KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 -- Rakesh Joseph, 45, is a master at tying saris, with his record tying 10 models in just an hour!
His passion is to make women look beautiful and elegant -- one sari at a time. With 20 years of experience under his belt, his phone rings non-stop as Malaysians and expatriates alike call to engage him for his sari-tying services for weddings, formal dinners, fashion shows and events.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m Rakesh, but most people know me as Rakesh Joseph. You can either call me Rakesh or Joseph, both are my names. I live in PJ and I’ve been in the sari line draping for people and even fashion designing for more than 22 years. I aim to make my clients look slim, trim and elegant.
How did you get into sari-tying?
In 1992, when I was in India I studied at St Joseph’s college. After that, I went to Avian productions where I did odd jobs, helping around. Avian productions is a very famous production company in India for actors and actresses.
I didn’t know much because I went in as an odd job worker but they put me in the makeup room. From there I was styling all these people, actresses, supporting actresses, dancers for dramas and films. I used to dress them. Back then I was only getting 120 rupees per day.
When I got back to Malaysia, I continued working when one fine day a friend asked, “Can you help us with these models or not? We are having a fashion show with 10 girls.”
I have these talent with my fingers and within one hour I tied 10 girls! That was my turning point, where I became famous. From then onwards, people started calling me for sari tying, sari draping and sari classes.
Tell us why you chose saris.
The sari is a very graceful costume. It fits any function: birthdays, normal functions, weddings. Sari plays an important role. Other than that, I get a good income here. I’m very popular here and almost all the high-profile women and Datins know me when it comes to saris.
Do you get opportunities to tie saris abroad?
Someone offered me a job in Australia and was willing to pay a lot of money. But I love Malaysia, my family is here and I grew up here. Recently, a woman from Hong Kong paid for my trip to Chiang Mai where I tied saris for two women for a wedding. I’m very lucky that through word of mouth, I’m able to get these job opportunities.
Any plans to open a sari tying school or start a sari boutique?
I have sold saris in the past before but because of my full-time job and sari tying, I was too busy to do that. I might sell saris in the future, you never know. I do teach people the art of tying saris. A normal sari is six metres and you have to use every part of the cloth.
My job is to make anyone elegant. I’ve tied for different sizes, races and even a physically-challenged woman. My sari-tying classes are for special events when someone calls to hire me. Anybody can look good in a sari, whether you’re Indian, Chinese or Malay.
I’ve tied saris for Caucasians too, expatriates and tourists. I recommend women with darker skin to go for bright colours and fair-skinned women to go for dark colours.
Call Rakesh Joseph at 012-6207497 for his sari tying services.
This story was first published in Crave in the print edition of The Malay Mail on November 22, 2013.
