A pioneering figure in Indian textiles and the driving force behind the legacy of FabIndia, an Indian chain store retailing garments, home-decor, furnishings, fabrics and products handmade by craftspeople across rural India, Bimla Bissel, has passed away at the age of 93 due to age-related complications.
She was FabIndia’s founder John Bissell’s wife, and she was instrumental in creating the company that has come to represent Indian textiles. She started out as a colleague advisor at the Delhi-based Foundation of Cottage Industries Emporium in 1958. She led John Bissell into founding FabIndia in 1960 with her knowledge and profound comprehension of Indian weaves.
With more than 300 locations across the globe, including in Italy, Singapore, and the US, FabIndia, which began as a small business, has expanded into a worldwide phenomenon that celebrates the richness of traditional Indian textiles like Chanderi, Sanganeri, Kutchi, and Banarasi.
In addition to FabIndia, she worked as the Social Secretary for US Ambassadors before joining the World Bank in New Delhi from 1975 until 1996 as an External Affairs Officer. She played a crucial part in introducing aspects of Indian design to the world. Together with Ela Bhatt of SEWA, she co-founded Udyogini, an NGO dedicated to empowering landless women in India, in 1992 with funding from the World Bank and the Japanese Government.
She had an influence on Indian fashion that extended beyond textiles. The foundation for the resurgence of Indian handlooms was established by her work at the Cottage Industries Emporium in the 1950s. She had promoted these causes long before discussions about sustainability and indigenous weaves were well-known, fusing tradition with contemporary design. Her ideas influenced not only clothing but also furniture and crafts, helping to redefine Indian chic.
