Founded as a passion project, The Bombay Lettering Company has grown into a premier boutique calligraphy and design studio specializing in luxury weddings, events, and celebrations. Blending artistry with personalization, we craft bespoke designs in English and Devanagari across various mediums—from delicate ink on paper to intricate engraving on glass, wood, and acrylic.
With an esteemed clientele including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Google India, and even on-site calligraphy for celebrity weddings, we bring timeless craftsmanship to every creation. In a digital world, our calligraphy evokes warmth, sentiment, and a touch of individuality, making every moment truly unforgettable.
What key factors or turning points in your journey transformed your passion for calligraphy into a seven-figure business?
I believe one of the most pivotal factors was my openness to explore new opportunities, even if they felt slightly outside my comfort zone. In the early days, I started purely as a calligrapher, focused on mastering Copperplate scripts and doing small commissions. Then one of my clients asked if I could help design her wedding invitation. At that time, I had no direct experience in wedding stationery design or print processes. Yet I saw it as an invitation—no pun intended—to expand my skills and the scope of Bombay Lettering.
Saying “yes” led me to work closely with printers and other design professionals. I hired graphic designers, brought illustrators on board, and absorbed as much knowledge as I could about color profiles, paper quality, and various printing techniques. Little by little, what began as a single wedding invitation evolved into a broader design service offering. This willingness to pivot helped me realize that if I truly wanted to grow the business, I couldn’t rely on calligraphy alone; I needed to incorporate related fields like design, print, and paper sourcing.
These expansions were all natural outgrowths of my core skill set—they were only one step away from calligraphy, yet they opened up a world of bigger clients and larger-scale projects. Over time, we honed our processes, built a small but dedicated team of experts, and began delivering a complete suite of creative services to both individual clients and corporate brands.
Embracing new challenges, learning what worked (and what didn’t), and never being too rigid in my approach all contributed to this journey. By continually refining our offerings and staying attuned to clients’ needs, I was able to grow Bombay Lettering from a one-woman calligraphy venture into a seven-figure creative studio.
How has your background in the corporate world influenced your approach to building and scaling a creative business in the niche of calligraphy?
My four years at Moët Hennessy profoundly shaped the way I run Bombay Lettering. Working within one of the world’s premier luxury conglomerates taught me the importance of brand identity, marketing strategy, and delivering an exceptional customer experience—principles that often get overlooked in purely artistic ventures.
From day one, I approached Bombay Lettering as a business, not just an art practice. I applied the same professionalism and attention to detail that I’d observed in a corporate setting: streamlined processes, clear timelines, and structured communication with clients. Where some artists might focus solely on the craft, my corporate background instilled in me the need for consistency, reliability, and a strong brand presence.
This gave me a competitive edge in the market. Clients could see that Bombay Lettering wasn’t just a side gig—it was a professional studio with defined procedures and a commitment to excellence. By blending a creative passion with a business-driven mindset, I was able to scale faster, attract high-profile collaborations, and establish a reputation for quality and innovation in both calligraphy and design.
What have you found to be the most significant challenges in teaching a highly technical skill like Copperplate calligraphy, and how do you overcome them?
One of the biggest hurdles is that many beginners lack the patience required to master the intricacies of Copperplate. They see beautiful, Instagram-worthy final pieces and assume the results will be immediate. In reality, calligraphy demands time, dedication, and methodical practice to build the muscle memory and stroke consistency essential for elegant letterforms.
A key myth we often have to dispel is that calligraphy is just “fancy handwriting.” In truth, calligraphy involves thinking of letters as shapes you draw and then connect, rather than simply writing quickly as you would with normal handwriting. This shift in perspective can be challenging but is crucial for mastering the technical side of Copperplate—particularly the pressure control, pen angle, and fluid strokes.
To help students overcome these challenges, I break down lessons into digestible modules. We start with basic strokes—ovals, lines, and loops—before moving on to letters and words, ensuring they grasp each fundamental technique before tackling more complex lettering. I also encourage maintaining a practice journal to track progress and celebrate small wins. Fostering a supportive community—whether in-person or online—further helps students stay motivated when their initial attempts aren’t “perfect.” By reinforcing that patience and deliberate practice are the keys to success, we turn what initially feels overwhelming into a clear, encouraging learning journey.
In your experience, what qualities make a successful calligraphy student, and how can someone cultivate them, both in terms of technique and mindset?
I like to think of calligraphy education in two distinct phases: the tangibles and the intangibles.
- Tangibles involve practice, memorizing letter constructions, and nailing the fundamentals. This means diligently copying exemplars, mastering pen angles, and developing the muscle memory needed for consistency. It’s the technical backbone—essential yet only the first part of the journey.
- Intangibles come once you’ve internalized the basics. This is where you weave in your own experiences, personality, and artistic vision. It’s about figuring out how you want your strokes and flourishes to “speak” for you. Developing a personal style isn’t instantaneous. It can take years of exploration and reflection before your work begins to have that unmistakable signature that people recognize as yours.
The most successful students understand the balance between these two layers. First, they commit to learning and replicating the fundamentals as precisely as possible, accepting that this foundation is crucial. Then, they gradually experiment—altering angles, integrating new forms, or mixing in influences from different art styles. Over time, these subtle changes accumulate into a unique aesthetic that showcases both technical skill and individual flair.
From a mindset perspective, patience is key. Recognize that copying letterforms exactly is just a stepping stone—it doesn’t make you an “artist” yet. True artistry happens when you start blending your personal taste, experiences, and creativity with the foundational skills you’ve honed. This combination of disciplined practice (tangibles) and expressive evolution (intangibles) is what ultimately shapes a calligrapher’s voice and sets them apart in the field.
How do you see the future of traditional art forms like calligraphy in a rapidly digitizing world, and how can communities like the Copperplate Collective contribute to their preservation and growth?
Despite our increasingly digital culture, there’s still a strong desire for genuine, tactile experiences—especially in art. Traditional forms of calligraphy, like Copperplate, tap into a sense of history and craftsmanship that modern lettering sometimes overlooks. While contemporary hand-lettering styles can be exciting and expressive, they often stray from the technical discipline and elegance that define classical scripts.
The Copperplate Collective, our online course dedicated to teaching this time-honored style, represents one way to bridge tradition with modern accessibility. By offering pre-recorded, step-by-step lessons, we’re making high-level, classical instruction available to anyone with an internet connection. In doing so, we not only preserve the precise techniques of Copperplate but also help students worldwide master its nuances—pen angle, pressure control, and the iconic shade-and-thin stroke interplay.
Moreover, the collective aspect fosters a global community of learners and enthusiasts who can exchange feedback, celebrate milestones, and keep each other motivated. This sense of shared learning helps maintain the integrity of the craft even as technology evolves around it. Ultimately, by leveraging digital platforms to teach a highly traditional style, the Copperplate Collective ensures that the art form remains vibrant, relevant, and rooted in its classic heritage.
How do you balance the delicate art of traditional calligraphy with the contemporary design trends demanded by luxury weddings and events, ensuring that each piece is timeless yet relevant to today’s aesthetic?
A big part of our process at Bombay Lettering involves assessing what the project truly needs—sometimes, a piece simply doesn’t call for the hand-scripted look. As a calligraphy-forward design studio, our instinct might be to weave calligraphy into everything, but we resist the urge to force it where it doesn’t belong. If a couple or a corporate client wants a sleek, modern feel that doesn’t marry well with flourished lettering, we’re comfortable using well-chosen fonts or minimal typography instead.
However, when calligraphy does fit the design concept—especially for luxury weddings or brand identities—it brings a uniquely personal touch. We often hand-script names, monograms, and function titles in a style tailored to the event’s aesthetic. If it’s a classic, elegant celebration, we might lean into a more traditional Copperplate script. If the wedding or brand has a modern flair, we’ll adapt our lettering to feel contemporary or perhaps dial it back so it integrates smoothly with the overall look.
Ultimately, we see calligraphy as both an art and a strategic design element. By selectively choosing where to place custom lettering—and carefully tweaking its style—we ensure every piece looks cohesive, timeless, and unmistakably crafted for that specific client, rather than appearing forced or out of place.
How do you maintain the delicate balance between the traditional nature of calligraphy and the modern demands of luxury design in an ever-evolving industry?
A major consideration is time—traditional calligraphy is inherently labor-intensive, yet luxury clients often have tight deadlines or large-scale needs. If a project requires, say, 500 place cards in two days, fully hand-scripted calligraphy may not be feasible within typical budget and timeframe constraints.
In such scenarios, we blend traditional and modern approaches. I might hand-script an initial version of the names or titles in a classic Copperplate style, then digitize and print them for consistency and speed. This hybrid method preserves the authenticity of true calligraphy—since the designs are still based on hand-formed letters—while accommodating real-world demands around production time and cost.
Ultimately, the goal is to honor the art form’s time-honored techniques without compromising the practicality and polish that luxury events and design projects require. By selectively deploying hand-lettered elements and complementing them with digital or printed methods, we strike a balance between timeless craftsmanship and modern efficiency.
What role does the emotional and personal connection with clients play in your creative process, especially when working with high-profile brands and individuals?
At Bombay Lettering, we believe truly exceptional design is both thoughtful and meaningful—it stems from an in-depth understanding of our clients’ stories, values, and long-term vision. Whether we’re crafting a corporate brand identity or designing wedding invitations, we strive to move beyond “making something look good” and create pieces that carry real significance.
- Thoughtful Design & Storytelling
We put a strong emphasis on storytelling. By learning about the couple’s journey or a brand’s backstory, we infuse elements—be it symbolic motifs, clever copy, or subtle cultural references—that reflect who they are. This approach ensures the end result isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it resonates on a deeper emotional level.
- Emotional Nuances in Weddings
Weddings often involve a heightened sense of emotion. We understand that an invitation suite can be one of the most meaningful pieces of stationery in a couple’s life. Accordingly, we handle these projects with extra care—taking time to listen to a bride and groom’s ideas, wishes, and personal anecdotes. This empathy guides our design decisions, ensuring the final product feels authentic and heartfelt.
- Building Long-Term Relationships
We believe in thinking big picture with every client, whether it’s a bride planning her wedding or a high-profile brand. Instead of viewing any project as a one-off transaction, we aim to cultivate lasting partnerships. This means offering a seamless and enjoyable experience from start to finish, being flexible to client needs, and investing in their vision as if it were our own.
By blending thoughtful design, genuine storytelling, and a commitment to relationship-building, we create work that holds lasting emotional weight for our clients. It’s not just about delivering a beautiful design—it’s about delivering an experience that feels personal, memorable, and deeply rooted in who they are
In a world increasingly dominated by digital communication, how do you see the role of handcrafted calligraphy continuing to evoke genuine emotion and authenticity in events and branding?
Handcrafted calligraphy stands out precisely because of its human touch—it’s a tangible expression of artistry that resonates in a way mass-produced digital text can’t match. In an era where messages are often reduced to quick emails, texts, or social media posts, receiving a beautifully calligraphed envelope or seeing a hand-lettered brand logo immediately feels more intentional and personal.
- Emotional Resonance: Hand-lettered pieces carry the subtleties of the creator’s hand—variations in stroke pressure, slight flourishes, and imperfections that make each piece unique. This imbues a sense of warmth and thoughtfulness that digital designs, no matter how polished, often lack.
- Tactile Connection: Especially for events like weddings, where emotional significance is high, the physical act of opening a meticulously crafted invitation can set the tone for the entire celebration. In branding, it suggests exclusivity and care—qualities associated with upscale or heritage brands aiming to cultivate a sense of authenticity.
- Modern Hybrid Approaches: While the world is digital, there’s still room to merge calligraphy with contemporary technology. For instance, a single hand-lettered monogram can be digitized and incorporated across various touchpoints—websites, social media, printed materials—retaining that bespoke feel in a modern format.
Overall, calligraphy’s relevance stems from its ability to humanize communication. By adding warmth, depth, and a touch of craftsmanship, it breaks through the noise of digital overload and delivers something genuinely memorable and meaningful.
How do you ensure that each piece of work, while reflecting your authenticity and core values, also resonates deeply with the unique vision and personality of each client you collaborate with?
I’ve come to realize that while Bombay Lettering has its own recognizable style, the goal is never just to showcase our aesthetic—it’s to bring our client’s story to life. A wedding invitation, for instance, shouldn’t simply feel like “Bombay Lettering”; it should feel like a personal reflection of the couple who commissioned it. The same goes for corporate or brand work: our role is to translate the client’s identity into a meaningful, thoughtfully designed piece.
- Listen First, Design Second: We begin every project by actively listening. What are the client’s preferences, values, and aspirations? Understanding their vision helps us integrate our style with their unique personality.
- Adapt to Reflect the Client: While we maintain our core principles—like quality materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and a narrative-driven approach—we’re flexible in aesthetics. We adapt our lettering style, color palettes, and design accents so that the final piece truly embodies the client’s character, not just ours.
- Collaborative Refinement: We encourage feedback at every stage. If a couple wants a traditional flourish or a modern layout, we incorporate those details while still holding onto the craftsmanship that defines Bombay Lettering. This back-and-forth ensures the end product feels deeply personal yet polished.
- Balancing Brand & Individuality: Clients often come to us because they appreciate our artistic point of view, but we never force our style at the expense of their needs. The most fulfilling projects are those where the client sees themselves in the final design—and where we’ve elevated that vision with our expertise.
By blending our calligraphic and design expertise with each client’s story, we create pieces that are both rooted in Bombay Lettering’s values and unmistakably reflective of the client’s own identity.
