History.
My father, Pranji Lodhia, immigrated to the U.S. from South Africa in 1969. In the summer of 1970, he received his MBA from Stanford University. Shortly thereafter, he began working as a production manager at Pasha Pillows. In fall of 1979, my father decided to found his own company where his pioneering vision for elegant and affordable home furnishings could become a reality. It was at that time that Shamiana was born.
While watching a classic Indian movie, he warmed up to the name “Shamiana” which in Hindi means, “harem, comfort." His hard work and dedication paid off; he was able to build a business which produced innovative products for the home, incorporating unique textiles and designs from 
around the world. Over the course of nearly 30 years, he created cutting-edge products like folding beds, futons, and ready-made drapes. These products were carried by major department stores throughout the U.S. Presently, we are shifting our focus away from mainstream retailers and concentrating on developing products for the growing number of specialized home furnishings boutiques across North America.
I joined my father's business when I was 21 years old After graduating from
Santa Clara University in 1992 with a degree in accounting, I began to work
in Shamiana. I worked my way through learning all aspects of running a
business, including managing production, inventory, marketing, fiscal
management, and meeting the needs of customers. The most exciting part, however, has been learning to design and create. I did not learn this from books but rather from watching my father pour over piles of textiles, color swatches and design literature, in an effort to create the next new line of pillows or bedding. My father taught me to think outside the “box” and to trust the innate sense of design and color that I have within me. I continue to draw on the knowledge I have gained in working with him to produce sophisticated and high quality products with wide-ranging appeal.
-Warm Regards, Hersha Lodhia