From flying the skies as cabin crew to leading some of the biggest luxury houses in the world, and now reimagining a 105-year-old Indian heritage brand—Angelique Dhama has done it all with calm, clarity, and a love for craft. We caught up with her for a conversation on luxury, legacy, and the lessons that still guide her career.
currentMood: Let’s start at the beginning. What was your very first job, and what did it teach you that still shapes how you work today?
Angelique Dhama: My first job was as a cabin crew. It sounds glamorous, but it’s really where you learn discipline, patience, and how to stay calm no matter what’s happening around you. You also get very good at reading people quickly and making them feel taken care of. Those skills: service, empathy, and grace under pressure—have stayed with me in every role since.
cM: You’ve had a front-row seat to global luxury: Swarovski, Jimmy Choo, Bottega, Kenzo. What drew you into that world, and how did those experiences prepare you for leading a 105-year-old Indian heritage brand?
AD: I’ve always loved how luxury brands create a whole world, not just a product. Working with those maisons taught me precision, storytelling, and consistency. Bringing that back to Obeetee felt natural. Combining European brand discipline with India’s incredible craft and heritage.
cM: Obeetee is steeped in tradition, but you’ve been repositioning it as a modern luxury house. What’s been the most exciting (or challenging) part of transforming a legacy brand for today’s audience?
AD: The most exciting part has been showing younger customers that Obeetee isn’t just their grandparents’ brand. It’s something cool and relevant for them too. The challenge is always making people understand that carpets should never be an afterthought. People always talk about the kind of furniture or décor aesthetic they want, with carpets always being something to leave for the end. However, it should be your starting point.
cM: How does one even build a career like yours? What skills or experiences do you think are non-negotiable for anyone dreaming of working at the intersection of luxury, design, and heritage?
AD: Be curious, be resilient, and be culturally aware. You have to be comfortable switching between creativity and business. Today, digital literacy, AI-driven insights, and an understanding of sustainability aren’t optional, they’re essential. But honestly, nothing beats real-world experience: internships, retail floors, visiting craft clusters. That’s where you really learn.
cM: Looking back, were there any moments of doubt or pivots in your career? How did you navigate them?
AD: Plenty. Moving from global luxury brands to an Indian heritage brand felt like a huge risk. But I really believed in India’s story and in Obeetee’s potential. When I’m unsure, I go back to my purpose and really try to remember why I came here in the first place. That clarity has always helped me push through.
cM: For someone just starting out, maybe in their first job in fashion, retail, or design, what’s one piece of advice you’d give them about standing out?
AD: Listen and learn. Everyone wants to make a big impression, but what actually stands out is curiosity, reliability, and humility. Learn to really observe. But also learn to piece things together like a puzzle. In any organisation there are so many moving parts, and you need to recognise the shapes and sizes, understand where they fit, and how they work together. Your focus should always be on the end goal. Are you actually getting there or not? That combination of curiosity, pattern-recognition and focus is what will make you stand out.
cM: Obeetee is 105 years old. Where do you see the brand heading in the next decade? What should we be watching out for?
AD: I see Obeetee becoming India’s first truly global luxury lifestyle brand. Rugs are our base, but we’re moving into furniture, décor, and even experiences. Sustainability, craft preservation, and digital innovation will define our next chapter. Expect some surprising collaborations too.
cM: If your career (or your life right now) had a mood board, what would be on it? Colours, objects, quotes, even snacks. We want the whole vibe.
AD: Deep blues and warm golds. A passport full of stamps. A quote from Rumi: “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.” And a cup of a nicely brewed americano with a handful of pistachios—because even in luxury, it’s the small comforts that matter most.
All image courtesy: Obeetee