Trendy, tailored choli

Nowadays, it’s not enough to just produce saree blouses that fit perfectly. A tailor also needs to keep abreast of current trends to update her products.

Saraswathy Mariappan, the owner of M. Saras Tailoring, did not say it verbally but her eyes said it all — let’s not get any wild ideas.

She was referring to the made-to-fit, middrift-baring saree blouses and how her male assistant, Ravichandran Veemai, 28, a relative from Chennai, India, takes measurements for customers.

Intricate beadwork: Saraswathy shows off her fine handiwork in a saree modelled by her daughter, Lavaniya Nanthagopal, 22.

Should a customer walk in and place an order, Ravichandran will perform his duties, but meanwhile, everyone maintains a professional attitude.

Inadvertently, the unspoken had to be said and after waiting for the giggles to simmer down, Saraswathy, from Malacca, explained that recording of a customer’s vital statistics has always been an integral part of tailoring, be it for saree blouses or glitzy ball gowns. Any mistakes in that area would result in the customer not returning.

And for this mother of five, who had taken 19 years to build her enterprise, it was not a prospect she was prepared to accept.

Tailoring, insisted Saraswathy, is a form of service, and the relationship between a couturier and customer is not unlike that of doctor and patient.

Trust and skill — not one’s gender — were the requirements.

Flamenco-style sleeves add a Spanish touch to this beaded bodice.

A large part of the tailor’s job, said Saraswathy, was to realise a customer’s vision in transforming a piece of fabric into something that would make her look like a princess.

Nowadays, saree blouses are no longer as simple as the ones our grandmas wore.

The variations are endless and at this moment, it is very fashionable to have low cut backs with beaded strands. Even the saree itself calls for some form of beadwork or embroidery, said Saraswathy.

In this case, Ravichandran, was in her opinion, the best man for the job due to the fact that he was born and bred in a family of tailors in Chennai.

Sheer black top with red embroidery details.

In addition, Ravichandran could complete a saree blouse from scratch in one-and-a-half hours flat.

This, pointed out Saraswathy, was no easy feat considering that the saree blouse can be rather complicated to construct.

A saree blouse has to be very precisely made. The most important feature is in the front, which has to sit properly.

“There were times when I’ve seen blouses which have made the wearer look like she had a lopsided bust line and some had crooked or bunched up necklines.

In such cases, you can wear the most beautiful saree, but you are not going to look good,” insisted Saraswathy. At her store, given her experience and that of Ravichandran, Saraswathy boldly guarantees that no such thing would happen.

Ravichandran can complete a saree blouse in one-and-a-half hours.

“We always make it a point to see how it fits on the customer before she takes it home. If she is not happy with anything, we’ll fix it there and then,” said Saraswathy.

As for the gentleman in question, Ravichandran added that being male did require him to exercise extra tact at times.

“If a customer has opted for a very low back, it goes without question that she should have front padding inserted.

“If she has chosen a design which will not complement her figure, then it has to be suggested very gently that she should choose another,” said Ravichandran, who started sewing at the age of 13.

“You have to be very sensitive because all women want to feel that they look nice whatever their shape or size.

“This is where experience kicks in and discretion has to be exercised. In this case, I’ll make an educated guess on the measurement and jot this down without making the difference too obvious,” he said.

Selvasaras Enterprise is at 23, Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang. Tel: 016-2375184 or 013-4403771.