Conversations with Changemakers.... Hanim Jain.

Harveen Gill interviews….

My regular interview sessions focus on an individual who is known to me, has a connection to fashion / retail and whom I personally admire. In September I am delighted to shine the spotlight on Hanim Jain, CEO & Founder of Women in Fashion.  

Introduction. 

Hanim and I met during the lockdown period. HGA Group operate an office in South Africa. Hanim is married to Sunil Jain – who is also an Executive in fashion &  retail – both are currently based in Johannesburg. Hanim connected in response to HGA Group running an online series of Careers Advisory support sessions for individuals in Africa.   Hanim is exceptionally well travelled, having lived and worked in Europe, China, Thailand and South Africa. She has trailblazed in 2 industries – IT and fashion, launching and selling 2 businesses, as well as leading other businesses. Hanim now leads “Women in Fashion Global” This organisation supports female company owners, professionals and entrepreneurs in the development of the businesses and careers. This is a global community that aims to connect, inspire and empower females in fashion.    

What is your current role / expertise and how did you secure this?

I launched Women in Fashion Global in the lockdown phase. I recognised a gap in the market. I, myself was very lucky to have secured a mentor in my career. I know this is rare and wanted to give back to females in fashion & retail. There is a huge gender discrepancy gap. Only 6% of CEOS, within fashion are female and we know that the Gender Pay Gap is still a huge challenge. I recognise that we need to start talking about these issues openly, in order to challenge these inequalities.     

I was born in Turkey and raised in The Netherlands. I am from a very humble background. My Mum was a Cleaner. We lived in a very rural area of Turkey with no water or electricity and I started to make clothes at the age of 12, to earn money. 

Education was the key - I completed an MBA in economics and was founder of a software business in Istanbul, which grew successfully. I sold this business. My background in in software helped me to secure a senior role at IBM in the Netherlands – I was their youngest Female Director. 

I was passionately interested in fashion and decided that I wanted to enter this industry. I took a course at The Paris Fashion Institute and In 2001, I commenced employment as a Brand Manager at Karl Lagerfeld in Paris. I had to start at the bottom, I understood that I needed to take a huge step back to enter a new industry. This propelled my fashion career. This led to my move to The Netherlands – to de Bijenkorf, a premium department store group. I joined initially as a Store Manager and then made a move into buying. This took me to a 7 year tenure at C & A, originally as a Buying Executive, based in Belgium and then into a sourcing role, based in Shanghai, China.       

My travels then took me to South Africa – where my husband had been offered a leadership role at Edgars Department Store Group. Again, I was struck by the “Founders bug”, I launched Styleluxx – an E-commerce business I sold this business in 2016.   I then took a role as Managing Director of Polo, South Africa, before moving on to Thailand and launching Madibas, a charity to empower women in townships.

I moved back to South Africa just before the Pandemic struck, in early 2020 and launched Women In Fashion Global.

What / Who has been important to you in your career?

2 females role models have been very important to me and I must mention both:  

Joan White – the Founder and Director of The Paris Fashion Institute was pivotal in my making a move into fashion. I studied here, the course was very intensive. Joan recognised my drive, shared some direction and introduced me to Karl Lagerfeld – where I then held my first role in the fashion sector. I am still in touch with Joan some 20 years later……   

Tanya Todd was the CMO at C&A and helped to support me through some tough periods in my career. Tanya has been my “sounding board” 20 years later Tanya and I are business partners!  

Can you pinpoint the most significant steps in your career?

The first step was when I started my own business at the age of 25. I had no money, very little resources and lived in a room with no windows – I went for it and it paid off!

My second significant step was when I moved from the IT sector into fashion. I had to start at the bottom – but again I have no regrets!

Who do you admire and why?

I admire Joan White and Tanya Todd enormously as above. 

What advice would you offer to an individual wanting to secure a fashion & retail career?

Follow your passion, you are more likely to find success if you love what you do. 

Remember there are many openings within fashion & retail ranging from growing / production of fibre, manufacturing, product development, design and commercial functions. Alternatively, our sector also needs professionals such as Lawyers, Accountants and IT Professionals.      

Share a Secret.

I am very spiritual – I meditate frequently. My dream is to become a Reiki Master 

Reiki is an energy healing technique in which a Reiki master (who has undergone formal training in this healing art) uses gentle hand movements with the intention to guide the flow of healthy energy (what's known in Reiki as “life force energy”) through the client's body to reduce stress and promote healing.

Harveen Gill

MD, HGA Group