Proudly Mother| Jewellery Designer| Creative Entrepreneur |
Julia Coovadia, is a creative entrepreneur for whom thinking up a new idea is as natural as breathing in fresh air! She began by doing a BA at UCT and followed this with a Postgrad Diploma in Business Management at Wits Business School. Dabbling in everything from fashion, to journalism, to interiors, to business, it’s easy to see how Julia’s creative brain is able to take her just about anywhere she wishes to go.
After a few a few years working in corporates Julia married and left for Dubai where she and her husband started a family. There she pursued small ventures that would satisfy her desire to create, but not detract from her role as wife and mother: “I knew what a privileged position I was in to be able to even make that decision and I will always be grateful for the opportunity, over that time, to be at home with my kids.”
Years later, now living in Cape town (and with her children now more independent), Julia took the plunge and started Iman Jewellery. Iman is a demi-fine range, which bridges the gap between high street jewellery and aspirational fine jewellery. Julia wanted to bring western and contemporary aesthetic and marry it with Islam, the richness of Islamic history and her pride in being a Muslim. While not all the pieces are religiously significant, it is her many years living in the Middle East that have resulted in Iman. Julia’s love of Islamic history, language, design and Middle Eastern cultural lessons have gone into the making of each unique piece.
“Iman is a luxury jewellery brand that was born out of a desire to wear jewellery that represents who I am! A search for something meaningful, personal and inspiring to wear, while still being fashionable and current.” - Julia Coovadia
“For me, the message and significance of the piece is ultimately more precious than the metal or stones. I like wearing jewellery as a reminder of what is important to me.” - Julia Coovadia
@imanonline.co on Instagram
JULIA speaks to Strongest Story about why women need find the courage to never stop dreaming, reinvent themselves, and believe that being a mum is enough…
“Twenty years ago I married my husband, became Muslim and moved to Dubai. Our eleven years in this amazingly cosmopolitan environment were heavenly. I was largely a stay-at-home mum (besides a few small projects). While I was perfectly happy, I always had ideas and dreams of one day building my own business. I loved reading and hearing stories of women who had built amazing businesses and seen them through from conception to success.
But as often happens, the crazy whirlwind of motherhood became my number one priority. As a busy mum of three, my biggest joy and fulfilment was, and always will be, my family. I was lucky enough to have the choice to stay at home while our children were young and for me, it was a choice I would make again. However, while creating and nurturing everything and everyone inside my home, I did lose much of my professional confidence outside of it. As my identity evolved, I think believing in myself outside of my role as a wife and mother became harder. Motherhood in itself can be all-consuming and the challenges of balancing family and work overwhelming. As I contemplated a new dream, I did have some concerns: If I were busier could I still give my children what they needed? Would my family function happily if I weren’t quite as attentive? And then the all-consuming question... Did I have what it takes to make a success of a business? After not working for so long, would I know what to do and how to operate it? Were my ideas really good enough? While I was super confident within my role at home, was I really good enough to make it in the business world?
In 2018, having left Dubai and now living in Cape Town, with a far more settled and independent household, I knew it was time to take the plunge. Whilst scared to take the leap, I was determined to bring my dream to fruition…
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A lot of women don’t know how to get back out there. We over think things and want to wait until the perfect time. What I’ve learnt is there is no perfect time. My advice is JUST START! If you have the support of friends and family, the right intention and the passion to drive you to do the work, you’re half way there. Believe in your idea and most importantly have the maturity to know that success or failure in a venture doesn’t define you. This, along with a little (or a lot) of bravery, are the ingredients needed to take that leap of faith!
Building and watching IMAN Online grow so quickly over the last 18 months has been totally fulfilling! I have been so encouraged by the incredible community around my brand. People have written me the most wonderful messages that have really sustained me and given me the confidence and courage to keep dreaming bigger. My family, and my belief, remain my rock. For me, to trust that the Divine is ultimately in control and that whatever happens will be for the best, makes it all the more manageable. So yes, there’s been much I’ve had to learn, and relearn, but I realise that motherhood prepares us pretty well to take on just about anything and more importantly it provides the most beautiful foundation on which to build anything and everything!”
Personal message from Strongest Story:
My journey with Jules began in the colourful world of art. As two young teenagers, we spent most afternoons in the school art room. The smell of turpentine and oil paint would waft from one canvas to another and we would hardly come up for breath, chatting tirelessly about colours, creative ideas and our proverbial teenage girl-dramas. Thirty years on and not too much has changed. We paint together, run together and do a lot of life and laughing together. With our own teenage dramas long behind us, many hours are spent trying to solve the near unsolvable problems that come with parenting teenagers of our own! I consider it an honour to have Jules as a like-minded friend who dreams big and pushes me to do the same. Yet she always reminds me that being a mother is the most honourable job of all. Julia, Strongest Story commends you for having the courage to be truly you - a mom with all the creative talent in the world and a heart of pure gold!
Website coming soon www. imanonline.co.
See Instagram for orders. @Imanonline.co.
For Enquiries: Call Julia on 0711335243 or email Info@imanonline.co