The Elegant Designer
Mamta Fomra – Director, “MAMTA FOMRA”
Mamta Fomra, a versatile entrepreneur, donning many hats, is an Academician, a Humanitarian, a Mentor, a Guest Lecturer and a Motivational Speaker. A renowned name in the women’s clothing industry, “MAMTA FOMRA”, entitled to be the first designer label in Madurai, a name that enjoys a significant presence in the city. Her range incorporates Ethnic Indian, Indo-Western and Western wear designs. The Elegant Designer, embraces the diversity of Indian handlooms and aesthetically transforms the western wear into an Indian user-friendly experience.
Fomra arrived in the Madurai fashion scene since 1995 and has now become a well recognized women’s clothing brand. To describe her trademark, she reflects her brand as a blend of fabrics, colors and elegant cuts and is acknowledged for flowing silhouettes to intricate handcrafted embroidery – all of which adds a touch of class to her creation. Reflecting more about her brand, she says, “Our every design is a perfect mix of tradition and modernity with functionality and style.” Her graceful collection is Indian in essence and global in appeal. Her eye for detail, passion for aesthetics, discerning taste, and above all, her love for people, is what makes the “MAMTA FOMRA creation“, a unique and individual style statement.
Mamta has also been voluntarily participating in social service through organizations like Round Table, Ladies Circle, and others. She reflects her motto, “Giving back to the society that has given her this platform”. Her work has been recognized and applauded by esteemed publication -“The Hindu” and several “Tamil diaries, such as ‘Dinamalar and Dinathandi, and by some prestigious Madurai Messenger Magazines run by the UK based organization Projects, abroad.
Madurai had no designer outlets since then, and finding a good women’s clothing store was next to impossible, which imbibed Mamta with an urge to incept her own brand. “There were stores that sold ready-made clothes, sourced from Mumbai and few tailor stitched clothes were in trend but the designer and customized clothing was not a thing”, shares the woman entrepreneur. As there was no ‘Boutique’ concept, it prompted Mamta to find her calling in this section and she started the first ever Designer boutique in Madurai. “And having the first one is an added advantage”, she smiles.
Mamta looks up to her father as her idol and takes her intended share of inspiration from her husband, whose guidance has supported her during every phase of her life. She shares her part of struggle by stating that she got married at the age of 18, from Kolkata to Madurai, and couldn’t write her college exams, “life wasn’t easy”, she adds. But her husband stood as a pillar of strength, supporting her right from day one as the idea of commencing a business on her own, didn’t go well with others in her family. “Being a woman entrepreneur in the Fashion Industry, that too, way back in 1995, was not acceptable in Madurai, where people could barely pronounce ‘Boutique’ “, she recalls. She had to struggle a lot explaining them that boutiques also sell affordable routine wear clothes; as back then, ‘boutique designs’ meant an expensive ramp walk clothes for them, that are not meant for the conservative society of Madurai.
While trying her luck in the fashion industry, she still had to face the challenges for building her credibility, as people didn’t take a woman entrepreneur in fashion sector from a small city like Madurai, very seriously. “The place plays a major role in cementing the credentials of a designer. Designers from cities like Chennai and Bangalore are taken more seriously and get work, irrespective of their personal abilities”, Mamta asserts. She had to prove herself time and again through her alluring designs to fetch good work. But despite hurdles, she was smiled at, with success by her fate, because of her dedication, extensive devotion towards work and positive attitude in every situation. She realized the market gap between Madurai and metropolitan cities and took a plunge as the first designer from Madurai, to showcase her designs to the world, and remarkably succeeded by venturing with “MAMTA FOMRA “.
Awards
Mamta Fomra’s 24 years of extensive career brought her several recognitions and awards:
- The “Sthree Honor of Excellence Award”, in 2002.
- Outstanding entrepreneur from Jennifer Mcintyre, Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General, 2014.
- “Best Madurai Woman” award for outstanding contribution in the field of designing for over two decades, 2016.
- Best Women Entrepreneur Award by Tamil Nadu Achievers Conference and International Global Peace University at Russian Centre of Science and Culture, 2017.
- Business Achiever Award, at the Chamber Of Commerce, 2018
- Honorary Doctorate Degree, 2018, at the constitution club of India, New Delhi.
- Exceptional Women Of Excellence from Dr. Harbeen Arora at the Women Economic Conference (WEF), New Delhi, 2019.
- India Business Awards for Outstanding Women Entrepreneur & Fashion Designer in Madurai, Bangalore, 2019.
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