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It’s not always about media-savvy designers. Boutiques across Bangalore say loyal customers never fall for gimmicks. Bangalore may have just six designer labels which have been registered
under the Fashion Design Council of India, but there are innumerable boutiques in every alternate lane across the city. And the gratifying part is that, while Bangalore may not be the most
label-crazy city in India, all these boutiques have their own clientele and can sustain while at it. South Bangalore and Sadashivnagar were the first areas, apart from Commercial Street, to
see special boutiques. In fact, if you are to walk past the bylanes of Jayanagar and JP Nagar, you’d find many home-makers who dabble with their passion for fashion designing. Now, there are
youngsters who are setting shop too. FOLLOWING A DREAM Ramya G, a 25-year-old mass communications graduate, has a boutique in Jayanagar 5th Block, which is named after her. “I don’t want to
publicise or do any show. I’m happy with my customer base that has grown through recommendations. Moreover, I do enough work to sustain my passion. I don’t take on too much, so I can treat
myself to my Goa and Pondicherry road trips periodically,” says Ramya. MY DAILY BREAD If it is passion that makes Ramya carry forth her business, there are others who don’t mind having that
one-odd show once in a while, but would rather let their work do their talking. Take Anjali Sharma from the designer label French Curve, for instance. “I have never wanted to do anything
extravagant or shout out from on top of the roofs. I’m following my heart in creating what I want and I know that the designs will fetch customers. I was fortunate to have been part of the
BeYu Awards organised by Prasad Bidapa, where he felicitated my work. It was gratifying,” says Anjali. This seems to be the motto of many more fashion designers too. Lakshmi Jagmohan, who is
content selling out of her store in Sarjapur Road, has been part of a couple of fashion shows, including the Blenders Pride Bangalore Fashion Week. She is confident that her work is what
will fetch her customers. CONFIDENCE MATTERS “I stock out of Sarjapur Road, but I still do my business. There are a host of people who have the ability to spend and have their homes near the
areas surrounding the Outer Ring Road. They are a pivotal bunch of customers,” says Lakshmi. Similar is the case of Roopa Pemmaraju, whose store Calantha is on the New BEL Road. Her unique
cotton weaves and Westernwear have fetched her customers. She did have a unique launch for her store, where Mayuri Upadhya and her team of dancers from Nritarutya showcased a performance.
LLOYAL BASE Inspira, a store in Koramangala, has won itself a good customer base. The store was launched in 2008 and the creations of the designers are also stocked in popular stores like
Tamanna and Isis. The designers have had two shows already, but aren’t really the media-hungry sorts. “We are content in what we do. We just want to ensure doing a good job that satisfies
the customers,” says Smitha Rao, one of the brains behind the label. Similar is the case of Caroline Baretto, whose Goan-boutique Flaunt is quite the party-goers’ destination. “My aim is to
create a fashion-conscious set of clientele and I’m ready to tailor-make anything to satisfy that,” says she. While Bangalore may have the publicity hungry lot all the time, there are some
quiet players, like these women, who genuinely ensure making Bangalore a more beautiful city.