Akhila Srinivas | Finely Crafted Journeys

Zoya honours the profound journey of a woman reconnecting with her feminine self through bespoke creations that celebrate her true essence. In our Finely Crafted Journeys column, we share insights from the lives of iconic women who have left an indelible mark on the world.

In this edition, our muse is Akhila Srinivas from Bengaluru, India. She has helped put the city on India’s culinary map. As founder of The Courtyard and Creator of conservatory, middle Room and wine in progress, she transforms food into a medium of storytelling, connection, and belonging.

What do you enjoy the most about your craft?

I’ve enjoyed watching seemingly separate interests and facets of me slowly find each other. At one point they felt like parallel lives, but eventually they blended beautifully into a single, meaningful expression, creating spaces that hold people, ideas, and emotion. The joy lies in building something guided by your soul’s intuition and lived experience, and allowing it to grow organically.

How has your journey connected you to your feminine self?

Feminine energy, for me, is more than softness. It is knowing when to wait and when to act, trusting long rhythms over quick rewards. Connecting inwardly has allowed me to lead, create, and express myself with greater honesty. Becoming a mother while building a business taught me patience, resilience, and grace.

Looking back, what in your journey makes you most proud?

I’m most proud that I stayed true to what felt authentic, even when there were no reference points. Creating The Courtyard from an inherited home, taking emotional and financial risks, and choosing impact over ease required conviction. I love seeing how people have adopted the space as their own — an experience that feels imbued with purpose, nourishing and alive.

ZOYA and you...

Wearing Zoya’s My Embrace feels like a celebration of being me. It is not about becoming more or arriving somewhere new ... it is about honoring what already is. The ambition and the doubt, the strength and the tenderness, the clarity and the questions — all held without judgment. It's self-acceptance. My Embrace is a reminder that nothing needs to be edited out. Every layer is worthy of being acknowledged, celebrated, and worn with ease