Mangaluru, July 16, 2025: Smt. Vasanthi (87), a pioneering figure in Mangaluru’s tailoring industry and founder of Central Ladies Tailor, passed away on Wednesday at her daughter’s residence in Mysuru.
Vasanthi was widely recognised as the first lady tailor of Mangaluru, breaking gender norms in the tailoring profession during a time when very few women worked independently. She established Central Ladies Tailor as a reputed hub for custom women’s wear, influencing generations of women in the region to pursue skilled trades and entrepreneurship.
She was the wife of the late B. Manjunath and is survived by her son and daughter.
Vasanthi’s legacy lives on through the many lives she touched—both as a professional and as a trailblazer who reshaped the perception of women’s roles in Mangaluru’s business landscape.