When Thilani Kandanarachchi looks at a sari, she does not simply see six yards of fabric, but all the trimmings and accessories a woman would need to make heads turn- “I imagine the shoes, the accessories and what type of lady would wear it,” she says.
And a passion for colour and fashion- spurred on by a random shopping trip to India- provided the right motivation for her to realize her dream.
It all started with a programme in dress making and a few orders for dresses under the label ‘Simplicity’. “This,” recalls “Thilani, “triggered off the idea of a store.”Aptly named ‘Mix Up’, the store comprises a large selection Saris and clothes for ladies, teens and kids.
‘Exquisite Saris for the Exotic Woman’ being the main area of focus in this colourful shopping experience, Mix Up more than lives up to its promise with its dazzling array of hand picked saris, with all the accessories to match. The shop offers sari on order, with enough time given for the customer to choose colours and designs.
An avid fan of the sari, Thilani visits India four times a year meeting with suppliers and selecting saris to bring back home. “India is the hub for stunning fashion and it is a country I love to visit,” she enthuses. “The industry there is vast and it has taken me years to build my connections with designers and printers and my database keeps growing- which is how I keep up with the latest styles which are mostly from Mumbai and Chennai.”
Despite her fascination for fashion in India however, she believes that Sri Lanka too has made great progress in that direction. She speaks of countless brides who travel to India in search of the perfect wedding Sari, only to come back to Sri Lanka and find what they were looking for. “What I want to communicate to young brides is to look around in Sri Lanka before venturing out as there are now many sari stores here with some stunning selections.”
With the aim of providing the ultimate sari experience, the once small shop which was opened 12 years ago and run on a small budget and word of mouth, has now been revamped to include more space and more designs.
“My focus,” explains Thilani, “is for Mix Up to have a sari for everyone- from those who like the traditional silks to the more modern Georgette- and for them to fall in love with the sari they choose. I want them to feel exactly what I felt when picking out the sari for the selection featured in the shop.”
Educated at Musaeus College and St. Bridget’s Convent, Thilani’s love for fashion began at a very young age. “In the Home Science class, my favourite activity was sewing, and from this stemmed a love for fashion. I used to sew clothes for my children too, when they were young, and I had a great deal of encouragement the people who are close to me.
And when I look back on how everything has worked out I thank God for His influence on my life, and for the love and support I have had from my two children, my friends and my three dogs who are a huge part of my life and have been a great source of strength.
The revamped Mix Up is situated at 27A, Amarasekera Mawatha, Colombo 5.
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