Yamini's mother company is an export house, called Synergy. The company was selling its home linen all over the world, when it struck owner Sunita Namjoshi that the same stuff could be sold locally. That's how the first Yamini store opened in Bangalore.

``We thought that if our products sold so well abroad, it could do the same in India,'' says Sonali, in-charge of the Yamini line of home linen. The company has two self-owned showrooms, the one in Bangalore and another in Pune. Three other showrooms are operating, following a piggy-bank tie-up with Pantaloon.

It has display space in the Pantaloon showrooms in Thane (Mumbai), Hyderabadand Calcutta. It also has a wholesale hub in Bangalore, from where retail store owners can own buy the Yamini brand of linen to stock in their showrooms. ``Yamini's aim is to make available one-of-a-kind superior quality home furnishings at affordable prices, not only through retail, but also wholesale,'' says Sonali. She contends that the quality of Yamini products in India is the same as that for the export market, while the prices are 10-15 per cent lower than up-market competitors like Fab India or the home linen section in any departmental store.

This summer, Yamini has experimented with home linen in organdy, a first in the home linen market, says Sonali. The organdy collection has tablecloths, mats and curtains, which will add a touch of coolness to any home. These accessories come in a range of pastels: lavender, sky blue, mint green, yellow, blush pink, pure white, brown and grey.

``The organdy collection was specially made for the Indian market, as organdy is a `summery' material used widely inclothing here,'' says Sonali. The prices of the organdy collection range from Rs 40 to Rs 460; an organdy curtain would cost between Rs 250 and Rs 375.

Yamini also has colour coordinated its table linen. So, if you buy two sets of different tablecloths, napkins, place-mats and napkin rings, you can make six table arrangements, says Sonali. These accessories are available in solids, checks and prints in bright colours like blue, yellow, green and white. Kitchen cloths, aprons, pot holders and oven gloves are also available in the same fabric and colours. The price range for the table linen is between Rs 20 and Rs 600, while the kitchen accessories cost between Rs 45 and Rs 150.

Like this summer's special organdy collection, Yamini makes sure it has something special every season. Last year, it held a denim promotion, wherein every home accessory-from curtains and bedcovers to cushions covers and table linen-were available in denim. A similar promotion for rugs was held with a wide range of rugs designedfor the promotion, while the wrought iron accessories event had wrought iron artefacts for the home. And in December, Yamini wore a `Christmassy' look with home linen in red, green and gold and holly berries, Christmas trees and stockings for prints.

Yamini is looking to widen its range of home linen and offer innovative designs at affordable prices throughout the country.