
Power TRIO: Tanveer, Rim & Saniya

Power TRIO
S/S 2020
TANVEER, RIM & SANIYA, the eponymous brand offers its patrons elegance through flowy ensembles.
If you are one who, when it comes to choosing a costume for yourself, believes in the opulence of old-world magic, but not at the cost of comfort and simplicity of contemporary times, Tanveer, Rim & Saniya might have the perfect ensemble for you. Located in Bandra West, just off Linking Road, Mumbai, the boutique specializes in premium ethnic and fusion wear.
The brainchild of Tanveer Shad, 54, and her two daughters, Rim Kohari, 35, and Saniya Shad Maqba, 32, the label stands apart from its peers in being a product of love for fashion, blended with sheer talent.
Tanveer set up the business in 2007 with her daughters by her side. Saniya did her major in science from Jai Hind College, Mumbai, after completing her schooling from Queen Mary’s High School, while Rim pursued Sports Medicine from American College of Sports Medicine, US. With no formal education or training in fashion, it was simply a shared passion for well-designed garments that gave the three the confidence to venture into apparel designing. For the daughters, the inspiration is their mother, Tanveer, whom they credit with an elegant sartorial sense.
The ideology behind the label is simple and unassuming—it is about dressing real women while reliving the designs and the artistic influences of the eras gone by.
While their collections showcase vintage floral wines and motifs inspired from Mughal architecture embellished with ornate gold embroidery, Mukaish work and the richness of threadwork, they restructure the garments to suit the sensibilities of a new-age woman.
Talking about their clothing, Tanveer says, “While designing or conceptualising, our main aim is to cater and celebrate the woman, make her feel beautiful and at the same time comfortable in our clothes.” Hence, all their garments are based on an amalgamation of comfort and style. About their upcoming summer collection, she adds, “The collection is for a woman, who wants to look stylish, but still be comfortable in what she wears. It has classic silhouettes in an array of soft, pleasing summer colours.”
Bridal lehengas, sharara sets, salwar sets, and kurtas etc. designed in a rainbow of colours from delicate pastels to brighter hues form the repertoire of the label. Easy-to wear silhouettes for cocktail gatherings, engagements, fine but royal-looking embroidery for celebration wear and contemporary day dresses ensure there is something for everyone here. With the purpose of offering its customers’ best quality and great designs at an affordable price, they have kept the range of their garments starting from ₹10,000 and going up to ₹40,000 to stay true to their concept.
Tanveer puts the spirit behind the brand succinctly, “Tanveer, Rim & Saniya as a brand has been successful in connecting with and capturing customer interests. We live in a time of unlimited choices and hope and strive to stay relevant in our customer’s minds as the best option for meeting their needs.” With the client at the heart of the brand, Tanveer believes more valuable than deciding the silhouettes, embroideries and designing, is the “trust we can instil in our customers. We like to believe that our USP is that we understand the needs of our customers and can communicate with them through our clothes,” she adds.
With an evergrowing list of celebrity patrons including Radhika Apte, Sonal Chauhan, Daisy Shah, Sana Khan to name a few the brand is fast gaining reputation. But as valuable is each customer to them, celebrity or not, so is each dress they have ever designed. Tanveer says, “We don’t have a single piece that is close to our heart since the whole collection is conceptualised and designed with equal amounts of love and care.”
But is all this love and perfection worth it in this age of social media, where everything gets recognition and is written off within a matter of a few minutes? Tanveer says, “While fine-tuning and evolving the brand is important, customers remember you and your product if they have a clear point of reference.” thereby acknowledging the fact that an ensemble worn by someone known—personally or a celebrity— always wins more brownie points. With brother Arzan Shad handling social media marketing for the brand, they are hoping for a promising year ahead.
Which actresses of the yesteryears do you admire, and why?
The one and only Sridevi ji. Her body of work, her personality and the range she had as an actor, I think are reasons enough for millions of people to admire her; and I’m just one of them.
If you had to play one role from the past, what would it be and how would you attempt it?
Rekha ji’s role in Khoon Bhari Maang, Sri ji’s role in Chaalbaaz, Kareena Kapoor’s role in Jab We Met, and Kangana Ranaut’s role in Queen, is what I would’ve loved to do as an actor. Such strong protagonists and amazing films they turned out to be! They all delivered so beautifully and if I ever got the chance, I would love to do it my way.
You were nominated for two awards for your action-oriented female lead in the film Akira. How was your experience?
It was a surreal experience. For the first time, I was experiencing what my heroes experience. I was not a part of choreographed dance numbers, but a part of choreographed action sequences. Not only did I love shooting for the film, but I also enjoyed training in MMA (mixed martial arts) before and during the shoot. When you learn a specific skill and apply it to a role, it just becomes really special.