Costume jewellery enterprise aims to bring touch of glamour

The pair, who formerly worked as nursery nurses, said that Dhidis Accessories, based in Roundhay Road, is aimed at a range of different cultures and communities.

Costume jewellery and accessories are available for everyday wear, as well as for a range of occasions including Asian weddings, Christmas parties, Diwali and other festivals.

Mrs Mankoo said: “As far as we understand, looking at market research, there’s nothing like this in Leeds.

“Our market is across the board for everyone, Afro-Caribbean, for white, for Asian, for Bengali, absolutely everyone, to add glamour to Roundhay Road.”

She added: “We have such a diverse community and I really want to focus on that diverse community.

“I really want to celebrate that. I’m a Yorkshire lass, it’s all I know, I’ve been brought up all in the cross-cultures, and everybody has got something to celebrate.”

Mrs Mankoo added: “It’s the first time either of us have done anything like this.

“Every time we needed any of our costume jewellery we had to go to Bradford. We are in Leeds ourselves.

“We started putting two and two together.”

She stressed that the shop’s focus is on providing excellent customer service.

Mrs Mankoo and Mrs Rehal, who were both born and grew up in Yorkshire, have plans to serve not just Leeds, but the Yorkshire region as a whole with their business venture.

She added: “This is not going to be just one shop. This is going to be a string of shops in a short space of time.

“We are definitely looking long term to develop. We want to have the name Dhidis out there in Yorkshire. “

The duo has taken out a lease on the property housing the shop in Leeds.

A grand opening of Dhidis Accessories will take place on Saturday.