We focus on how to bring shapewear-level support into everyday clothes
Kaydot is a ‘Made in India’ fashion brand founded by Kamya Mehra with a mission to merge shapewear, innerwear, and comfort-led details directly into clothing, eliminating the need for multiple layers. Inspired by personal experiences and the struggles women face with ill-fitting innerwear and shapewear, Kaydot seeks to redefine the relationship between women, fashion, and comfort. Its debut collection, UNLAYERED, introduces sleek wardrobe staples with built-in support, designed to empower women to feel confident, free, and effortlessly put together. Speaking to Fibre2Fashion, Mehra shares the journey, challenges, and vision behind Kaydot.
What personal experiences shaped the vision behind Kaydot and led to creating garments with built-in support?
The vision behind Kaydot started with my own experiences at home. I watched my mother—from whom I inherited my fashion sense and understanding of garments—struggle to find the right innerwear for her dresses, tops, and bottoms due to her curvy body type. Despite having many beautiful pieces in her wardrobe, she often had difficulty finding shapewear that fit well. I saw her skip many outings because of this challenge.
I noticed the same issue during my college days, where many of my batchmates and my roommate struggled to find the right bra, shapewear, tummy tucker, or cycling shorts. Later, in the clothing business, I saw this pattern continue among my customers. That inspired me to change the game and fill this gap by creating a new category.
How does Kaydot aim to redefine the relationship women have with fashion and comfort?
As women, we already have so much on our plates. Many Indian women juggle both their businesses and household responsibilities. Amid all this, they want to look confident and feel put together in whatever they wear. Dressing up should be one of the easiest tasks, but often it is not.
In today’s fast-paced world, there is pressure to have the perfect figure to wear the perfect outfits, yet every woman’s body is different. We wanted to change how it feels to wear garments. Our aim is to make women feel empowered and free. Unlike other brands, Kaydot does not want woman to have a love-hate relationship with their clothes. Kaydot envisions a comfortable and hassle-free connection with women. We offer something that makes women’s lives easier, especially for working women.
Could you share more about the inspiration behind the debut collection, UNLAYERED, and what makes it distinctive?
For our debut collection, UNLAYERED, we wanted to introduce the core concept behind Kaydot. Our goal was to help every woman embrace the idea of having all the necessary layers built into the garments, eliminating the need for extra layers. That is why we launched a timeless, basic, and sleek collection as our first offering.
Black-coloured pieces are wardrobe essentials that everyone wants. Today, many women are shifting towards a more minimal mindset. That made black bodysuits, dresses and skirts the perfect choice for women’s wardrobe staples.
KaySculpt is positioned as a signature technology, what were the biggest challenges in developing it?
KaySculpt is our trademarked design concept for building shapewear directly into the garment. Developing it was the biggest challenge we faced. It took us nearly eight months to get the design just right.
First, we had to determine the perfect placement for the attachments. Then, we worked on finding the most comfortable attachments for wearability. Choosing the right fabrics was essential to ensure the garments work for all seasons and body types. Finally, we carefully designed the panels to smooth curves and create a seamless look. After hundreds of samples, we launched our first dress with built-in shapewear and named it KaySculpt.
Many women are used to layering shapewear or innerwear. How has the response been when they first try Kaydot garments?
We received a great response within just a few weeks of launching. However, some women were initially a little confused about the concept. Through our social channels, we have addressed many of their questions, providing clarity on how to wear the products, explaining that no layers are needed and showing how our garments offer all the lifting and support without anything additional.
Some women were unsure about how they would use the restroom while wearing our pieces, but we explained the open gusset feature, which solved that concern. Every woman who has purchased from us so far has shared one common sentiment: “I still cannot believe I am wearing no layers inside this garment. I feel so free”.
In what ways do you see Kaydot addressing long-standing pressures and expectations placed on women’s bodies through fashion?
At Kaydot, our built-in shapewear clothing is not about making women look thinner; it is about helping them feel confident, breathe easily, move freely, and live boldly. Traditionally, women have been expected to shape their bodies to fit into garments. We have flipped that idea. Now, the garment shapes itself around you.
We want to free women from the pressure of avoiding fitted clothing, worrying about every bulge, or wearing shapewear that feels suffocating. Kaydot aims to replace that constant discomfort with clothes that support you while allowing you to feel fully like yourself.
How important is ‘Made in India’ to your identity as a brand, both locally and globally?
Early on, some manufacturers questioned why we chose to produce in India when China has more advanced machinery that could make the process easier. For me, the answer was clear: innovation should stay in India and grow from here. If we have the capability, there is no reason to look elsewhere. We take great pride in being a ‘Made in India’ brand.
But I was very clear that this innovation has to stay in India. My response was simple: “If India can do it, why should I go to China?” We can do it, and we will. We are proudly made in India.
It did take a lot of time, effort and investment to find the right skilled labour who understand the vision behind our brand and the quality and finishing we need for our garments. But we managed to get there, and we will only grow from here. As demand increases, skilled labour in India will grow too. One day, I believe we will be able to sell our products in China.
With functionality at the core, how do you ensure designs still reflect style and aesthetics without compromise?
At Kaydot, our vision is to create garments that women love to wear and that are truly functional. We do not just focus on beautiful silhouettes; functionality is equally important. We will launch new products in various categories, but only if they meet our standards for functionality. Our goal is to make aspirational clothing that is also practical, and we believe that approach makes perfect sense.
What role do you see Kaydot playing in the broader conversation about inclusive and body-positive fashion?
I see Kaydot playing an important role in the shift towards fashion that is more than just size inclusivity on paper. For me, body positivity is less about preaching, and more about designing clothes that actually help women feel confident in their own skin. That means creating shapewear-integrated basics, flattering fits, and styles that let women enjoy what they wear without constantly worrying if they can “pull it off.”
I do not want Kaydot to be seen as a brand that simply ticks the inclusivity box with a size chart. The goal is to normalise the idea that fashion can be functional, flattering, and aspirational at the same time, whether you wear XS or 4XL. If Kaydot can help women feel more comfortable and powerful in their everyday clothes, then I believe we are making a real contribution to the body-positive conversation.
What shifts are you seeing in how consumers define comfort and confidence in fashion today?
I believe comfort today goes far beyond just soft fabrics or easy fits. People want clothes that move with them throughout the day, pieces that do not restrict their movement. Confidence is now closely tied to how effortless you feel wearing what you have on.
The biggest shift I see is that comfort and confidence have merged. In the past, women often felt they had to choose between something flattering and something comfortable. Now, the expectation is both, and that is exactly the gap Kaydot aims to fill.
I also notice that consumers are willing to pay a premium if they believe a piece is worth it and will remain in their wardrobes for years. It is less about fast fixes and more about investing in clothes that feel good, look good, and genuinely last.
How do you think the idea of ‘functionality’ in clothing is evolving, especially for women?
For women especially, the idea of functionality in clothing has evolved far beyond just having pockets. It is now about designs that truly understand our lives, whether that means built-in support, adjustable fits, easy washroom breaks, or pieces that can effortlessly transition from day to night.
Functionality today is closely linked to confidence. Women want more than just a dress that looks good in pictures; they want to feel secure wearing it while sitting, walking, working, or dancing to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions. That is where I see the real evolution happening—fashion that is smart, supportive, and versatile without looking boring or overly practical.
At Kaydot, this has been our guiding philosophy. We focus on how to bring shapewear-level support into everyday clothes, so women do not have to choose between looking polished and feeling comfortable.
Sustainability has become a key conversation in fashion. What role do you think innovation plays in making it mainstream?
I believe innovation is what will truly make sustainability move from being a ‘nice-to-have’ to a standard practice in the fashion industry. It cannot be just about switching fabrics; it requires rethinking how clothes are designed, produced and how long they actually last in someone’s wardrobe.
At Kaydot, we have started small with sustainable packaging, but I truly believe innovation will be the key to doing much more as we grow. For example, Levi’s limited-edition sustainable collection demonstrated how a brand can experiment, test new ideas and bring them to market without sacrificing style or identity. That is exactly the kind of approach I want for Kaydot in the future: beginning with small, meaningful innovations and gradually making them a larger part of the brand.
With global tariff pressures, how significant is a ‘domestic-first’ strategy for fashion businesses right now?
With the way global tariffs and supply chain costs are rising, I believe a domestic-first strategy is becoming more important than ever, especially for young fashion brands like mine. For me, it is not just about controlling costs; it is also about speed, flexibility, and having more control over the process. When I source and produce locally, I can turn things around faster, adapt to changes quickly, and stay much closer to my customers.
For my brand, Kaydot, this approach is at the heart of what we do. Our strength lies in being able to respond quickly to what women want right now. If I had to depend on global supply chains, I would lose that agility. I also notice that consumers are valuing ‘Made in India’ more than ever, so focusing on domestic production is not only practical for me, but it also connects emotionally with people today.
In your view, what are the biggest challenges young fashion entrepreneurs face when entering the industry today?
The biggest challenge that young fashion entrepreneurs face is getting into the ‘trend’ mindset. Everyone wants to chase trends and launch collection after collection. They do not realise that it is not just about being trendy all the time. Even Forever 21 was trendy, but did it survive over Zara and H&M? It could not because being aspirational, functional, and providing a great customer experience is extremely important. In today’s world, many have forgotten to focus on making a good product. All they can think about is how to market the products well. But no matter how well one markets a defective shoe, it will not sell until it is fixed. Having something unique that can set your brand apart, or truly solve a real problem, can be the key to making a lasting mark or drifting in the crowd.
Looking ahead, do you plan to expand into categories beyond dresses and bodysuits?
Yes, definitely. We plan to expand into categories like gym wear, swimwear and even occasion wear, while keeping our brand values and aesthetics intact. We will always keep our customers’ needs and preferences in mind and launch new products accordingly.
