People who know her and her skills, drop off their old clothes at her place. She rips apart everything that is worn out fabric. And then stitches them into pretty and utilitarian bags and pouches of different shapes, sizes and colours.
In 20 years she has built a customer base of 200 people who swear by “M.M.Bags” -- Malliga’s small scale entrepreneurial venture. All it required was her willingness to experiment and her nimble figures did what they were itching to do from her early years -- stitch.
FOR ART SAKE: Malliga stitches beautiful bags out of old worn out fabric. Photo: R. Ashok
The barsati room in her house is where all the buzz is. Now because the demand for her creative products has grown, she has hired four women from nearby village Konthakai. The sewing machines whir for five hours every day to fashion out school, travel, sling bags to fancy clutches and pouches from worn out jeans, faded saris, frocks and dresses that people outgrow.
“People voluntarily leave behind their old clothes with me. I try to turn them into something useful,” says Malliga, who buys all extra accessories from sponge, zips and lining, material that go into making of a bag. Orders for half-a-dozen bags a week keep her comfortably busy. “I make the products as per the customer’s requests. Sometimes I try out my own designs or replicate the bags that I’ve seen in shops,” she says.
FOR ART SAKE: Malliga stitches beautiful bags out of old worn out fabric. Photo: R. Ashok
Most requests are for travel and school bags. Malliga styles them in a way that the original pockets of the pants double up as side pockets, giving a rustic look. She fabricates jewellery and bangle pouches, laundry bags, colourful quilts and door mats out of silk saris and blouses. They look traditionally beautiful. Pretty frocks that little girls wear are styled into fancy purses. The work is so professional that they don’t appear to be made by amateurs.
For the labour she puts in, Malliga hardly makes any profit. “I only charge the stitching cost to be paid to the ladies who help me,” she says. Though the price varies according to the type of bag and amount of work done, the cost of a bag rarely crosses Rs.200.
FOR ART SAKE: Malliga stitches beautiful bags out of old worn out fabric. Photo: R. Ashok
The emptiness she felt after her husband’s demise two decades ago propelled Malliga to take to this craft. “My children were settled and I had ample free time to explore my creativity,” she says, and soon realised how her work was getting discussed in circles and were returning customers. “Most of them say the quality of my work is superior and long lasting.”
The cost, durability and the finish of her products has helped her to expand her customer base. “People who travel frequently ask me to make light weight but sturdy bags for them,” she points out.
Apart from single customised pieces, Malliga also takes bulk orders for small pouches or bags that can hold return gifts on occasions like marriages, birthday parties and other functions.
“I have 200 constant customers. Others who see my products approach me directly. I don’t advertise anywhere. I am happy with whoever comes to me.”
Malliga does not look at her work as a commercial venture to make money. “It is a time pass and something that interests me tremendously,” she asserts.
