Walking ramp for change

A 60-year-old widow Ayamma Lakshmi Amma; Rajitha a sales girls fighting divorce at 20 years age; Rajani, a tailor and Priya, an engineer-turned-teacher, both mothers struggling to raise special kids were show stoppers at the Mini Fashion Show organised by Sangeetha Studio at Saptaparni, Hyderabad. They walked the ramp along with Sangeetha Rajesh, the founder of the design studio that specialises in Indian fabrics.

The Studio organised a two-day fashion festival showcasing nearly 1500 pieces – nearly 700 readymade garments and designer blouses and 400 varieties of Indiana gowns were exhibited. The collection made in Indian Fabrics such as Ikkat, Jaipur Print, Indigo, Shibori, Bandhani Fabric and others. Nearly 700 Readymade and Designer Blouses and 400 varieties of Indian Gowns and others was curated by the academician turned self-taught designer Sangeetha Rajesh, an ISB alumni under Goldman Sachs program. Speaking about using special showstoppers for the fashion show held during the exhibition, Sangeetha says, “Some of these showstoppers are from underprivileged backgrounds. They were given a complete makeover, from toe to head.”

Priya, mother of a special child is staying in India for the sake of her son’s education and her husband works in Dubai. Despite being an Engineering graduate, she underwent teacher training and trained in remedial instruction just to take care of her mentally challenged son.

She shares, “I moved away from Dubai as my son was not accepted in schools there. Iapproached Smiles, a school run by Sangeetha Rajesh. My son, who could not hold a pencil even once, is now able to write ten sentences well.” The show was webcasted across the globe for Sangeetha Studio’s customers as well as to Sangeetha's Facebook page with 4.5 lakh followers.

She explains, “To gift happiness on New Year eve, we handpicked few girls/women, who fought and continue to fight life’s challenges. Clothes make a difference. They give dignity. This we could notice after seeing Rajitha, sales girl and Lakshmi Amma, who works as Aya in the school. Through makeover, we have transformed them. It is a feel good factor for them as well as to us.” She adds, “A makeup expert gave them a makeover, after which, I styled them according to their preferences and tastes. This is our way of telling them that we care.”

“I want people to look them beyond the word ‘underprivileged’.” Sangeetha, an ISB Graduate under Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Entrepreneurs Certificate Program, stumbled upon fashion industry by accident. She learnt the trick of the trade, the hard way. Now she is the proud owner of two boutiques, Sangeetha Studio, at Himayatnagar and Jubilee Hills. Also, she is the founder of a school that focuses on education for special children (remedial teaching). She runs three units for artisans to give them gainful employment.

She is a Kalamkari art revivalist. She has held 40 Kalamkari festivals and solo exhibitions to give fillip to the art and its clothes in the last three years, which have been a phenomenal success across the globe. Coming from an orthodox Tamil family, she worked hard to withstand competition, and has been a role model for many.