost. What she did know was her love for Indian ethnic clothing. She began seeking out unique pieces from local artisans in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, bringing their work to a new audience in the big city of Bangalore, India. With no background in marketing or tech, she relied on instinct...and with the support of my sister-in-law, she slowly built something of her own. What started with selling to neighbours grew into a small, peaceful shop she still runs today.

These days, my niece often pops into the shop to ‘help’ her baa after school...usually with more enthusiasm than efficiency, haha.

Ikkabaa is a family-run business told from my perspective: a daughter watching her mother find her rhythm again, and an aunt to a very silly little girl who unknowingly named a brand. While my mum and sister in law run Ikkabaa in Bangalore, I run Ikkabaa UK - choosing the best picks for our UK customers. Living away from home, this is my way of staying connected: to my family, our roots, and the laughter we share in the process.

A little detail we love: the flower elements in our logo are drawn by my niece herself! :)