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Sharmila Mohganaraj was a cabin crew with Qatar Airways, travelling the world and earning a stable five-figure income. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t what she truly wanted.
“I valued my job as a cabin crew, but to be honest, I truly wanted to be grounded and pursue something I really enjoy,” she shared.
From flying high to starting over
Sharmila spent five years flying before making one of the biggest decisions of her life was to quit in 2023.
But the transition wasn’t smooth. After returning home, she struggled to adjust to a completely different reality.
“It was very hard for me to accept the salary I was earning, which was less than RM3,000.
“I didn’t have any backup plan when I left. I just wanted to give it a try. Be it a success or failure, I just wanted to go for it.”
What many didn’t realise was that Sharmila had already been preparing for her next chapter, even while she taking to the skies.
“Whenever I travelled to India, I would spend time exploring fabrics, meeting suppliers, and building connections.
“Different parts of India have different fabrics. I would go and explore and get contacts from manufacturers and dealers,” she said.
Those small steps would later become the foundation of her business.
Taking a risk with her savings
Starting her brand, Ambicasvastra, wasn’t easy, especially when it meant risking everything she had.
“I was so scared to invest the savings that I had. For a period of time, I even worked at a mall for about seven to eight months. But that experience later became a turning point.”
With no big team or support system, Sharmila turned to TikTok to build her brand right from scratch, where she would go live almost every night from 8pm until 2am.
“I was very consistent by going live six times a week for months. But behind the scenes, it was even tougher. I had to showcase products during live sessions, pack orders myself and clean up everything after each session.
“I was doing everything on my own. It wasn’t easy, but I learned it the hardest way possible.”
Building something different from the market
At first, Sharmila started with wholesale pieces, but quickly realised it wasn’t sustainable. With too many sellers offering the same designs, competing on price became a losing game.
“I didn’t want it to be a normal clothing business and wanted it to be special. So, I began designing my own collections, working directly with manufacturers in India, and ensuring every piece met my standards.
“I make sure it fits perfectly because fitting and comfort is very important,” she explained.
Behind the name Ambicasvastra, lies a deep personal meaning that not many are aware of: Ambika is actually the name of Sharmila’s late sister, while Vastra is the Sanskrit word for clothing.
Trust-based growth
What started as selling sarees eventually evolved into custom-designed pieces—something Sharmila truly enjoyed and believed in.
“When I first started, my brand had only around 1,300 followers. Today, it has grown to nearly 20,000.
“I believe the growth didn’t just come from my online efforts, but from real-life interactions. People come to the booth to touch and feel the fabric…that’s how they build trust,” she explained.
Family support that made it possible
Despite facing judgement for leaving a stable, high-paying job, Sharmila wasn’t alone.
“My family was very supportive. In fact, they were happier than me. My mother and cousin would often accompany me to bazaars, helping me manage long days from morning till night.
“It made everything easier having them by my side.”
Looking back, Sharmila admits the journey was far from easy. But today, she earns even more than she did as a cabin crew by doing something she truly loves.
If there’s one thing she wants others to take away from her journey, it’s this:
“Just take the risk. It doesn’t matter if it’s a success or failure. Just go for it.”
“It’s also important to surround yourself with people who believe in you. Always have them by your side and don’t lose them.”
While Sharmila is no longer flying across countries, she’s building something of her own with a brand that reflects her passion, identity, and purpose.
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