With an eye for detail and a taste for the exquisite, jewellery designing is something Shaheen inherited from her mother. The owner of jewellery brand Flower Child and wife of television host Roshan Abbas, she is responsible for glamorising up tons of Bollywood celebs and high society priestesses.
“My family is obsessed with jewellery. There were always babus and karigars frequenting our house to design pieces for my mother and aunts, so my interest in jewellery developed at a very young age. I started doing little accessories for my friends and before I knew it, I had a huge client base,” she smiles.
But jewellery is not what Shaheen explored first. “Fresh out of college, I took up a job as a cabin crew member for a domestic airline. I was young and wanted to explore newer places,” she says. It was on one of these flights that Shaheen met her husband, Roshan Abbas. “Roshan is my safety net. I launched my brand only after the birth of my first child,” she says. Is that why it’s called Flower Child? Apparently not. “It’s what Roshan calls me,” she smiles.
While almost everyone in B’town has at some point adorned her jewellery either for a shoot or otherwise, the high point was when the legendary Rekha picked up a pair of jhumkas. “Rekha epitomises Indian jewellery, and particularly the traditional jhumka. So when she bought a pair off the counter, it was a very special moment for me.”
Most of Shaheen’s collection today deals with precious stones, but silver is her forte and first love. “I was among the first few to take on silver jewellery in a big way. Silver was always looked at as a poor cousin of precious stones and gold. People love to flaunt their silverware cutlery and antique pieces, but shy away from using them as accessories. But that mindset is slowly changing.” Describing her collection further she says, “My brand is an extension of myself. I might feel formal one morning and flirty on another. Changing moods is every woman’s trait and I want my work to reflect that.”
A fashionista herself, Shaheen is unapologetic about being seen at parties in her high heels and couture outfits. “I love fashion and I make sure to put on my best ensemble when at social dos. In a way, fashion is like a detox for me,” she adds.
A mother of two Shaheen admits that managing home and work is no cakewalk. “Sometimes I wish I had tentacles like an octopus!” she jokes adding, “Since that’s not possible, I work from home. That gives me ample time with the kids.”
A dedicated mother, hands-on wife and full-time working woman, Shaheen is a dreamer. “I have been lucky so far and hope to have a long journey ahead,” she signs off.