Gowning Glory

That’s what Anuja Vaidya does,literally,for fitting them into her immaculately sewn gowns,which some judges and advocates believe to be their lucky charm.

Vaidya,who runs Dattatraya Dandekar & Co,which was established by her grandfather in March 1909,is now dedicated to carrying on the tradition in the memory of her father who had carried forward her grandfather’s tradition. And in March this year,the family’s tradition of stitching gowns for judges,advocates and for convocations will touch the 100-year mark,which is when Anuja will give her small shop tucked away discreetly in Girgaum a makeover.

“What we have is a monopoly,” Anuja says nonchalantly.

“Some of the judges and lawyers think Dandekar’s gowns are lucky for them. The kind of respect I am getting from my clients makes me feel that something has to be there,” she admits.

From the judges in the olden days to ones like TADA judge Pramod Kode,HC judges J N Patel,S J Vazifdar,V M Kanade and senior counsels like Ashok Mundargi,R A Dada,Raju Subramaniam,Ram Jethmalani and Advocate General Ravi Kadam,many get their gowns from their trusted suppliers.

“Vazifdar used to talk about how my father was an institution when it comes to making gowns,” she cheerfully recalls,also remembering how the wife of another judge appreciated her father’s talent when he instantly recognized a measurement difference on the judge.

Back in those days,her father Narayan Dattatraya used to cycle to the high court to canvass for work orders. “He never wanted me or any other women in the family to help with the business as he thought it was not the right job for a woman to do,” Anuja says.

She also reveals how her grandfather who started the business by supplying gowns for convocations later decided to make the same for judges and advocates too.

“He studied the patterns on the gown and then made some modifications in the design and that’s how it started,” Anuja states about the pre-independence days of business.

The company used to export gowns to others states and also to Nepal. However,now it’s just Mumbai and Ahmedabad when it comes to gowns for judges and advocates. But Anuja also supplies gowns to IIMs,IITs and other institutes in Mumbai,Ahmedabad,Calicut,Hyderabad and Kolkata.

“I handle it personally with my husband’s help sometimes for outstation deliveries,” she says pointing to big trunks lying inside her rented shop.

When she started,Anuja did not have an inkling about this business apart from tailoring. She now makes two types of gowns,for junior and senior counsels and judges.

The delivery time for each gown is eight days and the cost ranges from Rs 3,500 to Rs 8000 apiece depending on the type of material.

While convocation gowns are of a standard size,she personally takes measurements for others,especially senior lawyers and judges.

So next time you see one of these gowns on a judge or advocate,remember where it came from.