She is survived by her son William Nanda Bissell and daughter, Monsoon
The force who shaped the chain retailer of garments, fabric, furnishings and jewellery made by artisans across India’s rural regions, Bimla Nanda Bissell, the wife of FabIndia founder John Bissell passed away on Thursday at the age of 90. She died of age-related complications, as per the reports.
Fondly known as Bim, Bimla’s vision led FabIndia to become India’s largest private platform for products which have been made through traditional techniques. As she had an understanding of the potential that Indian handloom holds, she found ways through which the traditional Indian textile aesthetics and fabric could be modernised to make it appealing to the urban crowd.
Initially started as a company which exported home furnishings, FabIndia which was founded in 1960 by John went on to become a platform to house and market the diverse craft traditions of India. Bim started her career as an advisor in 1958 with the Cotton Industries Emporium in New Delhi. Given her expertise in Indian textiles like Chanderi, Banarasi, she led to the conception of FabIndia.
She worked with the World Bank for 21 years and as a senior accountant and executive ASP for Centre’s Tourism and Travel account from 1972 to 1975. She ran the Playhouse school and worked as a social secretary to the United States Ambassadors John Kenneth Galbraith, Chester Bowles and Judge Kenneth Keating in the nation’s capital New Delhi.
She is survived by her son William Nanda Bissell, the Chairman of FabIndia and daughter, Monsoon.
