MY STORY IS…

Seven years ago, I had to take over the business from my ex-partner. I had to learn to run the business on my own. Even before that, I had come a long way, navigating choppy waters and learning hard lessons. There were plenty of business challenges that came with starting and continuing business.

As a self-taught fashion designer that took a risk and quit school, I had started my retail journey with some hiccups obviously – it comes with learning to run a business. But that moment when I took that yacht trip, I went back, researched and learnt as much as I could about cruise wear. We still encountered missteps along the way, but we persisted and here we are!

One main thing is that the retail industry will always continue to be ever-changing but that is also the most challenging part of it. I really enjoyed the feeling of working hard. My constant interest in entrepreneurship and these challenges have continued to fuel my passion and I fell in love with managing a business.

But my mum taught me the most important lesson – she taught me how to find happiness in unhappiness.

Despite setbacks and challenges, you are on a journey, which means things will change. Even important things will change, sometimes, shockingly. But that’s what it means to find happiness in unhappiness – no matter what a journey is a journey and it is worth every step.

As I continue to build on my passion, words that I live by is that we all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams. Success is to look back at my life in my final moments with no regrets.

To tell my loved ones of my stories that would one day become legacies to be passed down.

photography SHAMSYDAR ANI

art direction SARAH BAGHARIB & HANNAH KAMSADI
make-up DEWI MAHONEY
hair HALI JUFRI
location THE GREAT MADRAS