Moushumi Has An Innate Sense of Style And A Desire to Make A Difference
What’s your story?
I’ve always been mesmerised by fashion and design! Throughout my life, people around me would always compliment my sense of style and aesthetics. That gave me the confidence to pursue a career as a personal and home stylist.
The inspiration for The Lifestyle Editor, to a large extent, came from my years of traveling and living around the world including, Mumbai, New York, Singapore, and in 2016, I moved to Hong Kong.
After years of travel and a corporate career later, I chose to train professionally as a personal stylist at the London College of Style and to establish my expertise in home decor at the Insight School of Interior Design in Hong Kong.
It has been quite a journey but it’s one I am truly grateful for because I am living my dream!
What excites you most about your industry?
One of the most exciting things about the fashion and home design industry is that there is no shortage of creativity. Creativity is at the heart of whatever you do in this field. There are no set rules—styles and trends are always changing. With the rise of social media, entrepreneurs now have a whole new platform to display their innovation. I love working as a personal stylist and home stylist because there’s always room for new ideas, and I get to meet wonderful people along the way!
What’s your connection to Asia?
I was born here! I spent most of my early life in India and then moved to New York. I moved back to Singapore 6 years ago, and am now based in Hong Kong, with my husband and 8-year-old daughter.
Each place, on its own, and as a collective, has contributed to the knowledge and creativity I put into my work. In India, I developed an early fascination with colours and their exciting interplays. In Singapore, I fell head over heels for the green, tropical tones. In Hong Kong, I’m fascinated by the expression of art, culture, and of course, style. There’s no place I’d rather be!
Most exciting is The Lifestyle Editor has successfully completed multiple projects in many Asian countries.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Definitely Hong Kong. Setting up a business here is almost a no-brainer. It is easy and there is a great market for entrepreneurs.
What sets this place apart is that the amazing expat community is very open and happy to help out other expat entrepreneurs! In addition to that, the women entrepreneurs here have an incredibly supportive community for each other.
Starting your own brand is never easy, but I was able to find my place in Hong Kong because of the city’s strong networks. I never felt like I was alone and that really gave me the confidence to finally launch The Lifestyle Editor online.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Feel the fear and do it anyway!
Who inspires you?
The two people I’ve always looked up to are Michelle Obama and Coco Chanel. While they’re completely different people, they’re similar in the way that they have been relentless in their journey to make their dreams come true. They have always been advocates for women and have become a great inspiration for anyone who is striving for success in their own lives. And lastly, they’re both fashion icons!
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
The adaptability of humans! The way we’ve adapted to this new and changing world, within these past few months, has been incredibly eye opening. We’ve been staying at home for months now and life has still gone on. We have found so many ways to adjust to this new situation.
I don’t think we give ourselves enough credit for adapting so well to a new norm. This proves to me that in any scenario, if you keep your outlook positive you are always going to find ways to adapt to a situation and stay happy. It’s the only way to move forward!
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would tell my 18 year old self to just relax! You’ll find your passion and will soon figure out how to make it work for you, as a career. It might be hard, but there are many things you’ll discover and enjoy on this journey! Don’t stress, because there’s always a right time for everything.
How do you unwind?
I unwind through reading, spending a lot of time with my family, and traveling! I owe it to the little blessings in my life that help me sit back, relax, and focus on the things that matter most to me.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
I absolutely love Bali. This place has it all: Amazing culture, food, tradition, shopping and beaches without end! It definitely reflects who I am and what my lifestyle is like outside of work. There’s nothing more relaxing than being in a place where you can have a good time and live life to its fullest.
Everyone in business should read this book:
“The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles,” by Steven Pressfield, is a must read book for all entrepreneurs. It inspires you to defeat the “resistance” within, to recognise and knock down “dream-blocking barriers” and silence the pessimist within you. It leaves you with a sense of positive calm and a feeling of “I know I can win this war.”
Shameless plug for your business:
The Lifestyle Editor is your highly tailored boutique solution to personal styling and home styling, integrating an exceptional level of creativity, passion and expertise, with a deeply bespoke vision of style and design.
My personal styling sessions cover things like colour, body shape and style makeovers. My home styling consultations cover things like design, styling and conceptualization.
All the details for my sessions can be found at www.thelifestyleditor.com. For style and home tips, visit my Instagram and Facebook!
How can people connect with you?
I always update my social media with fashion and home tips for inspiration. Check them out!
Website: www.thelifestyleditor.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifestyleditorhk/
Personal Styling Instagram: @thelifestyleditor_style
Home Styling Instagram: @thelifestyleditor_home
Email: [email protected]
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connects’ series of more than 500 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder and CEO of MBH Corporation PLC. He is the author of three best-selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’, ‘Agglomerate’ and ‘Entrepreneurial Investing’.
Connect with Callum on Twitter and LinkedIn
Download free copies of his books at www.callumlaing.com
