Women entrepreneur is a double challenging word and the fashion industry in Kolkata, way back in 1999, was not in form. Fashion is a summation of many things culminating in a wholesome theory, where science meets art and choices meet options. The fashion world has undergone a dynamic change in the recent past.
“If one focuses on his work he is sure to succeed,” says Swarnali Kanjilal, the c0-owner of AMMK.
When a woman gets married usually that, at times, becomes a hindrance in pursuing her career but the reverse happened in Swarnali’s life, as marriage was a boon and she was gifted by her husband, Mr. Ashish Kanjilal with the opportunity to explore her fashion skills. With a small baby boy and a family, she was able to balance her entrepreneurial adventure and family. An already established traditional saree outlet ‘Adi Mohini Mohon Kanjilal’ had a niche in the textile and fashion industry. Legacies of families continue their tryst with the outlet and experimenting Swarnali’s idea into this has been a challenge. Her understanding of modern women’s psychological twists that every day wants something new and unique leaves her to dive into the saree saga. The first experiment she implemented was on the Benarasi saree, which is a typical fearsome type of marriage attire with its heavy work and weight and it was a successful drive. This pushed the all confident Kanjilal lady to continue her innovative tryst with other genres of sarees and came up with her fusion version of Bishnupuri Baluchuri silk and Kanjivaram silk and many other types. Her thirst for providing a full package of bridal garb has been successful among her clients.
“Joining this organisation was both a choice and necessity; it was when my father-in-law died that I joined hands with my husband, Ashis Kanjilal,” says Swarnali Kanjilal and that she has been on her toes to bridge the gap of client’s perspective and the practical outfit. Keeping in her mind the different dimensions of a woman’s look and matching to it the outfit is her customised tips for the clients who visit her showroom. Apart from one to one grooming, in several Bengali movies Swarnali, representing the AMMK, she has groomed many Tollywood stars.
Swarnali further says, “But this journey has never been easy as the weavers had to be trained and shifting from a traditional base to a fusion base was altogether a cumbersome process and a matter of patience.” The mother within her has always been a caring one, and her absence was pretty compensated by the quality and smart time she spent with her child.
“Woman has a tremendous strength within her. Family and other things are always important but taking out some free time and space for her are equally vital.” believes the lady Kanjilal. She opines that only if a woman stays happy can she make her family happy. When Woman Times asks her on the current scenario of Kolkata Fashion industry she positively says it is growing.
This year in Pujo Kanjilal plans to gift the Kolkata women a wide genre of handloom sarees which is very much in trend and with that, she is focussing on mix and match of different types of sarees like Dhakai with Kalamkari, Kachi work with Dhakai and much more. These types of absolute contrasting matches are the latest projects of the saree organisation.
While hinting on her separate or extended entrepreneurial venture, Swarnali speaks of her wish to build a grooming studio where a woman can expect a full-fledged makeover of style and personality.
The two things that she regrets, “I can play synthesiser but if I could have given some more time to it maybe I could do it in a better way. Secondly, I wish to create more beautiful creations in sarees.”
“Identify yourself and never compromise with any situation for anything.” sends out her message to the readers in particular and women in general.
The other side of Swarnali is too soft and caring which is evident from her social approach to the underprivileged children and is associated with one of the NGOs in Kolkata she bears the responsibility of a child’s education throughout the year.
“Mobile phone, bag and car” are the three things she must have with her, while Switzerland being her favourite holiday destination she loves to shop in the duty-free area of airports. Jolly and hard-working Swarnali Kanjilal has a self-made branding with the traditional saree outlet Adi Mohini Mohon Kanjilal.
