Seema Bhasin

This place, Seema Bhasin, is tucked away in Hari Niwas at Marol Naka. It is a bit of a walk from the main Church Gate area if you aren't used to the shortcuts. I started doing this from a small room and eventually moved here to C- Road. It is more of a workspace than a big fancy showroom. You will see a lot of fabric scraps on the floor and measuring tapes hanging over the chairs. I spend most of my day sitting at the big wooden table cutting patterns. The light in Hari Niwas is actually pretty good in the mornings, which helps with the detailed work I have to do. It can get a bit lonely working by yourself, so I usually have the radio playing in the background. My neighbors in the building are quiet, mostly families who have lived here for decades. I don't have a big team, just a couple of people who help with the heavy stitching when there is a lot of work piled up. Sometimes the doorbell doesn't work, so people have to knock loudly to get my attention. I try to keep things organized, but when three orders are due at once, the place looks a bit chaotic. It is just me doing what I know how to do best. I’ve lived in Mumbai my whole life, so I’m used to the small spaces and the humidity affecting the iron. I just keep working through it.