Meet our featured beauty with brains Mala Kanwar, a Businesswoman and Project Management professional based in Sydney, Australia. She holds MBA in International Business and Strategic Management from University of Technology, Sydney. Mala works full time with NSW Government, and juggles multiple roles on a given day – a professional, a businesswoman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a friend and more.
Here is her story.
“I’m Mala, I’m the face behind this little biz Velvet along with my very stylish mother in law. I have 2 little guys – 6 year old and 2.5 year old, their daddy, their granddaddy and 1 furry canine Cavoodle.
I’m definitely outnumbered in this house so I make up for the lack of girly-ness by selling dresses! These dresses are channel to my own inner Madame Macron. Don them on and you instantly feel that lift in the way you walk and talk! I share this passion with my mother in law. Doing what we love doing we are a mother in law – daughter in law duo. We are like two beads on a string. We love the same man and we both share panache for styling women. A passion that turned into a business a while ago has dressed many lovely ladies over the last four plus years. We keep getting recommendations and our client’s word of mouth makes us very proud! It helps us do what we love doing.
Velvet initially started for the girls of the house and close friends. The word spread fast and we kept our first ever Velvet sell-out event 4 years ago and there has been no looking back since! Along the way we’ve made many wonderful friends and created our own ever growing velvet family.”
Here is an interview with her.
1. Do you have the secret mantra that you work with when recommending your clients what to choose?
Over the years helping women with different body shapes, I’ve decoded the style principles that apply to and empower women of different age, shape, style, lifestyle or occupation. Whether you are petite or plus size we help you find your own personal style. I personally don’t believe in rules or trends. I simply believe getting dressed should be easier and more joyful everyday activity. So if I may use Marie Kondo’s words here “Does this spark joy?” if it does then wear it with your heart on your sleeve. Velvet’s mantra is “Be inspired, Be Bold, Be the new you!”
2. How do you juggle so many roles in your everyday life?
At least once a week I am asked that magic question “How do you juggle it all?” I usually shrug my shoulders and smile while saying something like “I have no idea, you just do!” Like so many of the women (and men) around me I am ‘juggling’ many aspects to my life- mother, wife, friend, daughter, daughter-in-law, business owner, and professional. Between my husband, in-laws, friends and colleagues there is an amazing village who all play a part, make it possible and I couldn’t do it any other way. I prefer surrounding myself with positive, kind and trusted core who add so much to my life. Life is so short and those closest to us need our support, love and care too so why not fill your days with people who will hold you up rather than pull you back down. My very own village helps me every single day to provide for everyone I love, and I’m indebted to all of them and they know who they are.
3. As a business woman and as a mom is there ever self-doubt?
When it comes to being a mum, running a business and everything else in between, I have come to conclude that believing in yourself is an absolute key. In business, particularly as an entrepreneur, you have to back yourself even when you are not quite sure if you should! I have found the same with motherhood. It is hard (but fun!) and tiresome (but rewarding too) and I have found myself questioning regularly whether I am doing enough or the right thing for my family. In those moments of self-doubt I stop, take a few deep breaths and remind myself that as long as I am doing my best in that moment, that is all I can do. We must believe in ourselves before we can expect anyone else to. So next time you questioning your worth, stop, breath and remind yourself that your best is all you can do.
4. Tell us more about your business, what kind of dresses do you sell, what is your USP?
At Velvet we stock brands like Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Ivanka Trump, Cynthia Rowley, Tahiri and more. People ask me – why Velvet when they can go out and buy from big retail stores. My reason is –each dress at velvet is unique, and these flattering dresses are exclusive, hand-picked and offer sharp silhouette & classic colours making impact with structured shapes & clean lines, making an impact à la mode! All the dresses are genuine designer dresses and are sourced directly from USA keeping our prices low, and we love to pass on the savings to our customers. All these dresses are under $95. So that’s our biggest USP competing with the retail giants J
5. If you could choose any one female celebrity to dress up, who would it be and why?
I’d rather dress an everyday woman than a celebrity.
I’d love to provide guidance and honest feedback regarding finding her dream dresses/outfits. I’ll provide styling tips for easier joyful everyday dressing and help create looks to add to her wardrobe, tailored to different occasions, figure and taste in line with Velvet’s mantra – “Be inspired, Be Bold, Be the new you!”
Feel free to check out her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/velvet.dresses.au/
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