Techie Turns Fashion Entrepreneur
By Suneetha B

From Systems Integration to Production and HR management doesn’t seem too unnatural a progression for most professionals. But when a techie quits her role in computer systems analysis and programming to take up managing humans involved in apparel-making, it’s indeed a sea change. Meet Ms. Neelima Pillai, who gave up a successful career at Infosys, to become a fashion promoter. 

Graduating in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and working with Infosys, Trivandrum for a couple of years in Systems Integration, Neelima switched hometowns from Trivandrum to Kottayam after marriage and consequently quit her techie cabin. She is currently involved with Gowri Designer garments, Kottayam, a Business Venture in her new family. Techgoss spoke to Neelima about her new avatar.

Techgoss (TG): A techie in fashion business is not common. What were your first reactions?
Neelima Pillai (NP): Initially, I had hiccups since I was new to this field but with time and experience I am able to do fairly well. Today, I am involved in the production and management side of the business.

TG: Do you have a formal training the field you are handling now?
NP: As of today, I don’t have a formal training in the field that I am currently in now, but I believe that by undergoing some kind of a formal education or internship will make my horizon clearer and wider.

TG: How have you found the transition to a totally different career?
NP: A year ago, I was an employee of one of the most respected IT companies in the world, and today I am an entrepreneur myself. I handle over 25 employees, sitting in a production centre whose task has no connection with whatever experience I gained in my IT life. However, my life as a techie has taught me how to work in a team and manage time. In my current job, though an important part of my role has shifted to managing people working under me, the experience I gained as a team player and working against stiff timelines have helped me in my new role as an entrepreneur. Even though I had my initial hurdles, today I am enjoying what I am doing today.

 
TG: Tell us about your current work. Has your techie background contributed in any way to your success in your current life?
NP: Gowri is a boutique for garments. We manufacture kurtis, churidars, salwars, tops etc for women. The brand Gowri is known for its ethnicity and affordability. I am handling today the production and operations of the company. My life as a techie has taught me to work under high pressure, enormous workloads and competition which I feel is an important requirement for an entrepreneur. Being an employee once and today an employer I am able to judge and understand people working under me.

 
TG: Do you look for clientele among your techie pals? Have you created products to suite techie requirements any time?
NP: Having been an office-goer I know exactly what the difficulties are in buying dress material and getting it stitched as this is time consuming. Most of us prefer buying readymade kurtis or sets. But the ready-mades available are usually very costly and affordable collections do not offer many choices. So when we produce each piece in Gowri, ethnicity and affordability is what we target for. 

 
TG: What are your future plans?
NP: As of now we are working on tripling our production in the next 1-2 years and thereafter to expand by opening up more outlets in various parts of the state. And we are also looking ahead at developing a franchisee model.