‘My journey as an entrepreneur gave me wings’

In my teens, I had an option of choosing a career in athletics or academics. But my father refused to send me for athletics because “girls don’t wear shorts and jump”. I come from a Kutchi Gujarati Muslim community and the common refrain at home was, however, good one was in studies or games, some day I would have to get married and raise kids.

I was 18 when I got married. At that time, I didn’t have an option to make my own choices, be it financial or otherwise. I had a miscarriage, and as someone who was good at sports and topped my batch, I felt my life was over. I was crushed and it pushed me into depression for two years. In 2002, as a mother of two, and with no family support, I chose to go back to studies. I had to pledge my gold to pursue Psychology through distance learning. My first moment of freedom was when I travelled from Bengaluru, alone in a bus to Chidambaram, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, for my exams. I was called out by my family for being too independent.

At that time, I felt both vulnerable and scared. Taking such a step meant breaking barriers that held me down; I knew it was never going to be the same again. At Chidambaram, I met girls my age, who were not bound by any such shackles. I, on the other hand, was married with two kids. It made me feel insecure.

By 2007, I had started my own bridal couturier studio called Limited Edition. I pledged my jewellery again to set up a studio space and, this time, I truly felt free. It was different from the out-of-the-house freedom when I boarded the train. For the first time, I felt I was in control of the direction my life could take. The financial freedom that came with it was liberating. I got my own bank account, I could choose the people I wanted to work with, develop my own business model — my entrepreneurial journey gave me wings, recognition and confidence.

Also Read

The life and loves of Mirza Ghalib, the last great poet of the Mughal era

Tota Roy Chowdhary on Rocky Aur Rani: ‘Had to do this for all artistes wh...

India still fails its women, 75 years after Independence

Konkona Sen Sharma on Lust Stories 2: 'We worked towards depicting a woma...

My team consists of people from socially and economically backward classes. In the world of fast fashion, I wanted to break convention and focus on developing Limited Edition around slow fashion. It included fashion centered around handmade, handloom and handprinted fabric. I also work with heirloom fabric, so that stories of the fabric, and perhaps from my own cultural lineage and other ethnic styles of India, can be passed down generations.

As told to Sanath K Prasad