Alisha Built Two Viral Brands From Scratch—Here’s How

What do you get when you mix creativity, hustle, and a bit of chaos? A viral product brand that lands on Nordstrom’s shelves—twice. In this episode, I sit down with Alisha Athreya, the powerhouse founder behind KURVWEAR. and Don’t Eat My Candle, two product-based businesses that have achieved what most brand owners dream of: retail placement in stores like Nordstrom, Woolworths, Priceline, and The Iconic. But here’s the kicker—Alisha did it all without outside funding, without a PR agency, and while still in university. From learning to sew on her mom’s broken machine, to sending a single shoe in a box to a Nordstrom buyer, this episode is a masterclass in resourcefulness, resilience, and relationship-building. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to get into big box stores—or if you just need a reminder that bold moves build big brands—this episode is for you. Sal