"Dig out your inner strength and be a success" - Marise

by Lakmal Welabada

It is no secret that a woman's body is an obvious attraction to a man and the other way round is also true. Of course it is quite a natural perception after all. So in a way Lingerie also has a hand in this But the question is whether women like to expose their bodies unless of course she is an 'exhibitionist'.

With the present trend of see-through blouses and figure hugging T-shirts many young women are not happy about nipples being visible and panty seam lines being exposed. None could count on the thick jackets and denims because we live in a tropical climate.

Sorry! if I have been misleading you, although my intention was not to pen about nipples, buttocks or sex. But I felt it would be essential to include it since Marise Kern Karunaratne stretches the imagination when she talks about lingerie. Marise is the Directress of 'Secret', a lingerie shop at Liberty Plaza, Kollupitiya.

Her business is unique because, while having imported expensive items, many locally produced under garments, nightwear and other women's stuff made to quality standards is on sale in her shop.

"Rich women can always pay exorbitant prices and purchase the lingerie of their choice But it is the middle class that looks for quality stuff at reasonable and affordable prices. So, we are mainly catering to them. Apart from supplying branded stuff to those who want to go by the leading trademarks," she says. panty.

Garments and business were all quite new things to Marise as she became a businesswoman just a month ago. Marise is well known as a model and a full time classical ballet teacher at the Oosha Saravanamuttu Academy of Ballet. Since being a little girl of six years, until two years back, ballet had been her pastime and first-love. "Ballet is in my blood, I will not get away from it completely.

I had to take a break as I had to put my whole concentration in to my four-year degree in Marketing and Management. However,I still I have a very good relationship with Mrs.Saravanamuttu. Leaving her and the academy was the most difficult thing I have ever experienced so far in my life. The experience I have gained in dealing with people and working properly, then credit should go to her.

I am who I am today is because of her," she says.

Marise, is a past pupil of Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena has been involved in many extra activities while at school. "I did swimming at school. Putt shot and Discuss were my favourites though I never excelled in any of them," she reminisced. Marise was a good horse rider as well. Lannerole Stable at Wattala is where she learnt her preliminaries in horse riding. She was even selected to take part in the Junior horse races held in Nuwara Eliya.

But she lost that opportunity as her parents did not have the guts to take a chance sending their only child and considered it too risky Marise says "First of all you should know what you want in life. Will power is the most important tool in everything. Success follows you through your belief.

If you set your mind about what you intend doing then the task at hand can be easily handled," she says. The fair- slim figured young entrepreneur seems a strong woman. "I can bear up any thing that is uttered against me. God has given me the strength to bear it. But I am unnerved should anything go wrong with my family, friends and close ones. I have no strength to bear such an eventuality" she says.

Marise was introduced to modelling by her cousin Joanne Rozairo in the mid 1990s. So she had the opportunity to work with almost all the top persons in the modelling field including Ramzi, Ramani, Michael and Sitara Fernandopulle. "Modelling should not be your only goal," stresses Marise.

Question: Why do you say so?

Marise: Education comes first. You can have modelling as a side line, while focusing yourself mainly on something else. One can enrol to do CIMA, CIM or any other professional degree or diploma course. If not thee are many vocational training courses like the Maria Montessori course conducted at St.Bridget's Convent. There are many courses offered at various institutions now which can be easily followed. So why not dig out your inner strength and be a successful personality.

Marise today has made a name in the lingerie business, is a good baker too. "If I did not take up in this I would have been in bakery business. I learnt every tip in bakery at the Singer Culinary School, Wellawatte," she smiles.

Marise celebrates her fourth wedding anniversary this year. "It was my husband Sidath who wanted me to take up to business. He did not want me to work under anybody, and encouraged me to do something of my own," she says. Priya Gunewardane is Marise' partner in her business. The duo work really hard to make 'Secret' a success.

Marise says she has been very cautious through out her life. Her religious perspectives and relationship with her parents were the two guiding torches in her life. "I don't compete, there were times I was cornered and humiliated. But such things hardly affect me as I never follow the crowd. But don't take me wrong. That is all about my personal life. I am very much aware about competition in business," she laughs.

"Never try a bra off the shelf. You should always try it out before buying," advocated Marise addressing a customer who stepped into 'Secret' while our interview was on. Teddies, Bustiers, camisoles, corsets, girdles, fish net stockings and different types of bras were hanging beside.

On a mannequin. A Silicon breast could be used for those who are smaller made, is a stick on bra which can be re-used. It can be worn with a strapless or open back dress as it sticks on to the breast and has no straps. The Silicon Nipple Pad that sticks on to the nipple and stops it appearing through the bra can be used by someone with a small breast when not wearing a bra to stop the nipple showing," explains Marise.

"Priya and I work really hard. We keep a very low margin in our profit. Unless the rent, duty or vat goes up we hope we will be able to give our customer a good service for a cheaper price. We also hope to include a 'bridal shower' by adding everything that an intended bride needs, comprising her bridal.

And it will be a one stop-shop for both young and old women. And we are not going to stop in one shop. Soon 'Secret' will be expanded," determines Marise.