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| Sunday, 3 February 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Treasures in Porcelain by Vimukthi Fernando
The dolls are pretty - lined on the shelves. So are the angels, cherubs and the little animals - capturing ones attention instantly. "Imported?" "No, manufactured locally." A miniature 'Sigiriya', complete with its terraces, pools and fountains stands on one side. 'Hemamala and Danthakumaru' on their long long journey from India stand close to the couple 'Unmada Chithra' and as you turn you can see the great kings of yore, Dutugemunu, Nissankamalla and Parakramabahu. Where can you see all of them together, at a museum? No, it is at 'Bellucci' one of the latest ornament shops in town. Curiosity takes you down the path to meet the master mind behind these creations. Now, who said that looks are deceptive? Not really so. I'm met by a belle full of joie-de-vivre. Dushika Perera, young, vivacious and unassuming.
The businesswoman behind all those creations - looking as lovely as her creations. Her story is one of striving, persevering, caring and sharing, of the enthusiasm of two young selves. The smile on Dushika face tells you that she and her brother Roshan are now reaping the fruits of their labour. The business was started five years ago, Dushika tells me. It had been a hard time when they started on their own. They had lost their beloved father and were left with the responsibility of shouldering his business. "We did not want to go in the same line of products. I was just out of school and was interested in designing, so we started this business". Her brother was in charge, overall, canvassing for business and helping her out whenever needed. Her talent in art and designing she polished with a designer course in Canada. And now, at 24, she is a Director at Dainichi Creations Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. managing her own business of producing porcelain ornaments with 3500 workers under her care.
Not one of the ornaments can bypass her - for she is the main figure there - not because she is at the helm, but because they are all her creations. It is an amazing process and painstaking at times. But, Dushika and her six sculptors strive on patiently. The design, either their own or a request from a customer would first be analyzed in detail on its suitability for mass production. "It is not easy, we have to take so many little details into consideration such as the shrinkage levels, the passage of air, ware and tare and so on" tells Dushika. "Most interesting is to design the 'movable' items", she tells me. "Movable items?" I'm shown a range of toys - a drummer with movable hands, a large ladybird with shining red wings and long dark flexible antennae standing on a shelf. "Texture also matters. And other materials we use should also be suitable to use with the main material" Once the design is selected Dushika and her sculptors would make the master mould. It is only the initial part. The next "challenge" is to "select the right kind of paint." The colour schemes could vary on the target market. Ware and tare of objects also play a key role when it comes to selecting paints. Some are given 'exclusive' treatment with glistening confetti or a matt finish while some are painted and re-fired to strengthen the paint. It takes time for the output because though produced on mass scale, it is a totally 'hand made' product, painted and fitted with other accessories paying individual attention to each and every piece of work. The products of Dainichi creations had already won recognition from Hallmark, being the only company in Sri Lanka who had won its preferred status, being able to supply directly and not being subject to quality checks. Their clientele include Disney Attractions Worldwide, Homco, Avon, Lenox, MBI and Fits & Floyd. She has more reasons to be proud of. Dushika recently launched her very own brand of products, "Bellucci" offering over 1,200 different kinds of ornaments through their outlets in Sri Lanka and abroad. Another achievement is being able to launch 'catalogue purchase' for the first time in Sri Lanka. The catalogue for "Bellucci" ornamental products will be launched in mid February. Regardless of her achievements Dushika stays simple and down to earth. One reason which contributes to her being able to man a workforce of over 3,500 singlehanded. "When you work in a factory, you see the reality of the people you work with. When you get close to them and get to know their life, you become more like them. You will realise that there's a lot more to life than just fun and glamour" she tells me. What does Dushika has to say, to a woman who would like to take to business? "When I started it was not at all what I expected. You should work hard, then only you would see your achievements. Once you set your mind on your goal, however hard it may seem, don't give up. That is the secret of success." |
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