Padmaja Bhandary and Neela Edwards went to school and college together. They then went their separate ways and 20 years got together to start Ravikes, for ethnic sari blouses.
They set up shop in June 2011 when Padmaja designed blouses for a sari house in Delhi. She asked Neela to join her. The brand went online through Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Ravikesdesigns) in January 2012 when the former decided to shoot pictures with her phone during Pongal at a temple in Malleswaram.
Talking about the name, Padmaja says: “Ravikes is the traditional name for a blouse. Ravikes today is new age, daring and sensuously cut.”
These fashion entrepreneurs never imagined they would work together someday. While Padmaja married early and pursued her passion for quilting, Neela went on to be a teacher. She also happened to move to Dubai after her marriage where she dabbled in foreign fabrics from Pakistan and China, making clothes for herself.
At Ravikes, they use brocade, silk, cotton silk, Chettinad and Mangalgiri fabrics. Neela says: “A patch of colour, an intricate woven border and hand embroidery always gives the piece a feel of royalty and style.” Their common love for fabrics and the local markets has now led them to start block printing saris and blouses. They do seasonal table runners and wall hangings too.
Initially they operated out of their respective homes but with a strong presence on Facebook, they’ve started taking orders online too. According to them the pricing is very competitive. As overheads are minimal they don’t have to quote exorbitant prices.
“Ravikes has reached women in faraway San Francisco and ordering a blouse online seems easy for most women. We courier and deliver to our clients’ offices and homes. We WhatsApp pictures of fabrics, styles, sketches, embroidery patterns, cuts and designs before we work on the order.”
Ravikes is doing very well for itself. “These three years have been rather gruelling and credit goes to our supportive spouses and children. Padmaja’s daughters have helped by spreading the word around and also modelling our blouses on our FB page,” Neela says adding: “Today Ravikes has evolved into a very glamorous garment and our customers feel it is the most important part of their ensemble. Our blouses look westernised and contemporary to appeal to the new generation.”
Looking ahead, apart from offering more interesting designs to their clients, Padmaja says: “We would be eager to work on a period film where research and design will be important and will showcase our talent.”
