Sumreen Mahmood
Hello, my name is Sumreen Mahmood. I am a furniture and interior designer, and the Creative Director at Senses by Sumreen.
I got my furniture-designing professional degree from the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD). I've been doing this work for quite some time now since furniture is my family business. I was into furniture since forever but at one point I realized that I needed to have something of my own - like you have your own baby, you raise it with your own values and the way you want it to be groomed, so I started working on this direction.
I started brainstorming its name and every dynamic of it. Since it is a service based business, I didn't need any investment at first. I worked on its name, planned its online presence etc.
Through my work, I have had the opportunity to teach Furniture & Design at the National College of Arts, the best art and design school in Lahore, Pakistan. I was also invited as a guest speaker to speak on “Women Entrepreneurship” at The University of Faisalabad in Pakistan.
Company: Senses by Sumreen
Location: Lahore, Pakistan
Operating since: 2019
Website: sensesbysumreen.com
Instagram: @sensesbysumreen
Tell us all about your company. What services or products do you offer?
Senses by Sumreen is a furniture and interior designing firm based in Lahore. We help you to renovate and redecorate your home according to your personalized style. You are in control of the budget and product selections with us and we as a team together make sure everything looks perfect in the end, according to your taste.
How did you get the idea or concept for your company? What was your mission at the outset?
The legacy of the family business of furniture [making and design] began from my great-grandfather in Saharanpur, India. As a successor of the family business, I idealize interiors that flatter spaces and satisfy the aesthetics of my clients. Working through my grandfather's workshop, I've been doing this work for quite sometime now since furniture is my family business. I'm luckily raised in a family where gender roles weren't imposed. I wanted to build something of my own. It wasn't exactly very clear to me in the beginning but the passion inside me led me here I believe.
I think the idea that this is an all-men field, or ‘how would I work between labourers’ was far behind the bigger picture I was looking at - this was a greater motivation for me. I believe every house improvement and remodeling project boosts up creativity in a new way. Uplifting each space to be surprising, bold, and with a character and unique story of its own is the most valuable part of my work.
Growing up, did you always intend to start your own company/organization?
No. Working through furniture from my grandfather’s workshop, I have always been involved in the family business and a complete background of Arts & Design has helped in complimenting the creative to commercial balance in me, but I didn't plan to have my own company one day.
What is the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome?
The most resistance I faced was from my own workshop workers who would randomly nudge my father [and say] "Get her married. Why do you bring her here?" Distant family members would come to my mother and tell her how humiliating it is that she's making her daughter a mere carpenter.
Men in our society look down on a woman who works outside of home, especially like in my field where I have to visit homes, communicate with labourers, masons, and store keepers etc. But when you prove people wrong by actually accomplishing your goal then they look at you differently. When projects started coming and getting completed, people started getting close to me, respecting me far more than they used to when I started my work. Vendors started contacting me, workers started asking my father when I would be contacting them for work.
Yes, I've been asked quite a several times if I'm able to make a gol roti (chappati) - like yeah, you're successful and whatever but tell us about the roti (chappati). And I reply, “Yes, I can make a gol roti and I can make the table too on which the gol roti has to be placed!”
What's your definition of success? Do you consider yourself a success? If not, when will you?
Success to me is a level where I'm able to give back to the world. It is when, through my efforts, I'm in a position to leave this world in a better way than I found it. I don't consider myself successful for now. I have yet to achieve some higher goals.
Have the women around you helped you to rise? How?
Women around me have been extremely supportive. The ones who lost battles because of marriage, education, family restrictions (or other personal reasons exploited in society) have always given me motivation to reach my full potential. [They] have always encouraged me to be independent by telling me their personal life struggles as a dependent housewife, sister, and daughter. How hard their lives have been because of dependency on a man and how they had to keep their patience just because they had nothing in their hands to raise a voice against abuse, whether emotional or physical. Women as clients, team members or vendors have also always been very friendly, open, and understanding.
What are some of your future plans? Are you working on anything else right now?
I am currently juggling a few home interior design projects. I have just launched an online consultancy for home interior design services. Also, because of COVID-19, I have remodeled my business to provide all the services online starting from consultancy to the shopping list of products.
What advice would you give to a woman starting out in your industry or starting her own company/organization?
Learn first - if you're able to have a complete grip on your work, you'll turn out to be a better leader, making very well informed decisions. Be consistent and reflect on constructive criticism.
Describe yourself in ONE word. Resilient
Complete this sentence: "To be a girl or woman today is..." being an all rounder.