November 27, 2017, by Charlotte Anscombe

Nottingham entrepreneur scoops top prize at Women in Business awards

A Nottingham Ingenuity Lab entrepreneur has scooped a top award for her make-up company Kohl Kreatives.

Trishna Daswaney (a graduate in Business Management, 2015) has won the Rising Star award in the Nottingham Post Business Awards.

Trishna’s company Kohl Kreatives is a non-profit organisation, with two incredibly important causes at the centre of her brand. All profits from the sale of Kohl Kreative make-up brushes, are invested into providing free make-up consultancy for cancer care patients and transitioning transgender people.

Her workshops, which she runs weekly in Nottinghamshire, London, and overseas, have empowered thousands of her clients since 2012 – which is testament to her commitment to the social value of her business.

Kohl Kreatives brushes have been stocked in Boots since August 2017 and she is also working with other international retailers to expand the reach of her brand.

Trishna has also been featured heavily editorially in publications such as The Observer, Harpers Bazaar, InStyle, Evening Standard and Stylist, establishing Trishna as an emerging player in the health and beauty market.

Trishna set up the company in 2015, with the aim of helping people to boost their self-esteem.

Trishna said: “I was bullied about my appearance at school and makeup helped me feel better about myself. The idea foe Kohl Kreatives came from how I could help others to feel better too. I wanted to strip the vanity back from makeup and help boost people’s self-esteem. I wanted to empower people with makeup and make a difference in people’s lives.

“To win an award in Nottingham means so much to me. Some of the best ideas I’ve had in life have been here and it’s where it all began.

“Being able to take the award home has been incredible because this now gives us the recognition needed to be noticed by more people, to help more people. Hopefully by winning this we are able to do so,”

Trishna has benefitted from the experience, skills and expertise offered by The Ingenuity Lab, and has been mentored by industry experts including Mitch Stevenson and Judy Naake.

“We have worked very closely and intensely with Trishna over the past few years to develop not only her brand, but herself. It is a delight to see her thriving as an entrepreneur, and adding huge value to vulnerable groups across society.” – Steven Chapman, Head of The Ingenuity Lab

Other finalists were Jordana Chin (Nutrition, 2016) and Lottie Valks (Spanish, 2014) – both of whom were shortlisted for prizes at the Nottingham Post Women in Business Award.

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