29 years old Lovika Zhimomi, a young entrepreneur from Pherima village runs a rental dress store- Lovi store- in Dimapur.
“Lovi means happy in sumi dialect, reflecting the joy I put into every piece,” she explains about the name of her store in an interaction with Nagaland Tribune. At Lovi store, one can rent different kinds of formal and informal dresses, wedding gowns, customized dresses and tops starting from Rs.200 and above
“My life changed at a very young age. My parents separated when I was too young to understand the meaning of loss, and I was raised by my grandmother. She had no wealth or social status, but she gave me something far greater. She gave me unconditional love, inner strength, and the courage to face life with dignity. Above all, she taught me to trust God in every situation, and that faith became my greatest source of comfort and strength,” says Zhimomi.
Growing up with limited means, she began learning how to survive at the age of 12 when most children were enjoying their childhood. Lovi started making pickles and reselling small items like clothes and cosmetics.
“There were days when every small expense had to be carefully calculated. As a young girl, I quietly carried the fear of not having enough, but I also carried a deep desire to change my future. These efforts may have seemed small to others, but to me they were steps toward independence. Slowly, those little efforts grew into a steady source of support. What began as a way to survive soon became a source of confidence. I realized that with God’s grace, I was capable of creating opportunities for myself, even when life seemed to offer none,” the young entrepreneur shares.
Through all the hardships, she acknowledges her grandmother. Considering her as a silent pillar of strength, Zhimomi mentions how her grandmother encouraged her education and determinedly reminded her that learning was the only path that could truly change one’s life.
After completing her higher secondary education, Zhimomi had to put her studies on hold due to personal challenges. “It was one of the most painful chapters of my life. Watching others move ahead while I stayed behind filled me with self-doubt and fear. I often cried and prayed, asking God for strength and guidance,” she says.
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However, during the break, with encouragement from a friend, Zhimomi decided to take my business more seriously. “That was when I stepped into online selling and started a thrift clothing (resale business) through Instagram. With zero capital, no formal training, and no safety net to fall back on. All I had was determination, faith, and the will to prove to myself that I could build something meaningful. Slowly, my small hustle began to grow. It gave me income, but more than that, it gave me independence, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose. I truly believe God was opening doors for me during that time. That period of my life taught me one of the greatest lessons. I did not have to choose between survival and education. With faith, hard work, and God’s guidance, I could fight for both, even if the journey was twice as hard and twice as long,” says Zhimomi.
Returning to college was another challenge, where she struggled to manage admission fees, study materials, and other expenses that college life required. Zhimomi completed her degree while continuing to run online businesses on the side.
After graduation, she further took up a designing course from her own earnings, which helped her creating her own handmade brand. She acknowledges that her education was a powerful tool to elevate her skill.
Since then, she has fully dedicated to growing business both online and offline, where she runs the rental store in Dimapur, located opposite Don Bosco School Gate, while also running her business online under the Instagram username “l.o.v.i_official.”
“What once started as a small survival effort has grown into a real business built with hard work, determination, and faith,” says Zhimomi.
Alongside this, the young entrepreneur shares a bigger dream of build her own clothing brand where she has been taking first steps. Under her own label, “Lovi,”, she designs and sells clothes of her own creation. She considers each piece a representation of her journey, struggles, and faith.
“My story is filled with struggles, sacrifices, failures, and moments of deep doubt, but it is also filled with love, support, courage, and unshakable faith. It has taught me that where you begin does not decide where you will end. Difficulties do not destroy dreams unless we allow them to,” says Zhimomi.
