SHEROES in conversation with Seema Seth who runs an interior firm “Flamboyance". Seema shares with us her story of starting up. Read here-
Tell us more about yourself.
A dreamer at heart with a resilient spirit to turn them into reality can sum up my persona in few words. My career kick started with, being an educationist then experimenting with banking to mentoring, I’ve dabbled in diverse fields. While my pilot husband soared to new heights I raised my son facing ground realities. My passion for color and design paved my way to interior designing and now I feel I’ve reached home. I love what I do and my creations are an extension of my personality. I see myself fit into the model of that quintessential woman who dreamt of having breakfast in one country and dinner in another..so yes have “miles to go before I sleep”
What got Flamboyance started?
From an early age I dreamt to be this “career woman” who juggled her roles at work and home with ease, which I eventually achieved when I got married and had my son soon after. While on one hand I really cared about my family on the other, there was always something bigger and better which called out to me. The very fact that my husband's job permitted him to be at home half of the day gave me an opportunity to release my pent up creative energies.
While in Goa having limited arenas opened I managed to get on with a bank job.
We moved to Pune and after a stint with BPO I felt the need for doing by my own and for my own instead. After completing my course in interior designing, my fascination with aesthetic surroundings gave me an insight of my own designing skills. As I could connect how beautiful surroundings have the ability to affect a person's mood and demeanour.
That was the dawn of realizing and conceptualizing the Interior firm “Flamboyance”. Soon after we moved to our own house where I could use my hands freely for designing concepts. Realizing the need for customized furniture in order to create well co-ordinated surrounding I decided to start my own furniture business from home , which after initial hiccups hit off well.
In tow ,now we are in the process of coming up with a range of soft furnishings too as I plan to have a designated store of my own for my creations.
Are there any challenges you face everyday, what are these challenges?
Aplenty.:)
Personally, Post partum blues, where I almost lost touch with reality, never left me. It started with the birth of my son who turns nineteen this year. With the help of medication & moral support given by my husband I have come a long way since then.
I have realised it's very important to keep up in good shape mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I try maintaining my balance at all times and health remains my prime focus . My son who is my best friend & my biggest critic helps me to remain stabilized in the act. And now that he will go to the college somewhere far, I am gearing myself to stay strong emotionally.
Professionally- with globalization, Indian urban market has come to a stage where varieties of things are available and people are also loosening their purse strings. Comparison and competition is inevitable between readymade and customized. That's where the need to create the awareness for hand crafted bespoke furniture comes which enhances the surroundings very well. Challenge is to keep afloat amidst many storms.
Message to all SHEROES out there.
Never, never, never give up on your dreams. You have only one life, live it to the fullest !