American dreamers

Sharmila Shah ('97) and her sister, Sangita, are the first generation of their family to be born in the United States. Raised to believe in the promise of the "American Dream," these sisters made good on the promise with their new clothing line, mi&gi.

The mi&gi clothing line launched last November with a preview of the spring 2002 collection. Shah describes the look of the line as, "modern and trendy - a combination of what you can wear to work professionally and then change up a bit to wear at happy hour later."

Clothing is only one aspect of mi&gi sales. Makeup and accessories are offered at their online boutique, as well as at the various retailers along the East Coast that carry the mi&gi line. Mi&gi accessories include everything from rhinestone belts to your favorite cocktail-flavored lip balm.

Shah's management major studies in JMU's College of Business had a great influence on her current operation. She attributes everything "from writing a business plan to actually starting a small business in class." After graduating from JMU, Shah attended Howard Law School and earned her juris doctorate in 2000.

The idea for the mi&gi fashion line came from the sisters' desire for clothes that "suited their needs as modern women balancing personal and professional lives." The mi&gi line targets 20- to 30-something women. An Arlington-based mi&gi store and the Web site <www.mi-gi.com> offers online purchasing and lists stores that carry the sisters' fashions.

While running the mi&gi operation with Sangita, Shah also provides legal aid to Sept. 11 victims through the World Trade Center Permanency Project. She previously clerked for a senior judge in the Washing-ton, D.C., Superior Court. Thanks to her training at JMU, this 20-something is confident her endeavor will succeed and fulfill her American Dream.

Story by Allison Swanson ('02)