She is a renowned tailor operating from Cumming St in Suva.
Praveen Lata, 43, a single mother has definitely made a name for herself in the big city. She works six days a week and sewing the pieces together for a better future is what she strives to achieve.
But her life didn’t begin all rosy, like her amazing clothes patterns and designs. When Praveen was in Class 3, she used to watch her aunt sew for different people and eventually she too would follow suit.
She began sewing dolls and later everything else. Brought up in a typical farming family in Nagata, Labasa, Praveen shouldered her share of the load like her brother to help their parents. She said her family was poor and struggling at the time barely making ends meet.
So it was inevitable that after Form 6 she’d try her chances in the big city and although every turn she took revealed another twist in her path she continued to work hard.
Ms Lata later married and after six years, the relationship didn’t work out so she made the tough choice to separate and fend for herself and her daughter, who was four years old at the time.
This happened to be a big turning point in her life as she worked on multiple jobs to secure a stable future.
For some time, Praveen felt hopeless and went into depression however she kept pushing forward with the help and support of family and friends, who encouraged her to always think positive.
One of her first jobs was at Bollywood fashion for two years earning $60 per week, however, the company closed down.
She had money saved up and used $5000 to open an internet shop, but that too failed when her system was hacked and she lost it all. Throughout this time she had never stopped sewing.
After a few weeks in unemployment her sister-in-law helped her secure a spot at Makoi, where she began her sewing business, but the rent was too high so she joined Flour Mills of Fiji as an office girl. During all this she managed to juggle work and parenting.
She also took care of her parents and extended family. Finally Praveen got her first break when a space opened up in 2018 along 48 Cumming St building, Suva, with an affordable rent.
It was there Praveen rose to success with her sewing business joining forces with two other friends, tailors Vinita Lal and Resmika Veena Nand.
She established her business Vinas Tailoring and Millennial fashion and isn’t looking to expand too soon – but taking things slowly on a day to day basis.
Her word of advice to youths is that friendship is important because it helps you through the bad days and always remember those that have helped you during your her lowest in life.
“Life can get tough but things will always change,” said Praveen.
