We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Naziat Khan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Naziat below.
Naziat, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
I passionately dedicate myself to matters my heart truly believes in, be it for myself or for others, which has brought me to create Lolona. My journey into entrepreneurship has been full of obstacles that I am learning to overcome daily. Though I personally love fashion and jewelry, I did not start with a sales or marketing background. My professional experience as a buyer/demand planner in the healthcare industry has heightened my ability to source and recognize product design and integrity. I love learning, meeting new people, engaging in meaningful conversations, and connecting through our diversity. Opening Lolona Jewelry Gallery isn’t just about bringing high quality handmade Indian jewelry to consumers in the United States, my mission is far greater. As a first generation American, in the 90’s and early 2000’s, I have had to suppress many beautiful things I cherished about my culture. From the elaborate clothing, mesmerizing jewelry, festive henna on my hands, to exuberant fine arts, food, and music are only just a few incredible aspects of South Asia that were too foreign for my peers to embrace when I was a kid. Now as a mother of two, I want to proudly pass on my wholesome heritage to my children, without them having to hide any of it. My mission is to provide women in Houston an inviting and authentic South Asian destination, where we are comfortable to ask questions and engage in intellectual dialogues that will help us embrace our differences and learn of the similarities amongst us.
Here are some thoughts I wrote on paper before I started.
I was born in a land where the children are given 2 first names- an informal Bangla name which is what loved ones and locals call them by and a formal first name, which is usually an Arabic name, and is written on legal documents.
Childhood memories from Tangail and Dhaka, Bangladesh are now more vivid than ever. I’m aching to embrace my loved ones overseas.
Yet, my heart yearns to be in Makkah and Madina where my Prophet (peace be upon him) rest.
My soul couldn’t live in any other city but Houston. Clear Lake to be exact.
I speak, read, and write in English.
Can only speak Bangla, Hindi, and some Urdu.
I can only read Arabic.
During my teenage years I rejected almost all of my Bangladeshi roots because I thought it clashed with my religion. The culture and customs of Bangladeshi’s are of Hindu’s they said! They- I was wrong. I should have looked for the similarities instead of focusing on the differences.
Islam is not a culture, it’s a Religion! -Muslims like to correct. And that is correct. But, then why in every culture, regardless of the local language, do muslims greet and depart each other in Arabic? We pray in Arabic weather we understand it or not. We incorporate the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) way of life and mannerisms into our local communities. Islam definitely is apart of my culture.
I am Texan. You’d receive nothing but Southern hospitality in the home I was raised in. Enjoy summer BBQs. American sports and politics are our dinner table conversations. And I can’t live without Tex-Mex.
On the daily- I’d never wear anything other than western clothing but I drool at the sight of traditional silk sarees.
Women from all races and creed have shown me that we are all the same. We have the same struggles. We have the same roles in life. We all feel the same way about our children.
Our friends and neighbors from all backgrounds also shape our individual culture. Since we spent most of the year in quarantine, with only ourselves to be examples for our young children, I’ve been reflecting a lot on my roots. What do I cherish the most? What are some of things I want to pass on to my children and what are some of the things okay to let go?
What lessons have I picked up from various aspects of my life that shapes me today?
My talented sister captured all of these feelings for me in this special photoshoot. The photos represent letting go of my once very black and white life. They represent me deciding to leave my comfort zone and embracing the challenges of the, “grey area.”
May God guide me and always keep me in His path. May the All Mighty forgive me for my shortcomings. Ameen.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Our clients are explorers of design and quality and so are we. Our clients cannot be confined to current trends, therefore we bring them timeless designs. This kind of synchrony drives us to constantly deliver the finest handmade moissasnite, cubic zirconia, and semi precious stone jewelry across the United States. We not only deliver to our clients all across the United States who shop on our website www.lolonausa.com, we are also proud to be the very first South Asian high end fashion jewelry showroom in Houston where everyone can find something special for themselves. We specialize in both Western and South Asian bridal and special occasions jewelry, and of course have an impressive selection of unique pieces for gifts and daily wear. Respecting our clients individuality, which they may express with their personal choice of jewelry, we only carry one of a kind pieces in our showroom and website. Our Houston showroom provides a relaxing shopping and learning experience with superior customer service, which has led us to returning clients all over America.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I started slow. I did not tell anyone that I was going to start Lolona. I saved $500 working overtime at my fulltime job at Houston Methodist. I placed my very first order with it overseas and got scammed. I worked overtime again, and placed my second $500 order overseas and got scammed again. I told myself, if I couldn’t find a decent/honest supplier on my third try that I would stop this recklessness and focus on my career in the healthcare field. Third time was a charm! With only a $500 deposit, I could not afford to order items that I really wanted to represent my brand but I sucked up the pride and told myself that this is were I needed to start since I did not have a large capital to begin with. I started from $1,000 in loss and $500 deposit ($1200 full order), and hit the ground running. Today Lolona is valued at $300,000.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Beginning of 2018, I got my first full time job as an OR Supply Chain tech at HCA Clear Lake main OR, with zero experience in surgical supplies and a fire in my heart to learn. This was the hardest transition in my life, I never thought I would be leaving my 2 year and 8 month old baby to work 60- 70 very rigorous hours a week. I used to stay up late studying every surgical product line used in our OR and watch general surgeries to understand how the products I was responsible for were used on our patients. It was also the first time I truly appreciated everything my mother did for our family as a full time working mother- or maybe not, because I don’t do half of everything for my family as she did for us after work. From the Main OR, I shortly transitioned to covering CVOR by myself and passionately learned the cardiovascular service line, and then went to work Fri-Mon, by myself on the weekends, covering traumas and general surgeries coming through our ER. Less than 2 years later and skipping 2 tech levels, Houston Methodist welcomed me with a promotion, as I accepted my job as the Perioperative inventory coordinator at HM Clear Lake over every service line in the OR. Houston Methodist is where I was really given the opportunity to flourish in Healthcare Supply Chain and survived through supply chain HELL during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this uncertain time last year, I also took 5 classes a semester towards my Business Management in Healthcare Administration degree to achieve my next promotion, my husband got laid off from the oil and gas industry, work in the OR had died down as elective surgeries were canceled by the state, and the children’s school kept sending them home to quarantine almost every two weeks, my biggest support system, my mother, was diagnosed with lupus, hospitalized twice, once coming into our ER with a hemoglobin of 4 and later with covid-19 and pneumonia. My father was admitted to the hospital with severe chest pain, and after a long overdue angiogram, he was confirmed to have chronic coronary artery disease. Life didn’t seem to want me to have a break. Exhausted and beat up I kept pushing myself- mostly to punish myself for not being more productive in my 20’s. With trying to juggle everything, I fell out of touch and lost many friends. But also gained some incredible ones who understood me without just hearing excuses of me saying how busy I have been.
Here comes the good part, in the midst of all of the above, I decided to start LOLONA. My one and true childhood dream. I have always wanted to start my own brand and boutique. Since middle school my computer was always filled with business ideas but I was always too scared to go for it. But with the skills I had learned being in supply chain and everything else going on, what else did I have to lose except for time? In the name of God, I turned my camera on and did my 1st facebook live and all else is history. I was still conflicted as I had worked so hard the last few years and had a career plan to stick to at Houston Methodist. I pushed through countless nights, after putting the kids to sleep, invoicing and packing as many orders as possible until it was time to go to work in the morning. And that is how it has been since. No sleep and crash. I did not want to have any regrets or what if’s in my mind before letting my job go. In December, I got promoted to the position of corporate buyer, covering Houston Methodist Main OR, HMH outpatient centers, Clear Lake Methodist OR, outpatient center, interventional radiology, and cath lab then just two months later I was pulled into being interim demand planner for all of Houston Methodist Supply Chain. Not only did I love this new role, but I love my incredible, dependable, high performing team and director who at the time was the interim Vice President of Houston Methodist Supply Chain. Leaving them was the hardest for me. They are also my best well wishers for the new chapter I am about to start in my life. Thank you Houston Methodist and everyone who helped me develop into a stronger working version of myself. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lolonausa.com
- Instagram: @lolonausa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lolonank/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naziat-khan/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lolonausa
Image Credits
Roja Khan for my picture. Pictures of the jewelry were taken and edited in house.