Get To Know Me
Anjali Singh
I AM A REAL PERSON WITH REAL DREAMS
Anjali Singh, a single mother and an entrepreneur
I was a very pampered person for all my life, firstly, treated as a princess by my grandparents and my parents and then like a queen by my husband. But my life was turned upside down last year. In January 2023, I lost my father, and in August, my husband. This left me feeling profoundly alone, carrying the heavy responsibility of raising my children alone. My son was just 15 and facing his critical board year in grade 10, while my daughter was finishing her undergraduate degree in Aerospace at Penn State. Having lost my mother years earlier and my father-in-law shortly after, I found myself without adult support, and it felt like many around us overlooked our grief.
Amidst this darkness, I was overwhelmed by sorrow until the kindness of friends, both old and new, provided me a lifeline. I realized I was raised to be a fighter, not a quitter. My father, a devoted sportsman, often said that swimming against the current reveals our true character. My mother, a dynamic multitasker, has always inspired me.
Determined to rise for my children, I encouraged my daughter to return to the U.S. to finish her degree, which she did successfully. My son also excelled in his board exams and continues to thrive. While we are still navigating our struggles, we’ve vowed to keep moving forward. I’ve embraced my role as a versatile entrepreneur, managing three businesses along with studying to gain knowledge in those fields. I transformed my late husband’s construction company, shifting its focus to architectural and interior design for residential and commercial projects from civil construction. To enhance my skills, I’m pursuing a certificate in Architectural and Interior Design Software from Parsons School of Design in New York.
The COVID-19 pandemic also reignited a forgotten passion: hand embroidery, a brand I had launched immediately after my post-graduation, Somanjali Creations, combining the names of my late husband, the love of my life, Somil, and myself. This later evolved into Somanjali Traders Private Limited. During the travel restrictions, I seized the chance to pursue my passion again and to come to par with the current trends. After a gap of 10 years, I decided to pursue a few courses in Fashion Design and did so by completing a Fashion Design certificate and nearing the end of my CLO3D certification from Parsons. I’ve also applied for an MFA in Fashion Design from SCAD online, with classes set to begin in January if approved.
In addition to my entrepreneurial endeavors, I founded a college counseling LLP called SSUNISTARZ. My academic background is solid with an MBA in Finance and HR, but my heart has always been in fashion. I initially launched AKSSTAGGA in 2020, but personal challenges forced me to pause. Now, I’m excited to relaunch it with renewed energy and vision.
AKSSTAGGA is more than just a brand; it embodies my journey and the connections that have shaped me. I look forward to bringing my vision to life and sharing it with the world.