BENGALURU: He runs the comb through the long tresses with great care, ensuring there are no tangles or single strands coming loose.
Stitched onto a wire mesh padded with cloth, the jet black hair flows from his hand. While he carefully places it on the head of a mannequin, Marishetty Kumar exclaims, “The hair of Indian women is among the best for making wigs. Do you know it has huge market value and is exported?”
At his Natural Wig Works, located in a small bylane of Kurubarahalli, you find wigs of all colours and shapes. After designing wigs for film stars and enjoying his days in the tinsel world, Kumar decided to make a difference, and began designing wigs for cancer patients.
Kumar takes into account the texture and colour, and designs wigs that resemble the patients’ natural hair.
It has been 10 years since he embarked on this journey and he has no regrets, though he says the margins are low. He has made about 12,000 wigs for cancer patients alone, reaching out to cities across the country and abroad.
Hailing from a village near Shivanasamudra near Mandya, Kumar discontinued education after Class 8. “We were a large family. I have eight siblings. We could barely manage two meals a day,” he says.
One day, he met a wig designer on a film set near his village. Intrigued, he began his apprenticeship with him and learnt the ropes. Eventually Kumar moved to Bengaluru and set up his own shop as he wanted to distance himself from the film fraternity. “Earlier, actors used to appreciate our skills. These days many bully us. Instead of pandering to them, I found this a more meaningful venture,” he remarks.
A recent challenge is to compete with synthetic and factory-made wigs.
Whatsapp Orders
A wig is priced at about Rs 10,000, and Kumar gives extra discounts to customers from poor families.
Kumar now takes orders on Whatsapp.
“I give customers instructions on how to send their measurements. Once they send their photograph and measurements to me on Whatsapp, I design the wig and send it by courier,” he explains.
He starts his day at 8am and is usually at work for 12 hours at a stretch. He says it takes him at least four days to complete a wig. However, if someone has an emergency, he works overnight and makes sure it reaches them.
“Once wigs are delivered, I do not cut my ties with my customers. I interact with them from time to time and help them maintain the wigs. If maintained, a wig lasts for at least four years,” he says.
Natural Wig Works, near Bescom office, Kurubarahalli circle.
Wigs Also Make Alliances
The hair for wigs is sourced from Tirupati. Kumar needs at least 250 gram of raw material for a wig. Depending on the specifications, he adds more length and volume.
He often thinks of expanding, but is unable to find people skilled enough to hire.
Even as he picks up a half-done wig and continues stitching, Kumar muses, “Cancer patients apart, these wigs have also been responsible for several marriage alliances.”