Silai School Women From Jaipur And Ahmedabad Prepare For The Lakme Fashion Fashion Week

Delhi: 'There is a lot of improvement in my stitching,' says Sunita, who is a part of the Kaladera (Jaipur) cluster of the Usha Silai School. "I never thought of making such good clothes (which) will be on a fashion show ramp."

Under the guidance of Amit Vijaya and Richard Pandav of the AMRICH fashion label, Sunita was just one of the women who not only learnt new sewing techniques but was also part of the ideation process that established the 'Silai' label.

We told these women that people from all around the world are going to see what you make and put on the ramp, and that they would be competing with other designers, too, who are showcasing their work as well, said Vijaya explaining what kept these women motivated to go the extra mile.

Another participant from the Kaladera cluster, Santosh, too found the entire experience a step in the right direction.

There was no one to support us. Ladies were not allowed to step out from the house, said Santosh who faced severe discrimination for not being able to bear children. However, all her woes have dissipated since she joined the USHA Silai school.

Now, I support my family financially and have built a shop with my earnings, says Santosh, who is no longer just a sewing expert but has also become a teacher.

Impressed by the skill level of the participants in their cluster, Amit and Richard raved about one particular woman.

During the assessment process, when all women came up with garments like blouses and sarees, one woman named Rekha came with a bag, said Vijaya. The bag was very well made and only needed a bit of tweaking and it was exciting for us to have someone on the team who knew how to attach a zipper.

For Rekhaben too life has come a long way from heartbreaks and misery of a life with an ailing husband, whose deteriorating health conditions forced her to look for ways to earn a living.

I have been doing this work from past one and half years. I have learnt how to stitch blouses and dresses but now, I am also learning new designs said Rekhaben, who became part of the Ahmedabad cluster of the Silai Label movement.

"They have given priority to this work irrespective of their family constraints," says Soham Dave, a professional designer and the mentor to the Ahmedabad cluster. "More than anything they are keen learners, they are keen to update themselves," he said. "One thing is for sure that this experience will increase their confidence," Soham concludes.

Before coming here we were making very basic designs and clothes for ladies in the village. And now we have this opportunity to work with designers which will help increase our profits as well, said Raizaben, a participant in the Ahmedabad cluster.

It has taken months of hard work and training to prepare these women for the glitz and glamour of the Lakme Fashion Week. As the journey moves to its climax, the women of the silai school look back at this phase as a life changing experience, one that will stay with them for good.

Also Read: Follow The Journey Of Silai Fashion Label: Women In Kolkata And Puducherry Get To Work With Their Fashion Designer Mentors