Timzy Batra

?I am Timzy Batra from Jalandhar, in Punjab. I am passionate about fabrics and have a keen eye for detailing. My mother used to run a boutique when I was in 5th grade. I used to come from school and help my mother. I fell in love with fabrics of all kinds. I would smell and feel the fabrics against my skin to understand the different textures. I used to love the motifs and color combinations on the fabrics.<br><br> ?As I grew up, my mum taught me all the basics of paper patterns and fabrics. She gave me the opportunity to create embroidery designs. I got brilliant hands-on learning experience in understanding different techniques and stitches of embroidery. Later on, I did a bachelor's degree in design, and I started my career in 2001. <br><br> ?After completing my bachelor's degree in design, I moved to Delhi to do my internship. I worked at a few design houses, where I learned the technical knowhow of working with weavers from all over India and developed myself as a designer. <br><br> ?I started my workshop in 2009 with very limited funds and a small team of workers. But we got a very good response from the beginning. Each day was a new challenge for us, as we were new to this textile industry. Having your own enterprise is a wonderful feeling, although it has its own ups and downs. But with dedication, hard work and the support of my mother who also works with me now, I found myself rooted in this textile industry. My mother has been a pillar of support. I design the products and she looks after the quality as well as logistics. <br><br> ?I like to work with woven Indian fabrics like brocades, chanderi, ikats and tussars. I work directly with the weavers, work out a color palette for the season, and place an order as per my design and requirements. My most favorite part of the design process is how we can convert an absolutely plain fabric into a piece of art with the amalgamation of different techniques. I love working with all kinds of embroidery, especially <i>zardozi</i> work. <br><br> ?Most of my inspiration comes from nature. Sometimes just a walk in the garden listening to good music is enough to start creating a collection. Manmade things are a source of inspiration, too. I get totally captivated with the beauty of the Indian and Mughal architecture, which I use in my designs. <br><br> ?I wish to create job opportunities for as many new artisans as I can who need the work to support their families. I try to engage many women for my work, since in India, women have fewer opportunities as compared to men. So I try my level best to provide opportunities to women. My most important criteria is to work with artisans who have patience and are willing to take constructive feedback. Just being skilled is not enough to create a perfect product. <br><br> ?My plans and dreams are to launch a home line based on woven fabrics with embroidery, combining all the arts of India and take it worldwide. I am grateful to Novica for providing me a platform to showcase my designs and grow globally.?