Jaya Silks Boutique

Running a boutique in Keelakattalai is a busy way to live. I started Jaya Silks Boutique because I’ve always liked working with fabric, especially the traditional stuff. The shop isn't very big, so every corner is filled with sarees and dress materials. It can get a bit overwhelming when a group of ladies comes in and starts pulling everything off the shelves to see the patterns, but I don't mind the mess. It shows people are interested in what we have. I don't have a big staff, usually just one girl who helps me with the folding and the billing. We don't do any fancy fashion shows or have glossy magazines. People mostly hear about us from their neighbors or just see the sign while they are walking down the street. The heat in Chennai is no joke, so I have a small AC unit that we try to keep running during the hottest part of the afternoon. It’s a lot of work keeping the silk clean and making sure the colors don't fade in the sunlight coming through the door. I spend a lot of time talking to customers about what suits them, not because I have to, but because I’ve been doing this so long it’s just natural. It’s a small, local business and we don't pretend to be anything else. We just open the doors every morning and see who comes in.