A girl tries out a lehenga and (above) Sandhya helps customers select outfits at the boutique, Sanorita, in Patna. Pictures by Jai Prakash

Patna, May 2: The lanes of the state capital are undergoing a silent transformation by the day, courtesy the air of development in the state.

Living up to the change are boutiques that have mushroomed across the state capital, closing in the distance between Patna and the metros.

Run by Sandhya and Manisha, the bhabi-nanad (sister-in-laws) duo, Sanorita at Mauryalok Complex opened doors 15 years back.

Sandhya, who did a course from the Indian Institute of Fashion Technology in 1994, said: “I never thought I would set up my boutique in my hometown Patna as the trend was not popular. There were may be four to five boutiques in the city. So, like my friends, I thought I would open one in a big city or Delhi but then I got married and settled here. Luckily, my sister-in-law (nanad) Manisha, had also done the same course. As we share the same passion, we decided not to let our creativity go waste. Fifteen years back, we opened the boutique on rent at Mauryalok Complex.” Sanorita now has shifted house to Harihar Chambers.

What started off as just a try, turned into something the duo could not live without. “We enjoy working on our designs for hours, exploring and discussing new trends,” said 39-year-old Sandhya, adding: “Competition has become a word in the boutique business in the city today.

“Earlier, there were only a few designs we used to depend on but now we spend a lot of time searching designs on the Net and different fashion journals to keep ourselves updated on the recent trends. Now, people want the same outfits they see on the television or the big screen and flood us with requests. However, we always lend our special touch to the work,” added Sandhya.

She also said the taste of the residents have also undergone changes over the years. “Earlier, I used to work on conventional designs, as for example, the blouses would come mostly in round shapes but now many have taken to wearing halter necks. Though it was common outside Patna, it was unimaginable here.”

Manisha said: “We have around 30 regular customers who give orders for at least four to five outfits a month. We never have any free time as our work demands a lot of dedication. Everything is handmade here.” The boutique that employs 19 people designs bridalwear, lehengas and sherwanis apart from suits and saris.

Mannat, on East Boring Canal Road, is run by couple Nidhi and Rishi Ghai.

Started two years back, Mannat offers designer clothes accessorised with unconventional jewellery from Turkey, Jaipur and Delhi and creates the right ambience for the desired style statement.

Nidhi, who trained under Rishi’s friend, a Mumbai-based designer, said: “I didn’t have to strive hard to establish this boutique. Experience from working under a Mumbai-based designer worked wonders for me as I could think different from the crowd of boutiques here.”

Rishi said: “Starting with 200 regular customers, we have now multiplied 10 times. We also have customers who come to India on holiday and buy dresses from us.” Thirty employees are on the payroll.

The duo have enough reason to be happy. Their work is travelling the world over, to US, Malaysia and London.

Saris are in the range of Rs 1,500 to Rs 15,000 at Mannat, while suits start from Rs 800.

On asked why the tourists prefer the boutique-made outfits rather than the readymade dresses, Rishi said: “Perhaps, they want a sense of India to take back and style at the same time. So, what could be better than visiting boutiques?”