“Being a cabin crew was actually my dream job since I was young,” she told FMT Lifestyle.

Fondly known as Kogi, she had been a flight attendant since 2013, and the idea to start a business came to her during stopovers in India.

“I saw these beautiful handcrafted marble bags in Delhi, and every time I had a stop there, I would bring a few back and sell them in Malaysia,” the 35-year-old said.

Over time, her interest in the business grew, and Kogi roped in her mother, Meenachi K Velayutham – an experienced seamstress – to help create original pieces for the brand.

In fact, this line of work stretches back three generations in their family.

“My mum’s parents were home-based tailors as well. Back then, people would always go to their house to get alterations done for their sarees. So my mum observed and slowly learned how to stitch,” Kogi explained.

Meenachi, 69, who used to work at a clinic before becoming a kindergarten teacher, would always return home after work and stitch for fun. In fact, Kogi said most of her childhood clothes were sewn by her mother.

When the pandemic hit, the mother-daughter duo began making face masks in a variety of designs – colourful, embroidered, silk, cotton and even velvet.

“Several brides during the pandemic ordered masks from us to match their outfits,” Kogi recalled.

When FMT Lifestyle visited their small shoplot in Desa Petaling, Kogi showcased some of the items they had created over the years, including potli bags, saree belts, pouches and more.

Then came a turning point.

“In November 2020, I was retrenched as cabin crew. I was really sad, but I knew I had to move on and find other opportunities,” she said.

That was when Kogi began experimenting with women’s clothing, starting out with cardigans.

“I had the opportunity to participate in a bazaar, and everything sold out within the day itself. That’s when I realised there was strong demand for this kind of clothing,” she said.

The brand’s pieces are crafted entirely from premium cotton. One of Royal Kaira’s standout ranges is the Warli collection, which features vibrant, multicoloured tribal-inspired motifs depicting folk life.

The label leans heavily on South Asian heritage prints such as kalamkari and bandhani, known for their traditional motifs ranging from florals and geometry to intricate tie-dye-inspired patterns.

“Everything we produce is actually what I personally love to wear,” Kogi shared.

Their pieces are designed for casual, everyday wear, ranging from peplum tops and sleeveless cuts to breezy midi dresses. While most of their fabric is sourced from India, the brand creates custom designs upon order during festive seasons.

Royal Kaira also places a strong emphasis on slow and sustainable fashion through their zero-waste collection.

“My mum has never wasted fabric scraps, even back in the day. So we came up with the idea of making baby clothing from leftover pieces, and it’s now one of our best-selling collections,” she said.

Kogi acknowledged that in today’s market, many local brands offer similar Indo-Western garments, though most are mass-produced imports from India.

At Royal Kaira, however, each piece remains personal and handmade. Kogi added that once a collection is sold out, they don’t reproduce the same patterns again, ensuring customers receive something unique. In fact, there is often only one unit made for each size.

While Kogi oversees the brand’s designs and ideas, her mother brings each piece to life behind the sewing machine.

“In one day, my mum can stitch between five and 10 pieces. And she genuinely loves doing it – I never force her,” she said.

While Royal Kaira may still be a small-scale business, Kogi said the brand has attracted loyal supporters throughout its nine-year journey. She now hopes to grow the venture further.

“There’s a saying that when you’ve worked as a cabin crew, you can manage anything else in life,” she said with a laugh.

For Kogi, there is clearly no turning back.

To learn more, follow Royal Kaira on Instagram and contact Kogilavani at 011-1668 1572.

Royal Kaira
Widuri Impian Condominium,
Jalan 1/125g, Taman Desa Petaling,
57100 Kuala Lumpur