Wearing a statement

Some fantasies are expressed with words. Others wear them. Clothes are not just about expression, but also making a statement. In other words, what you wear says something about you. But in a situation where one potentially great piece of clothing is one of many of the same, stacked up on a shelf, there would be a problem.

This is where Dushy's comes into the picture. "One thing that I can say is special about the shop is that it is highly unlikely that something bought from here will be seen on the next person walking on the street," says Dushani Totamune, also known as Dushy, the owner of the shop.

In contrast to many shops where, in some cases, whole shelves are dedicated to the same item of clothing, Dushy's prides itself on selling clothes that are not only highly fashionable and fit the budget of most shoppers, but also clothes that are not commonly found in stores around Colombo.

Stepping into the quaint little boutique, the shopper would first be greeted by the sight of a whole range of fashion accessories, and to the left, a haze of colour – the clothes. The shop may be small, but don't let that fool you. A wide range of items awaits anyone who cares to look, and they're all affordable!

"The price was one of the things we took into consideration when opening the shop," explained Dushy. In general, the prices range from around Rs.500-650, and very few items exceed Rs.1,500. Pursuing a longstanding interest in fashion, Dushy obtained a diploma in Fashion Design, and went on to join MAS Holdings.

"I worked at MAS for around seven and a half years, but I felt that it would be more rewarding to run my own shop rather than report to someone else at work, so I decided to venture out on my own," she recalled.

Dushy's was opened in late September last year, and sells ladies' and children's clothing, although there are plans to expand into selling menswear. Plans for expansion are underway, and Dushy also hopes to open a few more branches in the future, in prime locations in Colombo.

Initially the shop sold some locally produced garments, but now, the majority of the clothes are imported from China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

"In this short period, the customer response has been really great, and we have some regulars who drop by every week," says Dushy enthusiastically.

Another focus of the shop is to keep its customers updated on any new arrivals, either through email or phone calls. Any enquiries can be made to dushantitotamune@yahoo.com.au So for a fun shopping experience head over to Dushy's down Chitra Lane, because it's well worth the while!