Shahin Ansari is pretty, vivacious and has a keen eye for art and fashion. The young entrepreneur has been creating a small revolution in the lifestyle segment in Chennai with her one-of-a-kind store, Maal Gaadi, that sells everything from fashion, furniture and accessories for the home, which fits the bill of being cool and quirky. She says that she always knew that she wanted to do something in the fashion and lifestyle space. She fondly remembers her growing up years in a well-to-do family that has roots in the construction materials business. Her mother Sakina Ansari had a cultivated sense of art and fashion. Of course, she passed it on to her daughter! Together the duo decided to set up the store in December 2013.

“Quirky and pop art fascinates me. Travelling around the world, I keep an eye for funky and cool stuff. I pick anything that is interesting or rather intriguing,” says the 24-year-old co-founder of the store. Shahin holds a degree in Economics from Stella Maris College, Chennai and is also a fashion management graduate from the University of Southampton. “After my school, I was contemplating studying fashion designing or doing something that will help me understand the business dynamics. I chose the latter and went for the Economics degree. Eventually, I took up fashion management as well,” she says.

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Initially, she started working with a popular fashion brand in Bengaluru but was eventually drawn towards setting up her own store in the Chennai. Shahin is also an avid tennis player and has been a part of national and international tournaments. “Sport is an integral part of my life. Till I was about 20, I played a lot of tennis tournaments. I was travelling across the country and abroad for my matches. These trips were also about exploring different cultures, understanding art of various places and developing an eye for funky stuff,” she adds. However, she hasn’t got much time to practice tennis over last few years, she says.

Because of her outgoing personality, the young entrepreneur loves meeting new people and making new friends. “I enjoy catching up with interesting people over a cup of coffee or dinner. It is fun interacting with new people, who add to your perspective of the world. There is so much to learn and know,” she muses. As a fashion enthusiast, does Shahin enjoy the style of any particular designers? “I adore Nida Mahmood. Her creations are absolutely cool and colourful. Another designer label I usually love wearing is Hemant and Nandita. These guys create contemporary stuff for the young and experimental clients,” she informs.

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