It runs in the family: Zeh

Director of the new interiors accessories brand Zeh, Shahrina Hashwani and her sister Imara speak to us about dancing at live shows in Turkey, a new kind of sleeping pill and using Whatsapp to quit a quarrel

What’s your first memory of each other?

Shahrina: People huddled over her baby cot the week she was born.

Imara: This girl with a missing tooth, just smiling at me.

What is the craziest thing you have done together?

Shahrina: Tough question — we are quite crazy together! It was probably the time we had an egg fight on the beach during our extended family holiday. Subsequently, we ended up jumping in the pool and started a chicken fight.

Imara: We both went on this spontaneous live show in Turkey and danced. I was the winner of the show!



What did you get punished for the most as a child?

Shahrina: Imara complaining that I was making her cry somehow or the other.

Imara: Being the youngest (and maybe the favourite), I was barely punished. Older siblings are always blamed!

If you could only wear one piece of clothing for the rest of your life, from the others closet, what would it be?

Shahrina: One of her crop tops.

Imara: Hard to pick just one thing.



If you could swap places with each other, what’s the first thing you would you do?

Shahrina: Go abroad for a year and complete my Masters degree.

Imara: Play with her dog Doobie all day! I barely get to see him!

What is the one thing you love about your sister?

Shahrina: Her bubbliness and her positivity. She’s like sunshine.

Imara: Her confidence for sure!



If you are fighting with each other, how do you make up?

Shahrina: Eventually we message each other on Whatsapp. Then we’ll usually just chill with junk food and watch cheesy shows.

Imara: We just start acting normal. That’s how we know we both are over it.

What is the one secret talent your sister has, that you wish you did too?

Shahrina: She can do this really strange yet cool move with her belly. She’s a good belly dancer too.

Imara: She can act really well! My acting skills could be better.

Describe your sister in three words.

Shahrina: Bubbly, passionate, and genuine.

Imara: Strong-headed, good at multi-tasking and a leader.



Which fictional character is your sister most like?

Shahrina: It has to be someone who laughs and smiles all the time.

Imara: Sleepy — one of the dwarfs in Snow White. She sleeps so much, my dad even jokes and says we could probably make sleeping pills from her blood!

How are your personalities similar?

Shahrina: We are both quite opinionated and headstrong about our beliefs. It can come across as stubbornness at times.

Imara: We have the same values and morals, even our outlook on life and our experiences are the same.

I can’t live without my sister because…

Shahrina: She’s my soul mate, baby, support system, my life.

Imara: If she weren’t around, life would be pretty boring. I wouldn’t have anyone to make fun of!