20 years ago, every little road in Mumbai would have a ladies tailor. Women in the neighbourhood would go to him, flirt with him (most ladies tailors were pucca flirts) and get their clothes made – usually sari blouses, salwar kameezes, and sometimes western stuff (simple a-line skirts, skirt tops).

Today, in large cities it is next to impossible to find a good ladies tailor. Most of them have become small businessmen (as opposed to being self employed) and work for large retail chains – like shoppers stop – creating clothes in various shapes and sizes.

I finally found a good ladies tailor in Andheri (E) last year. I have to wait longer than i do at my doctor’s to get to see him. Ladies from all over throng the shop and go ‘masterji, yeh mere pe kaise lagega’ …:D But, one small problem with the masterji, he doesn’t stitch sari blouses… For that one has to go 5 kms away ….

Vile Parle market has some shops that sell ready made sari blouses but the whole point of a sari blouse is that it is tailored to fit you … and every body is different. So, with all the shops with readymades, and all the brands in the world, the hunt is on for a good choli maker 😀