A multi talented artiste

by Lakmal Welabada

Women entrepreneurs are something that a country needs for its development. Whatever said and done, women taking a front seat is essential for the growth of the economy. In this sense, women have beaten men in many fields in Sri Lanka.

Homecrafts, garments and fashions are a few trades which Sri Lankan women from all walks are widely involved in. Nayani Epitawala is one such woman who has been in this field for quiet a long time.

"I began with catering on a small scale with my sister by getting orders for birthday parties, small get togethers, informal lunches and dinners. Later I switched on to screen painting, and then to papercrafts using mainly recycling paper.

I never realised I have had the talent for art until I get myself into the business," she begins. "When I found how much I had to pay for a sketch done by an artist, I tried my hands in it, and was successful," she says.

It was the mid 1990s when Nayani put her thoughts down to being creative. "I was good at sewing, and when I tried out hand painting on cotton I looked for some solution to get down heaps and heaps of garments to meet with the demand I was getting.

So, I had to have my own garments, and started with a few Juki machines at home. It was good as I designed my own fashions, and did my own painting on it. Now the painted stuff is little outdated, and clothes of flashing colours with glamorous designs is the trend at present," she says.

"I love floor cushions as I feel very flexible and comfortable when I sit on them than on a chair. Nowadays, people tend to get into arthritis very often at their young age as they have no exercises. Human body needs to be flexible. But with the present day duties people tend to walk a bit and spend most of their time on a chair at their offices.

And then when at home, they spend their time in front of a TV or computer, that is also on a chair. So, their limbs get hard and tough which later leads to many ailments like arthritis," says Nayani. "Since I like, floor cushions I prepare them for others.

Animal range is for children and round and square ones for adults. I do fill them well as they could be easily flatten. I re-do them even if they bring them back; but that is also after two-three years time.

I believe in producing quality products. And also this is not only my career, but also my pastime. So, I want to do something that make me also satisfied," she says.

Nayani is multi talented. There's hardly anything she has not tried out in the homecraft field. "With re-cycling paper you can do wonders. Cards, decorative boxes and bags have been very much in demand," she explains.

Nayani is an interior designer as well, and handles everything that can make one's homefront a pleasurable place. "I always try to do something different, and create things that match with the client's background," says the decorator.

"Some of today's fashions," she goes on "horrible!"...

"And just indecent! Some wear hipster trousers and when they sit on a mo-bike, it goes further beyond to show her panty or buttocks even. There's no age limits for fashion, they say. So, a mother who is in 50s is also wearing of her teenage daughter's clothes. Is that a fashion?" she questions. "My designs are different, and I would ever dream of doing so called trendy garments to anybody to any cost," she stresses.

The fashionable outfits she does are trendy, faddish and vogue. "And also decent," she laughs. "Well there's one dream I want to fulfil in the future. That is to have a fashion show with old hits," she hopes.

Nayani is a past student of Holy Cross and Ratnawali, Gampaha, Musaeus College and Stafford Ladies College, Colombo. "For a short time I taught little ones at Stafford International too. It was tedious, but had high fun. Hand work is something that small ones love to try out at any time," she smiles.