To think she started with kids wear.
Dressing up in pretty dresses sewn by my mother, Seena says, I’m quite sure I grew up feeling my sisters and I wore top clothes, and we did. For instance, watching the couple, it’s clear that they are a team and what they have built is the result of their teamwork. Eventually, that inherited passion for sewing led her to making frocks for little girls home in Thrissur. It is she says when the young girls she made frocks for grew up, a few of them wanted her to make their gowns and bridal wear.
Surface embellishment -mostly hand embroidery, crystals and appliqué -decorate the gowns and lehengas. She has an unit with tailors, cutters and embroiders. Much so she has brides and others travelling to her from out of the city and from overseas is a continuous process of learning and evolving, she says. Considering the above said. She sources her fabric from across the country and says that will have.
The store is chocabloc with young women jostling to get measured, some waiting for fittings and one more discussing how she wants her outfit.
She has devised processes which include three trials before the final gown/garment is made. It is gowns, she says, are a much in demand outfit especially with celebrities wearing them. Those who know me and like my work suggest me to others. Then, it wasn’t easy, it was through trial and error and I do know how to sew, she says. However, they moved to this bigger space in the Goodwill building at Convent Junction as their 80 sq. So here’s a question. Gowns and frocks are different, how did she learn? Consequently, seena counts actor/presenter Jewel among her regulars. It’s my work that gets me the clients.
Normally, her list of customers sounds like the who’s who of Kochi’s business community. Nonetheless, only that, now, ‘wordofmouth’ publicity seems to have shrunk this space as well.
today girls have clarity about what they need. While accommodating suggestions and in the process, getting more work, she works according the budget. With that said, if they are funding the outfit otherwise it rarely matters, most are budget conscious. It shouldn’t cost as much as the designers’, she says. Sabyasachi or Manish Malhotra designs often show up, To be honest I agree but I interpret the designs my way. Besides, the show window at Seena Jerrin’s store Zatin is all shimmer and glitter. As a result, they have ideas and some come with pictures. Party frocks, for young girls, with the dresses in luxurious silks and embroidery are frocks. One has to be realistic, no point rueing later. Consequently, whenever evening and ball, elaborately worked upon lehengas -this is each ‘to be’ brides’ dream come true, some made for a recent fashion show, gowns -bridal.