At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Labdhi Doshi for an exclusive interview with us. Labdhi is an Entrepreneur, Creative Director & Founder of Semicolon. Let’s learn more about her background, journey and her advice for our community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Labdhi:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
My journey into the fashion field began in childhood when I would design outfits for my Barbie dolls. I loved using my aunt’s sewing machine and sketching new ideas, and over time, my passion for fashion only grew stronger.
Eventually, I chose to pursue formal training in Fashion Designing and Garment Manufacturing at Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai. By the end of my course, I secured my first role in Business and Product Development at Milaaya Embroideries, one of Mumbai’s top export houses.
Working at Milaaya was transformative for my career and expertise. It polished my knowledge of the industry and offered invaluable exposure to some of the world’s most prestigious luxury markets and brands across the USA, Europe, UK, and Australia. It was a dream come true to work with renowned clients like Victoria Beckham, David Koma, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Lanvin, Balmain, Thom Browne, Ralph Lauren, and many others.
After the COVID-19 pandemic paused the global market, Milaaya pivoted and launched its own luxury retail brand, GAYA and as a part of the Business Development team, I had the opportunity to work closely with our owner, Ms. Gayatri Khanna, and learn about the Indian luxury market in depth. These diverse experiences in both global and Indian luxury sectors inspired me to establish my own luxury retail brand, Semicolon.
‘Semicolon’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving?
Semicolon is indeed more than just a name; it’s a philosophy and a statement. The mark signifies a pause that connects two independent ideas essentially joining them together with purpose.
This is precisely what we aim to achieve in fashion. At Semicolon, we are bridging the gap between slow fashion and fast fashion, creating a space where timeless design meets contemporary trends.
We believe that luxury clothing should be both enduring and responsive to the present. So with this approach, we are solving two major issues in the fashion industry, firstly, the need for longevity in clothing, crafting timeless pieces from high-quality materials that don’t just follow trends, they transcend them. Our garments are made to be worn, cherished, and reimagined, season after season.
Secondly, we respond to the desire for fresh, relevant fashion that doesn’t compromise on quality. Rather than producing disposable styles, we bring the spirit of modern trends into our designs, allowing our clients to enjoy current looks that still feel luxurious and substantial.
In this way, Semicolon fills a unique space in the market: our pieces respect the integrity of classic fashion while embracing the excitement of new ideas. It’s luxury with intention, offering a wardrobe that is beautifully balanced between heritage and innovation.
Despite the challenges, what keeps you going when things get tough?
My biggest source of strength during challenging times is my family, especially my husband, who has been my unwavering support. He constantly pushes me to keep going, reminding me to believe in myself and showing me how much my journey means not only to him but to our entire family.
I’m also incredibly lucky to have friends who genuinely care and are there whenever I’m stuck or in need of advice. They’re involved in my journey by contributing in their own special way, which fills my life with positivity. With this strong foundation of love and support, I find the resilience to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
1) Believe in yourself andtheprocess: I’ve come to understand that confidence and belief in the process are essential. Manifesting your goals is powerful, but only if you keep a clear vision and remain unwavering in your pursuit.
2) Never stoplearning: Growth comes from being open to learning from others, whether it’s mentors, industry experts, or even clients. I feel listening and staying curious are invaluable because there’s always room to evolve, no matter how much experience you gain.
3) Take immediateaction: I’ve realized that ideas and inspiration should be acted upon without delay. Waiting for the “perfect time” often leads to missed opportunities. Embracing action over hesitation has helped me bring more ideas to life and keeps me moving forward.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
Success comes down to a blend of passion, adaptability, and discipline. Passion drives you to start and keeps you going, but adaptability is crucial to navigating change and staying relevant.
Discipline, meanwhile, transforms vision into reality. Balancing all three has been my formula for growth and accomplishment.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Embrace every task or challenge that comes your way, no matter how small it seems. Each experience offers a lesson, and humility goes a long way in building expertise and respect.
When ego takes a backseat, one can focus on learning the details, which ultimately empowers them to lead and understand the nuances of their work. Successful people know every aspect of their craft inside out, and that comes from a willingness to do the work at all levels.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
My journey feels fulfilling because I’m witnessing the transformation of a vision into reality. Manifesting my dreams and seeing the results is incredibly rewarding. I’ve had the privilege of learning from industry veterans and talented people, gaining knowledge and perspective at every step.
It’s a journey that continually excites me as I set new goals and push myself further, knowing that this path of creativity and growth has no end—it’s an ever-evolving adventure.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
