Bim Bissell visionary behind FabIndia passes away at 93

Bimla Nanda Bissell, also referred to as Bim, a major contributor to FabIndia and spouse of its founder John Bissell, handed away on Thursday on the age of 93. Bissell was recognized for her involvement in selling Indian craftsmanship and her contributions to the model. She is survived by her son William and daughter Monsoon. Her work with FabIndia performed a task in connecting Indian tradition with trendy vogue.

Bimla Nanda, initially from a Punjabi background, turned often called Bim after marrying John Bissell, the American founding father of FabIndia in 1960. Earlier than her involvement with the model, she labored as a social secretary to U.S. ambassadors in Delhi, together with John Kenneth Galbraith, who was President Kennedy’s envoy to India. Bim’s profession took a major flip when she joined her husband in shaping FabIndia into the famend Indian model it’s right this moment.

Nanda’s contributions to FabIndia had been pivotal in shaping its identification. She performed a key function in curating the model’s aesthetic, championing handloom sarees and conventional silver jewellery. By way of her efforts, she established sturdy ties with artisans throughout India, creating a sturdy community that supported the model’s progress. Bimla additionally helped diversify FabIndia’s choices, increasing into furnishings, furnishings, and crafts, all whereas preserving and selling India’s wealthy cultural heritage with a up to date method.

Within the Sixties, she performed a pivotal function in nurturing younger minds by establishing the Playhouse Faculty on Tughlaq Highway in Delhi. Her dedication to kids’s training remained unwavering over the many years, culminating within the co-founding of a brand new Playhouse at Sunder Nursery in 2021.


Written with the View : afaqs