The Indian seamstress earning £75 a month who made Kate Middleton’s dress
But the finishing lady says she isn't envious of people who wear the garments she makes
THE seamstress who made a £140 dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge as she played cricket in India this week earns just £75 A MONTH.
Humble factory worker Babita Sabath, who helped to make the dress worn by Kate Middleton on the first day of the royal tour in Mumbai on Sunday, takes home just £75 a month – equivalent to around £3 per day - plus benefits.
When colleagues at the House of Anita Dongre, in Navi Mumbai, outside Mumbai, told the finishing lady she had helped to create the piece for Kate she said she didn’t know who Kate Middleton was.
The 35-year-old seamstress contributed towards the dress worn by the Duchess by adding the tassels to the scarf – which was then redesigned into a belt - and was overjoyed to see ‘a big name’ wearing her work once she had realised who Kate was.
Babita told MailOnline: “I do not know who she is but I was told about her by my colleagues here. I was happy to know that someone like her wore the dress we worked on. I would like to thank her for acknowledging our hard work.”
It would take Babita two months to buy such a dress- even if she spent every penny she earned on it - but the seamstress insists she is simply proud to work on the luxury Indian garments.
She added: “I never feel envious of famous people wearing the dresses we make that I can’t afford. It’s simply our honour and I feel glad that they acknowledge our hard work. I love my work so I am happy that people on the other side of the world enjoy what we make.”
As well as the money that Babita takes home, she gets benefits that the House of Anita Dongre said would take her gross pay to the equivalent of Rs 10,000 a month or £105. These benefits include health care, transport costs and a contribution to a retirement fund.
The dress, priced at £147, is now in huge demand with orders coming in from all over India and even as far as US and.
The design was a team effort that included textile designers, pattern masters, stitchery, tailors and finishing ladies and all are still excited by the level of attention their company has received this week.
Neha Dhiman, 23, is one of the textile designers of the dress and has worked at House of Anita Dongre since June last year.
She told MailOnline: “This is my first job and I cannot believe my design has been picked up by someone like Kate Middleton. I was speechless when I came to know through a friend. I first shared the excitement with my parents and then I messaged all my friends and relatives. They’re all so proud of me.
“Kate Middleton is a style icon and I would wear the dress exactly as she did because she looked simply perfect. I think she chose this dress because of English colours and the unique Indo-western style attached to it. It has a different silhouette compared to others, which is more chic. It is definitely summer friendly.”
Anita Dongre, who is well-known across India as a designer driven by the need to create sustainable fashion, is proud of the team's new office in Navi Mumbai which is both ergonomically-designed and eco-friendly.
The sprawling 180,000 sq.ft. factory, which incorporates wind and solar energy in its design, looks out over the rolling green hills of Maharashtra state where it is located.
After studying Fashion Design at the fashion institute of Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, Anita, 53, created her fashion label in 1995 with her sister Meena Sehra and brother Mukesh Sawlani.
Her son Yash Dongre, 24 has just recently joined the business as a management trainee.
Anita is well known in India for supporting traditional Indian crafts, incorporating them in her collections, and ensuring that the artisans of the country receive the benefits of their work.
One of the factors widely contributed to leading to her success is her work to make so-called 'high fashion' more affordable for more men and women in the country.