Sunmeet Kaur Sawhney, winner of the "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC) sixth season, is set to launch designer boutique - Firdesi Fashion - here Saturday and says it fulfills her long-cherished dream.
Ethnic is what Sunmeet has chosen to start as it reflects her brand name Firdesi Fashion.
"While doing my fashion designing, which I had to quit due to personal reasons, I always wished to have a designer boutique. I admire Indian attire, especially Mughal's and Punjabi's," said Sunmeet in a telephonic interview with IANS.
Sunmeet became the first woman in India to win Rs.5 crore on the popular game show KBC. She is a Mumbai-based housewife originally from Chandigarh.
She wanted to have a designer boutique of her own from a long time and feels this was the time to do it and so "I am bringing it up using the skills I have with the name of Firdesi Fashion."
The boutique, in partnership with Sunmeet's friends Kiran and Sunny, will be is situated at Mehta Chowk, Shivaji Enclave, here.
It specialises in women's wear like Anarkali suits, ethnic anarkali gowns, sharara, kaaftaan, Patiala suits, lehengas and various other clothing products.
Sunmeet gets a lot of love from her family and friends residing in Delhi, which is one of the reasons she is launching the boutique in the capital.
She used a fraction of the prize money to open up the boutique. She has also a bought a flat in Mumbai with the money.
Talking about her boutique and its business plans, she said: "Initially, we will be selling women's wear. But we are not restricted only to that. I will be launching children and men's wear with no age bar. Price range varies as per fabrics used in the designs. The starting range is from Rs.5000."
She doesn't deny the prospect of collaborating with big names from fashion fraternity in future, but for the time being she will stick to her two friends.
"We are still evaluating the possibility of collaborating with famous designers, but not now. Sooner we will introduce our accessories in collaboration with jewellers and other product companies. But at the initial stage, we are designing the products on our own," said Sunmeet.
After Delhi, her next stop would be Gurgaon and Mumbai.
"Gurgaon is next in line to bear the Firdesi Fashion footprints. We will be opening an outlet in Mumbai," she said and added that they have yet to decide, which one they will open first.
"I have plans to reach out to other countries too," she said.
Sunmeet said that her family was supportive of her decision to open the boutique and her husband has always been her mentor.
"My husband Manmeet Singh is a Bollywood actor, who is my mentor. He appreciates my decision. My two daughters have risked their routine life to help me set up the boutique."
She admits KBC has changed her life.
"I have received loads of love and support from the world, besides financial. People have started recognising me. I am quite known among a lot of people."
