PITAMBARI - An unforgettable fashion experience 

An unforgettable fashion experience awaits you, as you step into the exclusive Design Studio, second in the capital and sixth in the country. Every outfit you see, every stretch you notice, every cut you look at, it's all the brainchild of septuagenarian Sushila Devi Tikmany, and the moving force behind 'Pitambari'. She has carried along women, who were homeless, by imparting them the techniques of embroidery, to help them stand on their feet and live with dignity. That was the humble beginning, and though the spirit and the zeal is still the same, the designs have evolved. The trends have changed, and Pitambari has established itself as a range par excellence, in clothes for the connoisseurs.

Smt. Sushila Devi Tikmany, a bundle of energy, represents the determination, will power and tenacity and has been a harbinger of New Hope for women displaced from Bangladesh. She has now been awarded with the prestigious award of Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur for 1999-2000 instituted by FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO). The award was presented to her by the Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.

Over three decades ago moved by the plight of Bangladeshi refugee women, this housewife decided to teach them the traditional Indian art of embroidery so that they could benefit materialistically as well as use time qualitatively from their own skills. Her innate talent, inborn urge to achieve and keen interest in aesthetics and dedication to the cause of helping displaced Bangladeshi women pushed her into the realm of success and meaningful entreprenuership.

All this saw the birth of Pitambari, the ethnic haute couture bearing her signature. Embellished by her aesthetic sense, subtle fusion of design with colour, stitches and embroidery techniques, her exquisite creations were in great demand in Calcutta. Her clientele grew and the pioneer Indian designer arrived on the Indian fashion scene to make her inedible mark. Her sincere attitude, enthusiasm to help others and of course exclusive designer sarees created by her, slowly won the adulation and support of her family, friends and the social circuit. Mrs. Tikmany's second generation has joined her endeavor and expanded the flourishing business by opening exclusive showrooms in Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad and also exports around the globe. For all those women who like to wear embroidered sarees and ghagra odhnis, the Pitambari collection is simply irresistible. It is an attractive creation of needlework and flowing fabrics, as each saree is exclusive and a dream creation.

With more than 1000 artisans, weaving units and workshops in Calcutta and Mumbai, Pitambari plans to set up franchise in other cities to cater to the society at large, breaking all linguistic barriers. The price range is between Rs 1000 to even 1 lakh, but the high range is only made on order, as the designs are always ready with them. The product range of Pitambari is vast and includes creations in crepes, printed crepe, cotton sarees, hand and machine embroidery, chiffon, georgette, organza and Banarsi is their specialty.

Mr. Himanshu Tikmany the owner of Pitambari at New Delhi says,"We make only a single piece as we want to keep it all exclusive. There is no repetition, as customers want designer label. Our client age is anywhere between young girls of 16 to grandmothers in their 60s; we cater to all types of clientele. The crepes cost anywhere from Rs 4000 and above and the cotton sarees are between Rs 2000 - 5000. We also hold 3 exhibitions in Delhi before festivals like Diwali, Karva Chauth, Raksha Bandhan, Teej and also one in April, mainly before the summer and winter collection. We also had a fashion show recently at Taj Calcutta to launch our designs. All the designing is done by my grandmother, mother and the women in the family, it's totally a family venture. We have got a tremendous response in Delhi, as distances are vast here, we have opened one outlet in South and one at West. We make occasion centric clothes for marriages, trousseaus and all, both readymade and on order. But designing is done throughout the year, as we have our own looms at Banaras. Our specialty is transfer work and restoring old sarees, which have sentimental value to the women. We are going to open more outlets and we are exporting to the Middle East, UK and Europe."

Although the Pitambari label is associated with upper class elite fashion conscious women from all over the country, the talent and the clothes leave a long lasting impression on the mind.

-Jyoti Narang