Helping women become financially independent

Sisters Trishna and Disha Daswaney discuss the importance and practicalities of supporting disadvantaged women to enter the industry

As sisters and co-founders, we always knew that beauty had the power to be transformative in people’s lives. Growing up, we were inspired by the way beauty could build confidence, create community and offer new opportunities. It was never just about how we looked, but how it made us feel.

However, working in the industry also made us acutely aware of its barriers. Access to education, professional training and real career opportunities often came with high costs and unnecessary gatekeeping, leaving many passionate, talented individuals excluded from the world they longed to be part of.

Creating opportunity

We created Kohlab because we wanted to change that. It is a charitable initiative that provides free, accredited beauty education to women who are often overlooked, like those facing economic hardship, survivors of abuse and those rebuilding their lives after periods of instability. For us, it was vital to create something that actively removed barriers and made professional beauty education accessible to those who deserve it most.

In the UK, there is an overwhelming demand for support among women trapped in difficult circumstances. In fact, 38% of women aged 18 to 24 have experienced economic abuse from a partner or ex-partner in the past year alone, equating to over one million young women across the UK. There’s a dangerous attitude that issues like this only happen elsewhere in the world, but that simply isn’t true.

So, we’ve started supporting women in the UK, but our ambition is global and we are determined to expand and offer the same opportunities to women everywhere who are seeking a fresh start. We want to give women the skills, qualifications and confidence to build independent, sustainable careers in the beauty industry.

We believe that professional training should never be out of reach because of someone’s background or financial circumstances. Through Kohlab, every student receives expert-led education, with a focus on creating real, practical career pathways.

We work with professional makeup artists who teach and also mentor students, helping them navigate the industry with real-world advice and ongoing support. The course is delivered by some of the most elite artists in the industry, who are passionate about helping shape the next generation of beauty professionals.

We want to create a community where every woman feels seen, supported, and valued. As well as a certificate, we want graduates to leave with a renewed sense of purpose, a professional network, and the real tools they need to build their own futures.

Building this initiative has been a deeply personal journey for both of us. We’ve always believed that true beauty is about authenticity and connection, not conformity or exclusion so we wanted to give a platform to new voices, experiences, and perspectives. The future of beauty will be more diverse, more creative, and more inclusive and it’s inspiring to see how our students are going to be a huge part of shaping that movement.

Our hope is that Kohlab continues to inspire a shift across the industry, proving that beauty education can be prestigious, professional and accessible to those who deserve it the most, because when you invest in women, you change the future.

Trishna Daswaney is a beauty educator and co-founder of Kohl Kreatives, an inclusive beauty brand. Disha Daswaney is the other co-founder and a lifestyle editor and trend forecaster with an eye for shifts in the industry.