In Conversation with…
Sawrajpreet Kaur
Sawrajpreet Kaur is founder of The Pashm, private designer label launched in 2018, known for blending authentic and ethnic elements in a contemporary and modern way. She is a dynamic and driven individual with a passion for creativity, mom of two boys and a software engineer by profession. Outside of work, Sawrajpreet is an avid reader and enjoys exploring different new cultures and cuisines. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with Sawrajpreet and learn more about her career journey and valuable insights she has gained along the way.
I had always been passionate about creating my own start-up company that symbolizes and promote Indian art & jewelry across the world
Tell our readers about your education and professional background?
First, I would like to Thank you for giving me an opportunity.I completed my Bachelors Degree in Computer Science Engineering and did my Masters in Embedded Systems. During my time as a student, I learned several programming languages, developed complex analytical skills and won many academic and extracurricular awards at State and National level. My interest in computer programming motivated me to start my career as a Software Developer in an IT firm where I learned creative ways to solve business problems using technology.
Why did Sawrajpreet Kaur want to be an entrepreneur?
Although I achieved great success in my professional career in the IT sector, I had always been passionate about creating my own start-up company that symbolizes and promote Indian art & jewelry across the world. I come from a generation of jewelers, specialized in designing and manufacturing gold and diamond jewelry, so there was a natural drive and aspiration to become an entrepreneur and transform my vision into reality.
Please tell us your success story after an initial professional career to a successful entrepreneur.
I believe every story has its twists and turns, ups and downs. After I moved to the US, I took a long break from my IT career to nurture my family. Although I’ve been hands full, deep down I always yearned to go back to technology but somewhere my passion for entrepreneurship and setting up my start-up was also building up. I believe every situation is a gift—without situations we would not grow. I had missed my work life for so long that I didn’t want to settle for just one by taking up a simple job. As the popular saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine, while I looked for jobs I also started my research in jewelry designing and pashmina manufacturing. So the Pashm was born. Since its inception, we clearly defined our brand’s mission & vision that acts as the guiding principles for long term sustainable growth of the business. I want to give credit my husband, my siblings and my kids for supporting me and helping me take the first step towards my work.
At Pashm, our competitive advantage lies in our commitment to deliver highest quality product and provide great customer service. To cultivate customer confidence and gain their trust, we got our apparel products certified in the government laboratories and marked them with the composition labels. This was a vital step for us to build a solid brand name, credibility and a loyal client base. We focused on making our foundation strong, right from the start. I believe it really paid off as we have been getting amazing response since the launch, which is very inspiring for a brand to move ahead.
What were the challenges for you to establish your brand “PASHM?”
I am a strong believer that success is not final and fiasco is not lethal. It’s the courage to continue that counts. Challenges are a part of any journey and our road to success. If you don’t know the taste of failure, how would you distinguish it from success. Establishing Pashm was not easy. I had to face challenges at every step and sometimes it made me rethink if I am doing right or even if this decision of establising a business is right. But I think being headstrong on my vision has paid off. I had a lot of inciting suggestions to go easy on the quality, ignore the finer details or to cap my investments. But I followed my heart as I was guided by instinct. I was not ready to acquiesce even a bit from the standards that were set for Pashm.
Once the stage was set and we opened our business, we got a great response. We got appreciation and compliments for the products that we carry and the quality standard that we had set. It was all going great until the pandemic hit. That was a very difficult time for us. As a new business, heavy investments, huge inventory and no sales, it was hitting us hard. I think technology really grew this time and it somehow worked in our favour and we again started picking up slowly. Though we had no in-store purchases but somehow our online presence expanded and it really added to our triumph.
How do you define your brand “PASHM?”
We started Pashm with 3 basic principles:
1. Quality
2. Craftsmanship
3. Customer Satisfaction
And today we have made our mark in the market because of these. We have a very happy recurring clientele for quality and one of a kind products. Pashm has become a tried and trusted brand for many.
What is the product line of brand “PASHM?”
We offer a versatile collection of pashmina shawls, stoles, wraps and ponchos in vibrant colors accentuated with urbane elements and quality products. Pashm has created a new color palette and embellished work like French Lace, Faux Fur, Shinning Sequins, Woven Shimmer and Swarovski Crystals on traditional pashminas/cashmere.
Pashm jewelry was born from the legacy business of Gold and Diamond jewelry. By imbibing innovation and experimentation to generations worth of experience and knowledge, our vision is to make fine jewelry accessible to all and take heritage further! Pashm offers a wide variety of jewelry from traditional Indian to contemporary and fusion styles.
How do you manage your business and family responsibilities?
I would like to add one more role here. I have a full time job aswell as a software developer. It’s not as easy as I am the mom of 2 growing boys. Initially it was very difficult to juggle between all three and it took a toll on my health. I think it would not have been possible without the support of my husband. My husband gave me the liberty and time to focus on both my business and job and took the responsibility of our kids. Now, as an established brand things are a bit easy and I am multitasking. Business never remains the same, we still see highs and lows but I believe nothing remains enterprising and enduring for a longer time, a constant investment in time and passion is always required. Hope, happiness and optimism are the key to balance everything.
You have a very creative personality. What is the secret behind your ideas to create unique products?
I think I’ve got that in my genes. My father is a jewelry designer and a great artist. His portraits were very life-like and his attention to detail and his eye for perfection are always an inspiration for me. He’s never approved a sample or a design until it is perfect and quintessential. I am like him. An artist is an artist if he is creative else he is a imitator. In today’s world, we have limitless inspirations. I get stimulus from any random thing. I try to work on unique colors or designs which have not been seen before
How can women achieve success in the field of entrepreneurship or profession mainly when they do not get support from the family?
I think this is a very difficult situation to deal with. As women, we are emotional beings and need support to sustain. But we are also very strong once we decide on something.
Unlike men, women have more responsibilities towards family, they have to take care of kids, cooking and other household chores. I think we have endless tasks for any given day. I know women who did not have support from family for their passion but I have seen them growing. Even though the family drama is always on but they are more stronger. I will give all the credit to their hard work. I think it is strenuous for women to prove her skills than men so the effort is double. And once they prove themselves, people talk about their work, and the family starts supporting them. So I would say don’t give up because people think you won’t be able to do it, trust your instincts.
How can customers reach you for your products globally?
Our products are available on our website https://www.thepashm.com and they are shipped globally.
In your professional and business career, who supported you the most, men or women?
Needless to say, my fellow women supported me a lot. Through Pashm, I met many beautiful souls or I should say soul sisters. As I said, women are very emotional and motherly beings. When they see that someone needs help, they are there to support them and same was the case with me. When I announced that I am going to start a business, my mom, sister, school and university friends, my friend circle.. everyone.. all women.. jumped in to help and support me. I am really thankful to God and for blessing me with such beautiful crusaders.
Sawrajpreet is an introvert or extrovert by nature?
I would say both. I am a very self-effacing person who takes time to open up with new people but once I open up, I am all fun-loving chatterbox.
How do you face and overcome tough situations in personal and professional life?
I identify myself as a headstrong person and believe in positive energy. Along with this, I have a few mottos in life that I apply both to my professional and personal front – I focus on the solution, not the problem and I am a strong believer that nothing in life is permanent. I am a survivor and I have survived many situations earlier. I never allow other people to control or influence my reality.
I have seen a few damp squibs in life, so I try to stay reminded of them as it always gives me the energy to fix issues. So overall it’s your state of mind how you perceive things. I am mindful that many lives and livelihoods depend on me and Pashm. I work on the resolutions rather than worrying. You have to train your mind that’s it.
In the field of creativity there is certain criticism too, what is your experience? How do you accept this?
Criticism is part and parcel of any profession. It’s just how you let it bother you. For me, criticism is 1% truth and rest all hyped. I am an open-minded person and don’t take all the criticism in a bad way. I look for that 1% truth and would work on that.
Who inspired you most in your life?
I have seen people taking names of big and known personalities as their inspirations but my thoughts are different here. For me inspiration is someone who I have seen up close and personal, I can vouch for their struggles and have seen how they got success. In my life, I have been inspired by many of my friends and family in one or other way. I would like to name one of them as she was the first person who really inspired me to start Pashm. The confidence to start a business with some random idea and bring it to a reality is a huge challenge. I saw my friend Aparna doing the same. We studied together in the same college and we took different career paths. I have seen her doing every possible thing or I should say she explored everything that she thought about. I have seen her from joining a call center to becoming a reputed IT Quality Analyst, from a food blogger to owning a food truck business and much more. Today she owns a million-dollar business. That’s what I call an inspiration. Follow your heart and instincts but don’t forget the hard work and focus it needs.
You have achieved various prestigious awards for your brand. What is the importance of these awards in your career?
When a client is associated with a brand, they want to be sure that it is steadfast, copper-bottomed and prestigious. This means having a positive image in the trade industry. Awards will increase the conviction and trust customers have in your business. It’s not just clients, Awards are a great way of gaining recognition and respect among your peers. Along with this, awards also motivate us and let us know that we are doing good. So I am thoroughly supportive of the awards and recognition we can grab for Pashm as this will only help us grow in the positive direction.
What are your compliments for your parents in India?
No amount of words will be enough to tell how grateful I am to have my parents by my side. Having parents like mine is the biggest of all blessings! All I can say is, every minute of my life is filled with gratitude…Thanking the almighty for blessing me with such wonderful parents and a wonderful family. They have always been my guiding stars and I wish they continue to stay by my side… FOREVER.