Punjab News Express/Y.S.Rana
CHANDIGARH: While country is debating over intolerance here in Chandigarh a woman entrepreneur workshop has all Muslim workers. With each hand movement, the piece of cloth seemed to be coming alive. A riot of colours was slowly revealing itself in a beautiful pattern. For most of us it would be embroidery, cutting and stitching, for those involved in the work, it means life. They are not stitching wedding costumes but also their families’ life and added colour to it as well. This goes on in a workshop in Burail, Sector 45, Chandigarh. They are busy in designing luxury made-in Chandigarh bridal brand costumes.
It seems like a daunting industry to break into but you will be surprised how easily one women entrepreneur from Himachal Pradesh did it. AnjuChauhan belongs to Jubbal in district Shimla stepped away from the hills to Chandigarh. She did her graduation from MCM, DAV, Chandigarh and then did MA in financial control from the Panjab University. Married to an IT Professional indeed boosted her spirits to do something creative of her own with an ever supporting husband who apart from being an IT Professional is also an hobbyist photographer of International fame. Her earlier ambition was to become a teacher and hence she did B.Ed but her creativity took her to be a bridal costume designer and launched a brand “ THREADS by Vivans “.
On asking why THREADS the brand name, she smilingly says, “ Threads are an Integral part of any fabric worn by us. Craftsmanship, Fashion, Elegance, Exclusivity and Quality have been stitched strongly by THREADS of trust. Each fabric has been handpicked and chosen with stringent quality parameters and then crafted into dresses at state of the art workshop by an elite panel of designers.We at THREADS recommend each Dress to be a part of your loved wardrobe, to always keep you one step ahead in the world of fashion.
The passion for colours forced her to create plush dresses for soon-to-be bride, said MrsAnju. In a short amount of time, she has carved a niche for herself as one of the best bridal costume designer and continues to present unique and exquisite wedding clothes. While talking to Daily Post she said that within a year she had designed and stitched wedding clothes of eight marriages not only for the bride but also her family members. A wedding Trousseau of a NRI from London and one from Dubai have been a part of her her elite customers. She did a complete Wedding Trousseau of a local school Principals daughter and her family including the principals sister from Canada. Now she is doing the Bridal wear of this lady’s daughter fromCanada. Each marriage Trousseau costs around Rs 8 lakh. All sewing and designing machines were imported from Indonesia, she said.
She hired a space in Aroma Hotel and started a Display and Sales store , “ THREADS by Vivans “ for full service to the customers who are searching for reasonable quality at affordable prices. Her inventory consist all types of wedding costumes to more casual dresses in various varieties. The space effectively illustrates the need for a high quality and reasonably priced bridal costumes is apparent that she is aware of fashion trend and receptive to customers’ needs.
Dwelling on future plans she said that she had just taken a showroom in Sector 7 and renovation work is on full swing for a mid May Launch. Soon it would be opened to serve the customers. In the near future she plans to open chain “ THREADS by Vivans” showrooms in Shimla and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. The region though lives in not-so-rich condition yet from their lavish wedding ceremonies, the wedding culture is a part of a reason here has been a boom for bridal dresses, she feels.
MrsChauhanhaving herself done some quick courses in designing from USA, has an in house state of the art production house having own professional designers and qualified workers . She further revealed that she was in a process to reach out to such girls with some level of literacy wanted to make it a livelihood to impart training to them in embroidery, designing, cutting and stitching of bridal costumes either to absorb them in her organization or to start their own business.
Making a mark in the world of Bridal and Women Apparels , MrsChauhan has a vision to grow along with her team of workers whom she refers as her second family and has thought of supporting and making employability for all needy girls.