Hyderabad: Born into a Gujarati Jain family involved in jewellery business, Amy Billimoria developed a taste of all things fine at a very young age.
“Even as a child, I was very particular about clothing and design,” says Amy who today runs a successful fashion line and has recently celebrated 21 years of dressing up some of the country’s most gorgeous women. Hema Malini in particular, stands out for her. “Hemaji once wanted me to make a Western gown for her. What made it special was that she was going to wear a Western dress in public after 25 years! I designed a beautiful black drape for her in under 10 hours. She looked gorgeous in it of course,” she adds.
A social swan, Amy is spotted at most fashion soirees in town. However, the title is not something she approves of. “I am definitely not a party animal. I go to social events because interaction with people plays an important role in my profession,” she clarifies. Married to a successful entrepreneur in the city, Farhad Billimoria, Amy has a 10-year-old daughter who she says, is her best friend. “At the end of the day, we exchange notes on how our respective days were. We also love playing board games, cooking or reading together. Thanks to her, our holidays revolve around child-friendly places. So Euro Disney and Amsterdam are our favourite holiday destinations,” she says.
When she’s not working or spending time at home, Amy likes to pursue a few other interests and pamper herself to a well-deserved break. “My idea of luxury is pampering myself amidst nature and my pets at my farmhouse. I love riding too, so we take off to spend quality family time with my daughter and my horses in Karjat, a place near Mumbai. Other times I read or play the piano. Music and books are both my passion,” she says. Amy is celebrating her 21 year milestone with her new line of fashion called Earth 21. She believes it is a creative and professional high for her.
“Designing to me is a form of inner expression; it gives me a sense of fulfilment and channels my creative energies. I have been lucky to have successfully managed work and family life all these years. I believe time management is the key to this balance. If imbibed properly, it can be used to go a long way. I have personally benefited from it,” she says.
