Supportive Sisters

Sibling relationships are one of the most important relationships in life and with strong sibling bonds in adulthood, one can achieve a lot together as clearly shown by Khusbu and Shyamin Dangol.

We interviewed a dynamic sister duo ‑‑ Khusbhu Dangol, the designer at Oodni Boutique in Kupondole, and Shyamin Dangol, the makeup artist at Studio Secret in Pulchowk, Lalitpur. Both of them are involved in different fields of work, but have found a great way to work collaboratively. Here’s their story:

 

We heard the two of you work together. Can you tell us more about that?

 

Khusbhu: Most of my clients at the boutique are usually brides-to-be, bridesmaids, or their relatives. So after their fitting, they usually seek a place to get their makeup done, and since Shyamin’s makeup studio and my boutique are quite close by, I connect my clients to her studio. It has been a year since we’ve started doing that, and it has worked well.

 

So how is it like working together? Have there been any challenges?

 

Khusbhu: It’s fun, but yes, there are a lot of challenges. Sometimes it’s tough work convincing my customers to try Shyamin’s makeup studio, especially since it’s a new establishment. She too has to do the same with her customers, so these are challenges for both of us.  To overcome such problems, we’ve even initiated discount offers that give our clients reasonable rates when they do business at both our stores.

 

It’s not a daily occurrence but we do have a lot of work-related hiccups from time to time. But Shyamin, being the younger sister, always listens to me patiently, and our arguments are always a learning curve for both of us.

 

Are there any activities that you like because of each other?

 

Shyamin: Actually Khusbhu has heavily inspired me. Since I was little, I always watched her do good makeup and watched her learn makeup from online videos. Her talent inspired me to learn makeup skills for myself as well.

 

Khusbhu: I really was a makeup freak back then (laughs). Every time I would see a new cosmetic product, I had to get my hands on it. Shyamin too has inspired me. Indeed I did have many makeup products, but Shyamin was the one who taught me how to use them creatively.

 

What are your positions in the family? Which one of you is the peacemaker and which of you is the troublesome one?

 

Khusbu: Shyamin has always been the troublesome one. I have always been the obedient daughter. But as time went by, Shyamin too became a lot more compliant, and now as we have entered into our own working zones, I feel that we’ve become more calm and composed.

 

Were there any favorites in the family?

 

Khusbhu: She was the cuter one, so she definitely was the favorite.

 

Shyamin: (Smiles) I probably was.

 

Would you describe your relationship with each other as supportive or competitive? Has your relationship helped you strive to do better?

 

Shyamin: I think we’re really supportive of each other, and that’s what helped us become who we are today.

 

Khushbu: She’s right. We’re definitely each other’s support system. Whenever there is an inconvenience we make it a point to seek help from each other. Though she’s many years younger than me, I always get useful advice from her, and she always corrects me when I’m in the wrong. She can instantly tell when I’m in any kind of trouble.

 

Of course, we are involved in different kinds of work, so each of us wants to do our best in our respective fields of work. I do have my own ambitions, and I do want success, but I wish the same for my sister.

 

Is there anything that you two do that drives each other crazy?

 

Khusbhu: Well…I don’t have a lot of patience and I’m very meticulous, and Shyamin—being a lot more laid back—hates it when I nag her to get things done on time (smiles). But I think she learns from me on such occasions too.

 

Shyamin: For me, I think it’s the same thing—patience. She panics more often, and that makes me panic too (laughs).

 

Are there any presents that you know your sister would always be happy to receive?

 

Khusbhu: Shyamin likes many things, but if I need to specify, I think it would be perfume. She’s a perfume collector. I gifted her a Chanel perfume on one of her birthdays, and I still remember how she’d use it drop by drop. Eventually, she ended up breaking the entire bottle (both laugh)!

 

Shyamin: Khusbhu loves bags. I remember gifting her a green bag, which she still uses.

 

What are you most proud of your sister?

 

Khusbhu: I think the fact that Shyamin has made a name for herself from a very young age is something to applaud her for. She pays her own rent and spends what she earns.

 

Shyamin: She’s one of the best designers in Nepal, and her work is inspiring. Wherever I go, everyone knows me as Khusbhu’s sister—even when I’m abroad— and that makes me so proud of her.

We interviewed a dynamic sister duo ‑‑ Khusbhu Dangol, the designer at Oodni Boutique in Kupondole, and Shyamin Dangol, the makeup artist at Studio Secret in Pulchowk, Lalitpur. Both of them are involved in different fields of work, but have found a great way to work collaboratively. Here’s their story:

 

We heard the two of you work together. Can you tell us more about that?

 

Khusbhu: Most of my clients at the boutique are usually brides-to-be, bridesmaids, or their relatives. So after their fitting, they usually seek a place to get their makeup done, and since Shyamin’s makeup studio and my boutique are quite close by, I connect my clients to her studio. It has been a year since we’ve started doing that, and it has worked well.

 

So how is it like working together? Have there been any challenges?

 

Khusbhu: It’s fun, but yes, there are a lot of challenges. Sometimes it’s tough work convincing my customers to try Shyamin’s makeup studio, especially since it’s a new establishment. She too has to do the same with her customers, so these are challenges for both of us.  To overcome such problems, we’ve even initiated discount offers that give our clients reasonable rates when they do business at both our stores.

 

It’s not a daily occurrence but we do have a lot of work-related hiccups from time to time. But Shyamin, being the younger sister, always listens to me patiently, and our arguments are always a learning curve for both of us.

 

Are there any activities that you like because of each other?

 

Shyamin: Actually Khusbhu has heavily inspired me. Since I was little, I always watched her do good makeup and watched her learn makeup from online videos. Her talent inspired me to learn makeup skills for myself as well.

 

Khusbhu: I really was a makeup freak back then (laughs). Every time I would see a new cosmetic product, I had to get my hands on it. Shyamin too has inspired me. Indeed I did have many makeup products, but Shyamin was the one who taught me how to use them creatively.

 

What are your positions in the family? Which one of you is the peacemaker and which of you is the troublesome one?

 

Khusbu: Shyamin has always been the troublesome one. I have always been the obedient daughter. But as time went by, Shyamin too became a lot more compliant, and now as we have entered into our own working zones, I feel that we’ve become more calm and composed.

 

Were there any favorites in the family?

 

Khusbhu: She was the cuter one, so she definitely was the favorite.

 

Shyamin: (Smiles) I probably was.

 

Would you describe your relationship with each other as supportive or competitive? Has your relationship helped you strive to do better?

 

Shyamin: I think we’re really supportive of each other, and that’s what helped us become who we are today.

 

Khushbu: She’s right. We’re definitely each other’s support system. Whenever there is an inconvenience we make it a point to seek help from each other. Though she’s many years younger than me, I always get useful advice from her, and she always corrects me when I’m in the wrong. She can instantly tell when I’m in any kind of trouble.

 

Of course, we are involved in different kinds of work, so each of us wants to do our best in our respective fields of work. I do have my own ambitions, and I do want success, but I wish the same for my sister.

 

Is there anything that you two do that drives each other crazy?

 

Khusbhu: Well…I don’t have a lot of patience and I’m very meticulous, and Shyamin—being a lot more laid back—hates it when I nag her to get things done on time (smiles). But I think she learns from me on such occasions too.

 

Shyamin: For me, I think it’s the same thing—patience. She panics more often, and that makes me panic too (laughs).

 

Are there any presents that you know your sister would always be happy to receive?

 

Khusbhu: Shyamin likes many things, but if I need to specify, I think it would be perfume. She’s a perfume collector. I gifted her a Chanel perfume on one of her birthdays, and I still remember how she’d use it drop by drop. Eventually, she ended up breaking the entire bottle (both laugh)!

 

Shyamin: Khusbhu loves bags. I remember gifting her a green bag, which she still uses.

 

What are you most proud of your sister?

 

Khusbhu: I think the fact that Shyamin has made a name for herself from a very young age is something to applaud her for. She pays her own rent and spends what she earns.

 

Shyamin: She’s one of the best designers in Nepal, and her work is inspiring. Wherever I go, everyone knows me as Khusbhu’s sister—even when I’m abroad— and that makes me so proud of her.