Tucked away between architecturally beautiful littlehouses, in the heart of Fontainhas, lies a fashion store that has generatedquite a bit of buzz. But it is the woman that pulls the strings that needscredible mention. It is fair to say thatwith a routine that has Syne Coutinho swept off her feet for the most part,that aim is well under way to being achieved.
She started off working in Camelot, a lifestyle storein Ribandar, six years ago. For three years she put her artistic and creativefoot forward. Post that, she decided to branch out on her own, designingcouture outfits that she considered adventurous and perhaps a tad risqué, shebegan showcasing her work at The Marriot, with a series of lines on display;Christmas, Festive, and Summer. The exhibitions were met with such overwhelmingresponse that it led to the staging of another exhibition in Dona Paula.
Chuffed with her initial success, she started up herfirst store Syne in Fontainhas in2006. A store that made an immediate impact, and garnered publicity forcatering to the specific needs of its clientele. “It’s been six years that wehave been in business now, and I am yet to see a slump.” she says with a slygrin. Further expansion has prompted her to open an outlet in Margão; a storethat rivals the revenue of its better known Panjim counterpart.
While she may be swept off her feet, she is known forher attention to detail, not only in her designs, but also to her clients. Whenit comes to bridal ensembles, on the final day she has been known to wait handand foot on her client, “Up to the point of dressing her up,” she laughs.
A true believer in the tutelage of ‘the school of hardknocks’, Syne is an exemplary figure to people who believe that their dreams,aims, and ambitions are limited merely to what their credentials state. “While Ihave no formal training in this field, I do believe that every day is alearning experience. What is most important is working with passion.” shestates in a matter of fact manner.
