The small joys of receiving a gift by post, opening it to find aesthetically designed wrapping paper, and appreciating the texture of handmade paper is where paper products store, Chimanlals steps in. Sadly, it also remains one of the last surviving names of its ilk.
<img title="From a personal collection by Chimanlals&rsquo;, featuring traditional Indian designs" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/18-Indian-designs-1.jpg" alt="From a personal collection by Chimanlals&rsquo;, featuring traditional Indian designs" /> From a personal collection by Chimanlals&rsquo;, featuring &nbsp;traditional Indian designs
This SoBo paper store tucked in Fort&rsquo;s Wallace Street, boasts of over 200 paper products ranging from '9 to '263, Chimanlals&rsquo; history dates back to almost 50 years now. &ldquo;Khadi &amp; Village Industries Commission approached our parent company, Chimanlal Paper Company (still a leading paper company) to develop and promote handmade paper.
<img title="Faya Chandani, director, Chimanlals" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/18-Faya-Chandani-1.jpg" alt="Faya Chandani, director, Chimanlals" /> Faya Chandani, director, Chimanlals
The company is named after my grandfather Chimanlal Shah. He brought in my mother Bharati Dalal and her sister Pratima Azmi to start working on it,&rdquo; informs Faya Chandani, director of the store. Initially, they worked from a store in Macmillan Building nearby. Later, they moved to their current premises in the early 1980s; this was after the handmade division was incorporated as a private limited company in 1974.
<img title="the guide loves the ikat-style gift wrapping papers that would look great even if framed for your curio corner" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/18-ikat-style-gift-1.jpg" alt="the guide loves the ikat-style gift wrapping papers that would look great even if framed for your curio corner" /> the guide loves the ikat-style gift wrapping papers that would look great even if framed for your curio corner
Initial experiments with handmade paper didn&rsquo;t work well as people weren&rsquo;t too happy with the texture of the paper nor was it printable. That was when the sisters thought of making decorative paper products, especially ones that use traditional Indian art and motifs. This continues to be their USP. What has changed is the demand for the products. &ldquo;Previously, letterheads and envelopes were our top sellers. But since few write letters nowadays, our focus has shifted to gift packaging products,&rdquo; reveals Chandani.
<img title="Paper bags are some of the top-sellers at the store. Pics/Atul Kamble" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/18-Paper-bags.jpg" alt="Paper bags are some of the top-sellers at the store. Pics/Atul Kamble" /> Paper bags are some of the top-sellers at the store. Pics/Atul Kamble
Chandani seamlessly took over the reins of a store that she would visit ever since she was a student at Cathedral and John Connon School nearby. Today, like her, her son and daughter (a student of JB Petit School for Girls) visit the store too. Students from the neighbouring schools and Sir JJ School of Arts have been regular customers. In addition to this, products are exported to Europe, America and Asian countries.
<img title="A product for every occasion, these simple Christmas trees will make you head to the store in December" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/18-Christmas-trees.jpg" alt="A product for every occasion, these simple Christmas trees will make you head to the store in December" /> A product for every occasion, these simple Christmas trees will make you head to the store in December
But due to its location in a culture hub, they&rsquo;ve seen famous customers too. This includes customising the letterheads for artist Jehangir Sabavala, and, the dancer, late Protima Bedi who would drop by the store for a cuppa with Dalal.
<img title="This hand-drawn lamp is Chimanlals&rsquo; most expensive product, for R263" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/18-hand-drawn-lam.jpg" alt="This hand-drawn lamp is Chimanlals&rsquo; most expensive product, for R263" /> This hand-drawn lamp is Chimanlals&rsquo; most expensive product, for R263
Chimanlals also created the wedding cards of actor Sanjay Dutt&rsquo;s first wedding, as the senior Dutts too were regulars at the store. Quite a few customers of Chimanlals were friends of Dalal, Chandani shares, adding that Elizabeth Hurley too had dropped by the store a few times. Chimanlals provides products to the store Paperworks in Panjim, Goa, which is now run by Dalal&rsquo;s sister Azmi.
<img title="Assorted gift boxes costing as little as R9" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/18-gift-boxes.jpg" alt="Assorted gift boxes costing as little as R9" /> Assorted gift boxes costing as little as R9
Competition, especially from machine-made products has always been tough says Chandani, &ldquo;Today mill-made products also provide great textures. I feel the demand for handmade paper peaked in the &rsquo;80s.&rdquo;
<img title="The entrance to Chimanlals, the store" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/18-Chimanlals.jpg" alt="The entrance to Chimanlals, the store" /> The entrance to Chimanlals, the store
&ldquo;China-made products too have a big share in the market. But by staying true to our traditional line of products, we have maintained a good customer base,&rdquo; explains Aruna Behel, chief executive sales and exports, who has been working with the store for 30 years now.

Solo on stage

Just in time to get your gift wrappers and greeting cards ready for Diwali, we drop by at paper products store, Chimanlals that has been catering to paper lovers for nearly 50 decades

Meet Mumbai's paper (heavy)weights

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