What makes a woman? A question that many have attempted to answer but have never been able to fully formulate an answer to, so that every aspect of this unique creation is covered. From a daughter to a sister, wife, mother and beyond her roles change with time. Faster does her role change on a daily basis as a home-maker, career woman, chef, launderer, nurse, teacher and so much more. Yet regardless of the role she plays, her worth is never fully understood.
When in the late 1980s Shyamalie Wijegunawardena was a young mother and housewife, she wanted to do something with her skills and to support her husband. A family member gifted her a sewing machine and with the help of her husband she set up her first sewing operation in one of the rooms at their house. The beginning just like with all other home-grown businesses was a difficult one, especially with two young sons to take care of as well. But despite the challenges Shyamalie endured on. Her keen eye for precision cut clothing, unique fabrics and an inherent ability to identify talent in others soon saw women in the area of her hometown drawn to her.
What started off with a single sewing machine, soon began to grow into 2, 5 and then a few more. Women with pattern-making and sewing skills were employed and Shyamalie began to now look at avenues of selling the clothes that her “girls” were producing. With a house now inundated with fabric rolls, ready-made garments and all the paraphernalia that comes with running a factory from home, Shyamalie sought the assistance of friends and family who helped her set up her first Spring & Summer clothing store in Borella in the year 1995. In a few short years she had grown her operations to employ many women who like herself sort to better their livelihoods and uplift the standards of their families.
To many of these women who 20+ years later remain employed with Spring & Summer, Shyamalie was more than an employer. To them she was as much a mother as she was to her own two sons. Her commitment to helping women in need is evident in how many young girls have risen among the ranks of the company to become Store Managers, Office Managers and so much more. Shyamalie reminisces how some of the girls had no homes to live in and others provided them accommodation while they worked. Her own efforts have seen girls educated and brought up in society.
Always the philanthropist at heart Shyamalie together with her family have built Spring & Summer to a lucrative business and household name. With 5 showrooms already under her belt in Nugegoda, Maharagama, Wattala, Panadura and Duplication Road, the 6th and flagship store was recently declared open at Galle Road, Colombo 3. Now run by her two sons Dulan and Dulanka and their wives Vileshka and Chammi the brand itself has grown to embody a tribute to all women.
In a day and age when women are objectified for their body sizes, skin tone and outward beauty, Spring & Summer has become a catalyst in the industry using real-life women of all body shapes and sizes instead of runway models for their product endorsement. Not only have their designs captivated the hearts of women of all ages and demographics, but they also pay detailed attention to the bone structure of Asian women. Their designs are both contemporary and with a touch of inherent Sri Lankan motifs that make them unique. Using locally sourced material as much as possible the brand also prides itself on employing a large workforce from the localities of its showrooms and factories thereby giving young people, women in particular a boost to their careers.
Spring & Summer today stands for many things but perhaps predominantly for the success story of one woman’s attempt to bring back self-worth to all women. In paying tribute to her efforts of three decades and more, we pay tribute to all women everywhere who strive to use their skills to better their lives, the lives of their families and society at large.
By Nishu Gunawardana
Photo Credit: The FotoCube by Dhanush de Costa