Interviewee: Ms. Sthuthya Shaminder
Age: 22
Birthday: 11/11/99
Batch: 2017- 21
Occupation: Operations Associate
Skills: Non-stop talking
Achievements: Breaking out of my shell
Hobbies: Reading
Social Media: Instagram- sthu_shami
Tell us about yourself, your schooling and your professional experience. Walk us through who you are.
My name is Sthuthya Shaminder. I’m 22 years old and spent most of my schooling in Sharjah. Desiring a fresh experience, I came to Amity University. I was familiar with this University as it has a branch in Dubai.
I currently work at Gucci as an operations associate dealing with retail and management. I interned for half a year prior to becoming a full-time employee. Pre Covid, I even worked in Decathlon for two months in sales!
…but don’t you think that a company is more than just sales? Having realised this, I decided to work in the management department.
What inspired you to work in the fashion industry?
My mother! She had always aspired to be a fashion designer but was unable to fulfil her ambition. It inspired me to pursue her goal in her stead even though I no longer design but rather work in retail.
Commerce! No, I applied for fashion design in Amity, but I have a background in commerce and had intended to pursue something similar. My peers and seniors advised that I study business first and then pursue a fashion design degree. I even applied for ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) out of curiosity, but this wasn’t the stream for me.
How would you describe your life at ASFDT?
B-U-S-Y.
My mother used to talk about how much fun she had during her college days, so I assumed that I would be able to relax and enjoy myself. My life at Amity included many classes and new experiences. It was a place where people could reinvent themselves and discover their strengths. There are numerous facets of design other than fashion. I wanted to push myself for attempting new things, and ASFDT provided me with many opportunities to do so.
My parents never pushed me to do well in school, so I was quite comfortable. When I first started at Amity, I was up against a lot of competition because everyone seemed academically gifted. It inspired me to push myself and offer my absolute best!
In our first illustration lesson, our faculty instructed us to draw anything that came to mind. Everyone was busy drawing, but I was staring blankly since I couldn’t think of anything to draw. I felt behind everyone during my first few weeks. After advice from a senior and assistance from faculty, I caught up with my work and improved my drawing skills.
How I loved being a part of Aminova – the annual youth festival! I was part of the organising team every year. Even though I graduated, I still go for it and meet my professors.
Which classes were your enjoy favourites? Which faculties did you enjoy learning with?
Garment construction was my favorite class. I used to enjoy sitting and working in practical labs. Traditional Indian Textiles (A/N: please double-check the relevant subject) was another favorite as we learned block printing and tie-dye. The illustration lectures were also enjoyable.
It’s difficult for me to choose a favorite faculty because each one taught me something fresh and unique. Ms Narjjis, Ms Nutan, Ms Shalini and Ms Mohaddesa’s courses were enjoyable as they were helpful faculty who taught me my favorite subjects.
What lessons from ASFDT have benefitted you the most in your present position?
Making an error is acceptable. ASFDT taught me to be quick on my feet. When I make a mistake, I’ve learned not to stew over it for hours but come up with a solution.
Aside from that, I learned to ask questions. The faculties have encouraged me to ask questions and come out of my shell. “When in doubt, ask questions and we’ll help,” they’ve always said. I used to seek assistance from my peers, but they also had their plates filled. As a result, my faculties have given me the courage to ask inquiries without feeling embarrassed.
This helps me in my present position because they value initiative whether it’s in making decisions or finding solutions to problems.
Aminova was also quite helpful. It helped me comprehend management and event planning. It pushed me to multitask and be efficient by requiring me to accomplish numerous things at once.
ASFDT also allowed me to participate in the Bombay Times Fashion Week (BTFW), which helped me improve my managerial skills. Every little thing that happened in class, BTFW and the opportunities provided by ASFDT shaped my personality and helped me become who I am today.
What advice would you give to people interested in joining ASFDT?
I would advise anyone interested in joining ASFDT to purchase only items on the materials list that they would utilise. As everyone has a different design concept and is only comfortable with particular materials, purchase only what you believe is necessary and appropriate for you. Lastly, I advise you all to explore markets! Touring them for acquiring fabrics is a wonderful opportunity to become familiar with the materials available. You will have an easy time sourcing them later on. Keep on exploring, growing and learning