Two weeks after the Ananda Mela festival, an Indian fashion boutique has come to Redmond downtown.

On Aug. 10, Ravishing Women Marketplace at 16540 Redmond Way had its grand opening.The store sells Indian fashion clothing, designer wear for men, women and kids, jewelry, accessories and home décor items.

Owner and mother of two Menka Soni, who works full-time in the IT department of the Snohomish public utility, got the idea for the business when at home with her second child. She saw it as a means to promote and help female entrepreneurs. Soni chose Redmond as the site of her business on the strength of such factors as the Ananda Mela festival, Redmond’s growing South Asian population and the familiarity Redmond residents have with elements of Indian art and culture.

Ravishing Women’s mission is to support female entrepreneurs and artists by helping them grow in their business. The store will provide them opportunities to showcase their products and promote their business by addressing many of the challenges they face such as insufficient funding, training, marketing and balancing business with family.

Soni has plans to expand her business to include such services such as a salon, a spa and a henna parlor, among others. Her vision is to transform her business eventually into a nonprofit and fair trade organization.

Redmond City Council member John Stilin and Vedic Cultural Center President and Ananda Mela visionary Harry Terhanian were special guests at the grand opening.

Stilin, welcoming the business to Redmond, said successful people enrich their communities by sharing their knowledge and hoped the boutique would introduce men and women of non-Indian origin to the style, fashion and arts of India.

Tehranian applauded Ravishing Women for its desire to help women, especially homemakers, succeed in their entrepreneurial efforts by giving them opportunities to evolve, channel and expand their creativity. Ravishing Women Marketplace is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.