The Dynamic Mother-Daughter Duo Behind Lune: Sreesha Shetty and Manisha Shetty
Every day Sreesha Shetty and her mother, Manisha Shetty, walk into Shop Lune bright-eyed and sunny. Effortlessly cool, their outfits are always on point, accessorised with their own brand’s jewellery. It’s clear that Lune is not just a business for them, but a passion, a dream machine whose target audience is… Well, them! The designs are a blend of contemporary and traditional influences, rooted in craft with keen attention to detail.
Both entrepreneurs, both highly motivated and ambitious women, they’re a lively pair, always up for a chat, always asking questions, never failing to remember little details about everyone who walks into the store or studio. Though it is already most young women’s go-to brand, the mother-daughter pair have big plans in store for Lune.
Founded by, run by, and supported by women throughout, we thought to ourselves, what better way to celebrate Women’s Day here at Lune than to interview the mind, heart and soul of the brand?
Photography: Aakruti Sarangdhar | Interview: Rabia Kapoor | Creative Production: Mizbah Sheikh
Pictured above: Small Tala and Tornado Chunky Cuff, Macro City, Baby Lucia and Juana Goddess Circle Ring.
When you were kids, what did you imagine your adulthood would look like?
MANISHA: I remember playing a lot of basketball, learning the piano and going to kathak classes. It was a busy childhood. All these extra curricular activities were planned out by my mum. She wanted me to be highly educated for sure and financially independent but I didn’t know what I wanted to be.
SREESHA: I dreamt of a magical place, reminiscent of a story where Heidi, Girl of the Alps meets a Studio Ghibli film, infused with cool clothing, celestial magic, and strong feminine themes. I feel that with Lune, I've brought some of those dreams and magic to life.
Is your life/your person anything like what you’d pictured?
MANISHA: Not at all! But I love how it has turned out. Firstly, I never thought I’d move to Bombay from Goa at fifty-three, but here I am, and have been for five years, thanks to Lune.
SREESHA: Yep, one-hundred percent. And more, I want to continue to create and be silly and grow younger and be a weirdo.
Pictured above: Manisha wears the Small Santi Studs, Amira Triple Ball Choker, Wandering Crescent Moon Necklace, Vision Bangles, Solstice, Amira Multi Ball Chain and Macro City Ring.
Tell us about your journey with Lune.
SREESHA: Lune started out as a passion project in 2012. A hobby, my goal was to just have an Etsy shop and continue writing. When I decided to make Lune a full time job in 2015, I was a little lost but Lune’s always put me in a place where I’ve had to be in the position to create and be of service, and it has made me honour my creative ideas.
It’s been a very organic journey, beautiful, full of lessons, and has saved me from so many dark days. So, I’m grateful for this entity.
There were days where I struggled to wake up and someone would contact me for a body chain or necklace and just wouldn’t stop DM-ing. I would have to wake up and just make her jewellery and then forget about whatever I was overthinking at that moment. This is during the hobby phase where I would instagram the jewellery I made and was confused between Journalism and Design. I didn’t sit with a business plan when it came to Lune. Everything I made always sold (even though sometimes I wanted to keep those pieces and not sell them). My friends were very supportive too.
My best girlfriend, Sana, has all the pieces I made by hand. Another, Alisha used to work as a stylist and would buy my jewellery for gigs. I will never forget how women have helped me build my business and they continue to sustain our business ( 98% of our customers are women ). And then one day my mum was visiting me in Bombay in 2016 and I had to fulfil some sixty orders. She said, ‘Wait up, can I help?’ That’s when we actually started working together.
I feel really happy to see that my mother and brother enjoy Lune too. It’s a fun playground for all of us.
MANISHA: Lune is like my third child. It’s the most exciting project I’ve been a part of in my entire career. I’ve been an entrepreneur all my life, in different industries spanning finance to lifestyle, and all my skills are transferable but this one is truly special. The fact that it has come to me at this point in my life is also like a gift.
I’m very protective of Lune and want to nurture it like how I nurture my children. Lune has a long way to go and I’m grateful for what my daughter has conceived.
Pictured above: Sreesha wears the Big Hanie Spike Hoops, Dancing Kasuti Double Layered Necklace with a stack of Chunky Crater Bangles, Phases Hand Harness and the Spirit Band Ring.
What is your favourite part of the day?
MANISHA: When I’m in the Lune stores, or at the airports, or at social gatherings, I see people wearing Lune. I’m the happiest when I see that. To see customers wearing Lune and entering the stores to buy more Lune, that makes me happy.
SREESHA: My days are unpredictable and that’s exactly how I like it. Although I must say, I like my time alone a little too much. That’s where most of my creative ideas are born.
But when I’m with my teams I love discussing things; it could spark a new idea, make a campaign better, a sticker sheet cuter, or give birth to a product idea or new community driven initiative.
Lately, I’ve been enjoying my time at the gym too.
Pictured above: Sreesha wears the Big Hanie Spike Hoops, Dancing Kasuti Double Layered Necklace with a stack of Chunky Crater Bangles, Phases Hand Harness and the Spirit Band Ring. & Manisha wears the Small Santi Studs, Amira Triple Ball Choker, Wandering Crescent Moon Necklace, Vision Bangles, Solstice, Amira Multi Ball Chain and Macro City Ring.
What are the best and worst things about working together?
MANISHA: The best thing is that we can have a meeting at any hour of the day, really! I like that I’m her sounding board and I am the first person she talks to about her plans for Lune. Also, I learn so much from my daughter.
Worst is that I have to wait for approvals from Sreesha. If she’s immersed in design or a creative process, she doesn’t get back soon enough with pitches and ideas that come from the operations and retail teams. That’s just frustrating sometimes, that’s all.
SREESHA: Best is that I get to work with my mother and my best friend.
There’s no worst. We are very cute. My mum’s Aries and I’m Cancerian. We are in the right departments at Lune.
Pictured above: Sreesha wears the Unlearn Earcuff with the Long Tornado Chunky Studs, Lune Letter 'S' Pendant Necklace, Macro City, Baby Lucia and Juana Goddess Circle Ring.
What is a quality that the other has that you wish you had?
MANISHA: Sreesha’s eye for visual merchandising! I wish I knew how to display, arrange, and make a shelf pretty with very little. Everyone who enters our stores talks about the visual merchandising!
Also, her writing, designing and researching qualities. She’s intuitive about what will work a few years before a design actually becomes “trendy”. I’ve seen it in real time. The fact that she launched sculptural bangles like the Crater Collection in 2019, a financial and design risk, and today we see everyone wearing it in 2024! We barely discontinue our designs. They are all a part of our permanent collections.
SREESHA: Mum’s strength, optimism, and phoenix like quality. She can navigate through anything. I love how she understands systems, and is really curious about growth. She also is great at team and money management.
She gets the customer, and really cares about providing the best services at Lune. The fact that we make everything in silver-plating, that was mum’s decision, five years ago. We also provide customisations of necklace lengths, materials (you can pick any design from Lune and make it in 18kt solid gold, 925 sterling silver, or 18kt gold plating on brass and customise ring sizes). All her.
She’s just constantly learning.
I also wish I knew how to drive the car like her. I’ve secretly wanted to drive like her since I was a child.
She is a woman of her word, works with so much integrity and really enjoys accounting. She’s also the most courageous woman I know. I like that she does daily adult things so meticulously. I want all these qualities.
I can go on. Basically I love my mother and want to be just like her.
Pictured above: Sreesha wears the Big Hanie Spike Hoops, Dancing Kasuti Double Layered Necklace with a stack of Chunky Crater Bangles, Phases Hand Harness and the Spirit Band Ring.
What does success mean to you?
MANISHA: Success, to me, means living a life with a growth mindset.
SREESHA: Success is being at peace, having hundred-percent freedom, working as a creative, doing my nails whenever I want to, having a good time with family and friends, and being financially independent.
Pictured above: Sreesha wears the Big Hanie Spike Hoops, Dancing Kasuti Double Layered Necklace with a stack of Chunky Crater Bangles, Phases Hand Harness and the Spirit Band Ring. & Manisha wears the Small Santi Studs, Amira Triple Ball Choker, Wandering Crescent Moon Necklace, Vision Bangles, Solstice, Amira Multi Ball Chain and Macro City Ring.
What are your biggest life goals right now, for yourselves and for each other?
MANISHA: Spending time with my children and close friends. I also enjoy my time with the teams and I have some exciting plans for Lune.
For Sreesha, I just wish that she fulfils all her dreams and I really want her to just be happy and enjoy life.
SREESHA: My long-time goal has been to encourage creative women to feel confident and financially independent. It’s a magical feeling. I learnt that from my mum.
Right now, I just want to take my mum to Italy so we can eat pasta, drink wine and giggle like sillies. My mum’s the funniest person. In fact, my entire family is. We make each other laugh a lot. The two of us are so involved and fulfilled in our lives – touch wood – that we don’t travel enough. I really want travel to be on our agendas.
Also, I don’t interfere with my mum’s life goals much, I just wish she’s happy, healthy, and does her thing.