Bengaluru, 02 June(HS): The venue was Kutch Kadwa Patidar Samaj Hall at Thane(West) and the marriage ceremony of Siddhant, the only son of Mrs Kavita and senior journalist Suresh Nandi and Akshata, daughter of Mrs Pratima and Pundalik Pai. Some men were busy making rounds from one end to the other, wearing beautifully painted Jackets on kurtas of various colours. In between, they were waiting before a group of women who were showing their painted kurtas and introducing the artist, Bijal Sunil Vishrani, who had done the paintings.
A hobby from the 10th standard: Bijal mastered the craft of painting on cloth while she was in the 10th standard. She is known for doing good paintings on the cloth, an art she has excelled in over a while. After the 10th standard examination, she joined a class for basic painting where they taught colour combinations, shadings, shapes and other things related to painting.
Bedsheets for neighbours and sarees for family members: Bijal did paintings on bedsheets for neighbours and sarees for her family members. That is how it all started and everybody liked the work very much. Thanks for her patience as the kind of work she is involved with demands a lot of it due to the minute and intrinsic design patterns.
Word of mouth reverts with new orders: Bijal's business evolved with word of mouth by neighbours and relatives as all those who appreciated the paintings on bedsheets and sarees were told of the artisan behind the beautiful works. In turn, they started inquiring with Bijal & Sunil giving new orders. Initially, the orders were less than once or twice a month but gradually kept on. Soon after she moved to her in-law's house after the marriage it was an unbelievable experience as she was welcomed with laurels for joining a family full of artists in different spheres. Then there was no looking back at her steadfast journey in fabric painting.
Basically from Kutch in Gujarat: Although, Kutch is the native place of Bijal Sunil Vishrani her husband's family members were all born and brought up in Mumbai while it is the forth generation in Mumbai. After the marriage, the couple stayed in Joint family at Chunabhatti for 8 years and then shifted to Kandivali. It was in the joint family, where more ideas, and discussions happened among the family members giving a big boost to her hitherto hobby of fabric painting and also paving the way for ensuring enough orders.
80 per cent of products sold in three days: When Bijal Sunil Vishrani could manage enough items the couple planned for an exhibition to display her range of products and astonishingly, 80 per cent of them were sold out in the three-day show. Probably another reason for such a big hit was that she keeps the prices at a medium and affordable level.
Designers make a bee-line: Once the exhibition was over Bijal Sunil Vishrani was once again in a big surprise as along with several individuals, many designers started approaching her flooding with new orders. Once one designer gave her 32 kurtas for fabric painting and all of them were gents' kurtas. All 32 kurtas were of the same pattern but the designs were different. It was a Rajasthani theme with faces of Rajasthani with pagdi, on the front half face and full face on the back. Later, the same designer gave a repeat order for a different function!
Listens to music while working on the paintings: Though it looks like a hobby transforming into a well-paid profession things haven't changed much for the routine and working style of Bijal Sunil Vishrani as she continues to spend the same amount of time with patience and dedication. She enjoys listening to music while painting and is in no hurry to dispatch the orders in haste. She never commits her clients to turn up the next day and the order will be ready and never takes up any assignment unless she is free enough. In case of committed orders to be delivered urgently, she takes a break from routine household activities and manages the paintings on priority. That is how it has been going.
A team of professionals to support: Whenever Bijal Sunil Vishrani is shouldered with bulk orders entangled with paucity of time she ropes in a team of professional artists whom she has been able to identify. Such a situation doesn't arise when she has enough time but if suppose 10 kurtas need to be made in a short span of two or three days the team of like-minded artists is summoned.
Five, but not permanent members: There are five members but they are not a permanent team as there are five members in Mumbai and three in Ahmedabad. Bijal Sunil Vishrani shifted to Ahmadabad three years ago and has a team ready there in case of emergencies.
No plans for training: Bijal Sunil Vishrani's business has picked up in a big way, yet she has no plans to train people for her requirements. She opines-What we did was we came to connect with them and we liked their work and we showed her paintings and took a sample from them whether they can do similar kind of thing. Because the work style should look similar to her painting style. So they did it and a few of the artists are such fine artists they can do anything.
Persian and European art: Sunil Vishrani informs-For a T-shirt, we painted a portrait on the T-shirt. So there is a portrait artist who did it on cloth. They do it on canvas usually. So they did it on a T-shirt. So we explore different designs. When I had done course of commercial artist and I have been studying for a long time. Though it's not a profession now, I am into acting at present. But I like it. So when I was in college, I purchased many books on design. So there is Persian art and European art. We used to do it on the walls, a Persian on the carpets. Once we select Egyptian art. So we try to mix and match those designs with our Indian designs. This is to give some new design to clients. It's like a fusion.
A saree with Egyptian: Sunil Vishrani adds: She made a saree with Egyptian design. So what I do is I select, and show her designs, and she shows them to the clients. And then on the computer, I mix it and give the proportion, get a printout and then she puts it on the saree or dress or something. So that's how it is... Many people ask her whether you can teach or not. But teaching is a different art. To teach somebody it's very difficult. And she is not inclined to teach.
What about exports? Exports we have done for the US. We have sent Gujarati Chania Choli, kurtis, jackets to the US. And now we are exploring the UK, Africa, Canada and Fiji, where Gujaratis are in our connect. So these kinds of work usually Gujaratis, Sindhis prefer more. They have a budget also. So most of our connects are of our community Kachchhi, then Gujaratis, Sindhis, and Marwaris also. So now we are growing. This is the first time we are doing this for a South Indian marriage, explains Sunil Vishrani.
What about the brand? He replies-No, no, it's in her name, Bijal Vishrani Creations. So it's like a small work from home. We don't have a shop or studio. Have a seperat work room at home.
Not embroidery. It's just painting. Embroidery, she sometimes mixes painting and embroidery. That also she does if the client demands. So we also make personalised work as per client's choice. For example, there was one person who wanted Shiv. So Shankar ka design ko mix match karke, artistic karke kurti pe banaya tha. Then Radha Krishna, then Ganesh, Srinathji, etc. So as per the customer's coice it can be done.
So totally, roughly, how many kurta shimmers have been done so far in the last 35 years?
1. In kurtas maybe more than 150 kurtas,
2. More than 35 jackets,
3. More than 50 sarees,
4. 10-15 bed sheets,
5. Then TV cover. Initially there used to be a concept of TV cover. So that also she has done.
6. Curtains, curtain painting,
7. Bed Sheets.
Sunil Vishrani gave the tally.
Rates are client-specific: So she is not a full-time professional. When she has time. So now, recently in the last 10 years, all these things have been done commercially more.
And what about the rates? Rates are, we usually ask the client, budget. We take material from them. Maybe ready kurta, ready jacket, sari. And we ask the budget, what kind of budget. And if they ask us for a sari, it is from 7,000 to 75,000. So higher range also she has done. Like fine painting of Parsi embroidered kind design, it takes time, one and a half months to do it. So for that, it goes higher. For kurtas, it is from 500 to 5,000. And for jackets also, from 500 to 5,000. So depending upon the budget, we do the size and limited colors, limited design. As per the budget it is. So it's more client-specific, signed off Sunil Vishrani.
Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti
