Design, Love, repeat

What do you do when your colleague is also your spouse? Three fashion designer duos share their secrets to balancing a healthy work equation with a thriving personal relationship

- DHARA VORA SABHNANI

Running a company comes with its highs and lows, and so does being in a relationship. What if the two merge and you happen to run a business with your partner? How does one navigate tricky work situations that we often find ourselves in with our colleagues? Especially in the business of fashion, where creative freedom and practical business decisions are more often than not at loggerheads. Three designer duos, who have been running their label for more than a decade share what goes behind a challenging and yet, enjoyable journey.

Sonam and Paras Modi

Much like the dreamy weddings they design for, Sonam Modi met her future life and business partner, Paras Modi, at a wedding. Acquainted through Sonam’s cousin, the two had formed a friendship long before they got married in 2011. “Back then I was designing at a small scale and Paras was passionate about menswear, while I was only creating womenswear. So, we decided to do this together, divide our responsibilities and started SVA in 2013,” says Sonam. At the time, Paras was already working with textile design and the export of fabrics, and the common love for textiles helped the duo’s relationship thrive. “The best part about working with your partner is that it is collaborative. We get to strategise together,” Paras suggests.