This is a one-on-one business; nothing is available from a store, because the minute we open a store, the market will be flooded with copies. It has a huge filter down effect. When I am counselling young medical students or young trainees I say that look if you decide to have a family, all the success of your life becomes moot if your children dont do well. With lawn we could have simply hit the cruise button and stayed there; we would not have gone into retail and been very happy. SM: Retail is only as good as your team is. . According to her, hard work and dedication always pay off. Having said this, you have to be hands on if you want a successful business. I am trying to progress to a newer place and learning new things. But managing to complete her CA despite all the odds was Shaguftas miracle moment. The day they published their 100th issue was a major miracle moment for her. With so much misinformation being disseminated via various channels (mainly looking at you, WhatsApp) in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the latest celebrity to become a victim of false claims is Sana Hashwani of designer duo Sana Safinaz. The business of fashion has become tremendously exciting because its highly challenging. We started retail, not knowing a thing about it. The fine-line comes when the design is copyrighted or if you use the design of a living artist. It is not healthy for anyone in any kind of setting to be the one to make the sacrifices while everyone else walks all over you but any relationship is a give and take so sometimes you put yourself first and at other times, your partner, child or a parent. To maintain her own health, she practices yoga and makes sure she cleanses and moisturizes her skin to keep it fresh and young. A: Twenty-five years ago, did you have a vision of how SANA SAFINAZ would play out? SM: In retrospect I think that had we had business degrees we would have been savvier, although our baby steps toward the bigger picture worked for us. Happy with the choices she has made in life, Seveen is a firm believer of the fact that if a woman puts her family first, they also give her the space and freedom to be who she wants to be. Its pretty hard to stop.. "Its the business of fashion that keeps driving us," Safinaz Muneer continues. A: Do you find retail a profitable business? March on, Ladies! If youre trying to be on a level playing field with men, I think young girls need to gather themselves and have the confidence to ask for equal treatment. In 1985, Hashwani made a successful bid for the majority shares of Pakistan Services Limited, which then owned four Inter-Continental Hotels across Pakistan, the hotels were re-branded as Pearl-Continental Hotels. According to her getting these two things sorted in your life makes it easy to manage everything. In fact she entered this field because of her own skin troubles. I have very problematic skin and taught myself to cover up. Sana Hashwani Safinaz Muneer: Headquarters: Karachi, Pakistan. You should just focus on yourself and your work. That is quite unbelievable if you think about the overcrowded marketplace designers stand and compete in today. While she loves her work, Sehrs Miracle Moment is her set of twins. She begins each day with positive meditation, I sit up tall as soon as I wake up and count all my blessings, spend 5-10 minutes on just focusing on my body, breathing and being grateful. She is particular about giving time to herself and her family despite her busy schedule, which has taken a toll on Salinas social life, but shes clear about her priorities. Sana Safinaz are true innovators and trailblazers in all their business and creative endeavors and have set the bar high for the business of fashion in Pakistan. A: How organised is the fashion industry? Then 18 years ago we went into lawn and five years ago we started doing lawn totally on our own. An amalgamation of the ideas put forward by Sana Hashwani and Safinaz Muneer, the brand, which is now 27 years old, revolutionized the market time and again, and has been a constant pathbreaker in what couture and fast fashion means in Pakistan. What part of your business excites you the most? We have just entered the prt field and it is a tremendous challenge. So, you know, everything excites you.". Explore Sana-Hashwani profile at Times of India for photos, videos and latest news of Sana-Hashwani. Copying is a worldwide issue; even the big French fashion houses struggle with the problem. This is standard practice. Men dont think they need to take of their skin but its just dirt and must be cleaned up! Amin A. Hashwani. [7] Sadaf makes it a point to make up for the lost time later when she wraps up her work. Very admirable ladies.have created millions of jobs. She feels the younger generation today is too narcissist in this age of social media and they need to accept when they are at fault. A large family; 4 siblings, very hands on parents and a lot of love that goes around. She was in a relationship with a man named Ismail Khan. ", The News International - Copyright @ 2010-2023, The little prince and the art of perception management, From Pakistan to Jordon, with love from Jimmy Khan. People come by word of mouth. If you start thinking like that, youll be able to figure out your way through any situation. When we started off, we were the new kids on the block; there was Shamaeel, Rizwan and Faiza. By the time her results came, she had gotten married and soon had a child. Her magazine is something that has shaped her life. Such a time too, passes.. Safinaz is married to Sana's brother. With her family right by her side, she is sure to make a special name for herself in the field of art and design in Pakistan. They took the concept of designer lawn to another level. We are not in the newspaper every day but we won three awards this year, and they are a testimony to what we did in 2014. But then someone else comes in and they start to take away your business and you wake up.". In April 2016, he and his son, Murtaza Hashwani, were named in the Panama Papers.[8]. Sana Safinaz was founded by Sana Hashwani and Safinaz Muneer in 1989 with seed investment of a few thousand rupees. We outgrew them. Prove youre strong, its okay to own your power., Its important to be financially independent as a human, but Bina recognizes the fact that a lot of women are keen on being taken care of by their husbands, which is okay too. Best is to accept, go with the flow and breathe. SM: We only cater to our clients. So, if I was racist, the impact is massive. Her salon is her second home and a safe zen place for her clients. Everyone has old and immunity compromised family members. Due to her versatile nature she is well known among her fans across the country. However, the news is entirely fake as Sana Safinaz issued an official statement, also showing Sana's COVID 19 test results which turned out to be negative. @F. Shah I guess they design for the niche, not for general public. There is no long hard work challenge story here. This is a country of nearly 200 million people; unofficially Karachi has a population of 28 million people, Lahore approximately 11 to 12 million. Despite all her achievements, Shagufta is no stranger to self-doubt. If you can dream it, you can do it.. When you have that kind of commitment, your product is naturally much better. Its very involving and you have to be on top of your game. View the profiles of people named Sana Hashwani. For example, if there is a bleed on a shirt, customers can return it to one of our stores and if the complaint is legitimate, their money will be refunded. I come from a family of very hardworking women. This is what inspires us the most. A: What made you decide to go into retail? "I took it very seriously. Hobby for privileged class with millions of important contacts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She advises other young girls to do the same, and to not be bothered by the opinion of others. But having cracked the code for commercial success as well as creative excellence - almost a dozen Lux Style Awards sit on their desk as testament to their excellence - it is no wonder that Sana and Safinaz are still excited by fashion. SM: When we worked for Lakhany Mills there was only one collection a year and we got paid for it. Simple things work., Living in Karachi, were all aware of city conditions and how calm can turn into chaos in a matter of minutes. When you are invested in a company as the owner, the company is more successful because your name is there and you dont want to put rubbish in a store. Being a yoga instructor, Salina believes in being emotionally aware aware of your mind, thoughts, life and destiny. At that point I realised a normal, healthy baby is really a miracle and gift from God and I cant thank Him enough for my son. Iqraas journey shows that no matter how successful a woman is, she is a mother before anything else and her children are in fact her greatest assets and the real reason for her happiness. She always wanted to be known for her own work rather than being recognized as the cousin or the sister of someone successful. Some of the teachers that taught me are still there and they are my mentors, she says. hard work and inspiration for others.Ladies of my country please come forward to do great jobs unlike the men who have miserably failed in every field. There is stability in our brand because Sana and I have been working consistently and until recently we have been doing this entirely on our own, and with no background in the field - just the love of fashion. I have to-do lists for the week and on Sunday I realize I didnt get any of the things done. Currently Im working as COO of AKU hospital, clinical labs and outreach services. "Maybe cosmetics, different things from our retail points of view because now we have a network that allows us to do more. Sometimes you need to take a detour even when the goalpost is within your sight. To me, a woman is not successful until she does justice to all her relationships, personal or professional, believes Sehr. After performing poorly in her intermediate exams, she saw her dream of becoming an engineer shatter. Working for them has been one of the best decisions I ever made.. Salinas journey is an inspiration for all those who sometimes get pulled down by their own do-lists for the day. Therefore, when the going gets tough, Bina goes for vacations and switches off from her busy life. However, the company was nationalised in 1973. Good for them. Sana and Safinaz are in a pretty amazing position and theyre both pretty amazing themselves, considering the position Pakistani fashion is in these days. Sana Hashwani. Women unnecessarily make themselves go through the guilt of not doing enough. As far as her Miracle Moment is concerned, it was during her Masters degree when she was one of the 15 students who were chosen to showcase their thesis project to a wide audience at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. ", "It excites us, we love it," Sana is quick to respond. Sometimes getting it all done is really hard. With experience, they have learnt how to deal with people, customers, and compensations. Despite all this it is an achievement among theie friends as no one else did. Today shes a mother as well as the co-founder of two companies, Yoga Ex, Pakistans first revolutionary hot yoga studio and Ultimate Detox, Pakistans first cold pressed and raw food juicery. Do not fall into that rat race, love yourself, be focused, tell your subconscious you can and it starts bringing it together. Sana Safinaz is a Pakistani clothing and accessories retailer based in Karachi, Pakistan. Shes a super woman and my wonder woman.. Two very extraordinary ladies. Just be confident and believe in yourself. Your children are your extension, something tangible that you leave behind in the world. But while striving to make her own mark in the world, she never forgets her responsibility as a mother. All you have to do is get a monthly facial and a good face wash. You dont need to be lavish. We broke into different avenues and levels which is why we sustained our position.". A: How does your interiors business fit in? It was a slow and subtle evolution. So now when I go to a wedding, I take it as a celebration of the success of the parents, she says. And after him, we will pass the baton to another person and we realize that succession plans are a key component of work. It is evident that self-care is a high priority in her life. A: So the brand is very much associated with the two of you? After Shaguftas children got older, she switched back to a full time job. She was in a relationship with the dancer and choreographer Melvin Louis. Instead, she took up hourly based teaching assignments and started teaching CA students. Then there are the electricity and security issues; there is a strike and you lose three or four days and everything goes haywire with delivery issues. She is a mother to three teenagers and even though she has much on her plate, she is a constant learner and strives to keep adapting with time. Thats how I dealt with it, by not feeling guilty, says Sadaf with a smile. By 1970s, it had become Pakistan's largest cotton trading company. However, she is quick in dealing with them. Sana and I have no knowledge of retail; we are learning day to day. As a woman you have more responsibility of raising your kids well even if the father is very involved. Reams upon reams of cloth draped around each model. Managing what is indisputably Pakistans most aspirational fashion brand, Sana Hashwani and Safinaz Muneer talk about 27 years in the business and what it is that keeps them going from strength to strength. You dont have to be glued to your kids the entire day. "Were not arrogant," Safinaz echoes the thought. You know, one irresponsible commentator, that called me a racist is now asking me to design a wedding dress for her. @thuglife No. SH: You have to give a five to six year timeframe to any business. Somewhere between her studies, family, and career she lost sight of herself. Every day there is a new challenge and a new way to problem solving.". But seeing how Mehr has tackled every challenge thrown her way so far, we are convinced that she is going waltz her way to many bigger successes. "For me it used to be lawn," replies Safinaz. The soft spoken and the very beautiful Sadaf believes that in todays fast paced life, it does not make any sense for a woman to be dependent on her male counterpart for monetary support. The ministry set trade schools in the right areas, where eager girls would come to learn. But Im not. There are always projects, opportunities. Interiors is something we do out of passion. She is what she is today because of her mother. Sana proves that hard work and consistency pays off as long as you keep trying new things and is a motivation for women to take risks. 27 years into the business, having experienced both highs and lows, they are just as excited by fashion, today, as they were when they started out. A: How do you escape this? It was crass. In the beginning people told us we were going about it the wrong way, but it was our idea and we stuck to it. AURORA: How do you perceive SANA SAFINAZ as a brand? In Pakistan, copyright laws are very loosely applied; you lose market share, but you learn to live with it. She was considering getting a Masters degree but decided to test the waters out here in Pakistan. Good work. SH: Not at all. "Our finger is always on the buzzer," says Safinaz. SM: In this business PR is very important. A: But it was your time with Lakhany Mills that made your name. I dont even have words for how good they are. Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence) is the highest honour given to any civilian in Pakistan to recognise their achievements and outstanding services for the country. Sana has been blessed with incredible support from her family, friends, and husband. For example, our new muslin line is only distributed through our stores. There would be stampedes, all for the neatly packaged lawn outfits that came with exciting goody bags of embroidered add-ons, lace inserts, buttons and detailing that allowed women to play with. The talent in Pakistan is beyond amazing and I find it my duty to bring out the best from all my employees. Miracle Woman Seveen Muneer is cheerful, affable and just the right blend of tradition and modernity. There are moments of weakness, she admits, when one is on the go all the time, trying to do so many things simultaneously. SH: Profitability is something we will definitely see. It is so liberating. Fashion fades, only style remains the same. Her Miracle Moments are many, including the days when she helps out a patient or a simple moment such as spending quality time with her children at the dinner table. She is glad she made the decision to give more time to her family and now is busy being a good wife, daughter and an arts instructor. We were two recently married society girls and people sort of felt sorry for us because we worked. I am a mother of twins and with that I am working with my mother in law, helping her in her business as one of the most prestigious fashion designer houses in Pakistan. Sana Khan with Vishal Karwal. Also find news, photos and . Your time is not necessarily your own and having the support of your family is imperative. Personally, shes always had the drive to contribute something to the world, and feels everyone else should also. I am really excited by design because right now you have these tremendous school of kids coming out. More and more girls now want to do something of their own and put their education to use. She would go round and round the roundabout to see it. What helps them retain their sanity, other than having solid and well-rooted personal lives, is the fact that - as a corporation - Sana Safinaz has become very independent. Theyre all revved up for fashion week and are celebrating the inclusion of their names in the top 50 CEOS of the country. However, while going back to your roots brings to you a sense of familiarity and comfort, it has its own challenges. "When youre being humble and moving from point A to point B and youre not jealous of others and concentrating on what youre good at, I think thats the reason for our success, too.".