Magespari and Vinothini (right) are crafting their way towards financial independence and a better future for their children. — Photo: FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
Homemaker Vinothini Munusamy has been busy running her home-based business of crafting lippan kaam – a traditional mirror art from Gujarat, India – lately. The mother of three from Klang, Selangor, has received 10 orders for this intricate circular artwork, all due next weekend.
"Christmas is around the corner, and I need to complete these orders by then. On average, it takes between three and seven days to complete a 12-inch (30.5cm) artwork. Besides lippan kaam, I also have several orders for Christmas-themed mandala paintings. People like mandala paintings as they come with geometric patterns and symmetrical designs," says Vinothini, 46, during an interview at her home in Rantau Panjang, Klang recently.
Balancing her role as a mother and entrepreneur, Vinothini devotes about four hours each day to completing her lippan kaam orders.
Vinothini is honing her crafting skills to elevate her family’s income and create a brighter future. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
"First, the designs are drawn on a white wooden board. Then the clay is rolled according to the template before being left to dry for a day, Next, the artwork is painted. Then, small mirrors are added one by one. After that, the artwork is painted using acrylic paint. All that requires patience and creativity."
Vinothini believes that with her new skill and hard work, she can improve her life and secure a better income for the future.
A 2020 research entitled Factors Influencing Women's Involvement in Entrepreneurship in Malaysia states that the desire for self-independence is a driving force behind women's engagement in entrepreneurial activities.
The study, published in the Journal of Business and Social Development, highlights that independent women are free to make decisions on their own and strive towards determining their future.
Vinothini's stunning Kathakali artwork crafted through the intricate lippan kaam technique. — VINOTHINI MUNUSAMY
For a better tomorrow
In June, Vinothini enrolled in a free B40 upskilling programme in lippan kaam and mandala painting at non-governmental organisation Persatuan Transformasi Warisan Selangor (Petrawaris) in Setia Alam, Selangor.
At the centre, B40 women between the ages of 18 and 60 are given the opportunity to learn various arts and craft skills like macrame, jewellery and mandala painting and entrepreneurship training.
Petrawaris founder Rajeswari Jeyaraman, 39, has been organising such courses at her centre since 2019. The lessons are aimed at helping the women earn a living and improve their livelihood.
"We focus on arts and craft courses because they are unique and saleable. Plus, crafters can easily promote their products on social media. Many of these crafts like mandala painting and lippam kaam are simple to learn and have low costs. We hope to empower women from diverse backgrounds to move towards independence."
She adds that nearly 1,000 women from various backgrounds have received training through those initiatives.
Guiding hands: Art instructor Marriyaee Anthony (centre) demonstrates the art of lippan kaam to Magespari (left) and Vinothini.
The courses are supported by the Social Welfare Department under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
"For women in the B40 group and single mothers, learning new skills is very important to help them earn their own money and make a better life for their kids. We want these women to feel strong and to inspire their families and communities to work together for a brighter future."
Although the work is tiring and time-consuming, Vinothini remains committed. Every piece of artwork she creates brings in extra income, helping to ease her family's financial burden.
Her husband, Saravana Kumar, 46, works as a security guard in Klang, and his take-home salary is just enough to cover basic expenses. Before she started her home-based business, he could only provide RM200 a month for groceries.
"I used to rely entirely on my husband for money. With just RM200 for groceries, I could not afford treats like pizza or ice cream for my kids. It broke my heart every time they asked, and I had to say no. That was my turning point – I wanted to earn my own income to give my children the little joys that make them happy," says Vinothini, whose children are aged 14, 10 and seven.
These days, she can generate a modest income, ranging from RM300 to RM800 each month.
Vinothini working on a Christmas-themed artwork. — VINOTHINI MUNUSAMY
Vinothini, who promotes her business through word of mouth and her Instagram (@mvinothini1230), says: "It is not a lot, but at least I can finally set aside some money for savings. These days, I can afford to buy mutton and chicken for the family. During Deepavali, I had extra funds to buy new clothes for my children. One day, I want to save enough money to take my family on a holiday."
She adds that that earning her own income has also boosted her confidence and given her a new sense of motivation to take control of her financial future.
Mandala art is popular due to its geometric patterns and symmetrical designs.Setia Alam-based homemaker Magespari Perumal, 41, also enrolled in Petrawaris' mandala art and lippan kaam courses in June. She decided to do so after realising that she could run a small business from home while managing her responsibilities as a housewife.
"I have always loved creating arts and craft. When I found out that Petrawaris was offering lessons in mandala art and lippan kaam, I was excited to sign up. Mandala art is popular in Malaysia, but lippan kaam isn’t as well known. I thought I could turn lippam kaam into a small business since it's still new to many people," said the mother of five.
However, Magespari faced some challenges when she first learned lippan kaam. The first difficulty was coming up with different designs. Then, she had to learn how to handle epoxy clay, which dries quickly.
Creating mandala artwork is one of the ways that B40 women can boost their income. — Photos: FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
"It is tough to make the tiny balls all the same shape and keep everything even before the clay dries. I also had some challenges in learning to master how to roll the clay into an even thickness. Once the clay is rolled, it is immediately placed on a board using strong glue.
"It takes about five days to complete the artwork. First, the clay must dry for a day. Then, white paint is applied to create an even base colour and left to dry. For lippan art, bright and festive colours like red, yellow and gold are used as they symbolise prosperity and happiness," says Magespari, who earns around RM300 each month from selling her lippan kaam and mandala artwork.
"It's not much, but it’s some additional income. My husband works two jobs – a security guard and a part-time lorry driver. Whatever little money that we earn can go towards paying for my kids' education," she says with a warm smile.
Epoxy clay is used to outline Vinothini's lippan kaam artwork. — VINOTHINI MUNUSAMY
She is also grateful for her family's support, as her eldest son, Shasvin Mageswaran, 17, has been helping her find new designs for orders on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
"Running a business from home is something new to me, and slowly, I'm learning how to manage my time, sell products from home, manage my cost and use social media to learn new things. I am grateful for the opportunity. At least now, I can help to pay for my children's tuition lessons and keep additional money in my savings account."
Magespari thinks it is crucial for B40 women and single mothers to acquire new skills to enhance their income.
"I decided to learn lippan kaam because I enjoy crafting. Some housewives who are skilled in cooking can also sell their homemade food to earn an income. Never give up, and always seek ways to improve yourself."
