Trailblazers of Madurai: Mahalakshmi Saravanan and Dr. Mamta Fomra

Mahalakshmi Saravanan – Women Entrepreneurs India

Mahalakshmi Saravanan’s entrepreneurial vision stems from her roots in Ketti, The Nilgiris, and her early career as a lecturer in Food Science and Nutrition. Though established in academia, her passion for empowering women led her to pivot toward entrepreneurship in 2013. She founded Women Entrepreneurs India (WEI), an organization focused on mentoring, upskilling, and networking for women across India, with an impact strongly felt among tier-2 cities and rural business founders.

The organization addresses a glaring gap—women’s limited access to reliable training, motivation, and professional connectivity outside major metropolitan centers. WEI orchestrates workshops, digital marketing programs, expert talks, and exclusive networking events that enable aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to overcome challenges related to funding, digital strategy, and market entry. Mahalakshmi’s drive is further strengthened by her mother-in-law, herself a three-time state award winner, who actively supports operations and mentorship activities.

Since its inception, WEI has transformed women’s economic participation in southern India, with outreach events and digital initiatives that have inspired over 160,000 participants. Mahalakshmi is highly sought after as a trainer and keynote speaker—featured at institutions like Infosys, Accenture, Amazon, ISRO, and the Reserve Bank Staff College. Her career is decorated with more than 15 awards, including international recognitions like the Rex Karmaveer Global Fellowship (UN), Women Icon of the Year, and Pothys Swarna Mahal honors.

Unusually, Mahalakshmi also took up chess at age 43 and became a mentor for women in chess, exemplifying her commitment to lifelong learning and trailblazing in unconventional domains. Her ethos rests on “empowering through education and skill,” proving that impact grows when supported by generations, connections, and tireless vision. Today, Women Entrepreneurs India stands as a dynamic national-level support system for women-led businesses, dramatically improving visibility and prospects for its members.

Dr. Mamta Fomra – MAMTA FOMRA Designer Label & Foundation

Madurai owes much of its emergence as a regional fashion hub to Dr. Mamta Fomra, who founded the first designer label in the city in 1995. Coming from a Kolkata family steeped in textile traditions and relocating to Madurai after marriage at 18, Mamta faced skepticism and logistical challenges—boutiques were almost unknown, and customized women’s fashion was not widely accepted in the conservative city. Yet she was determined to bridge the gap between metropolitan fashion and local preferences.

Her label, MAMTA FOMRA, is distinguished by its imaginative blending of ethnic Indian, Indo-Western, and Western styles. The collection features flowing silhouettes, elegant cuts, and intricate handmade embroidery, earning praise for being “Indian in essence and global in appeal.” Mamta’s sensitivity to client preferences, paired with her aesthetic vision, helped her overcome initial doubts. She persuaded local clients that “boutique” did not mean unattainable luxury, but could also serve routine everyday clothing needs.

Mamta Fomra’s journey was far from simple. The local fashion ecosystem favored designers from bigger cities, but she threw herself into endless product improvements and community engagement until her brand gained acceptance. Drawing inspiration from her father and supported by her husband, she persisted through doubts and cultural barriers.

Beyond creativity, she is deeply committed to social impact. The Mamta Fomra Institute of Fashion Management and Arts delivers tailored coaching for aspiring designers and youth, especially women. The curriculum enables skills, livelihoods, and confidence for students and artisans, and the Mamta Fomra Foundation takes these efforts further, training and supporting underprivileged women and domestic workers as artisans. Her dedication to women’s economic independence underpins all her initiatives.

Mamta’s achievements are recognized through many awards:

Sthree Honor of Excellence (2002)

Outstanding entrepreneur (US Consulate, Chennai, 2014)

Best Madurai Woman (2016)

Best Women Entrepreneur (Tamil Nadu Achievers Conference, International Global Peace University, 2017)

Business Achiever Award (Chamber of Commerce, 2018)

Honorary Doctorate (Constitution Club of India, 2018)

Exceptional Women of Excellence (Women Economic Conference, 2019)

Outstanding Women Entrepreneur & Fashion Designer (India Business Awards, 2019)

Women of the Decade Award (Government of Egypt, 2020)

Presidential Award of Recognition & Excellence (H.E. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Egypt, 2020)

Her influences and activities span international conferences, business leadership programs, city mentorship circles (Lean In Madurai), and social initiatives. She is a frequent motivational speaker, a mentor for the Cherie Blair Foundation (UK), and the Charter Chairperson for Madurai’s Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WICCI).

Mamta’s designs and community work have appeared in major publications like The Hindu, Dinamalar, Dinathandi, and Madurai Messenger Magazine. She regularly collaborates with Round Table, Ladies Circle, and other philanthropic networks in her “give-back” mission.

Closing Perspective

Both Mahalakshmi Saravanan and Dr. Mamta Fomra are exemplary for their courage, innovation, and insistence on creating opportunities for others. Their ventures—whether through digital skills, fashion design, or community mentorship—have produced meaningful change in Madurai, proving that visionary women can bridge economic, social, and cultural gaps. Their backstories reveal not only personal grit and achievement but also a model of intergenerational and community-based leadership that inspires lasting impact throughout southern India.