Led by the mother-son duo Asha Gauta and Gautam Gupta, Asha Gautam’s ethos revolves around their artisans. Crafts reigns supreme, with techniques like Kalamkari, Chikankari, Bandhani and Patola taking center stage. Fun fact: Sonam Kapoor recently wore a beautiful sari from this brand, which was hand-painted, featuring Kalamkari.
WeaverStory is characterised by a super traditional design approach to handwoven textiles. Their designs retain the essence of the classic saris that we’ve grown up watching our grandmothers and mothers wear. WeaverStory brings together weaves from across the country, from Banarasi silks and Chanderis to Jamdanis and Patolas. From minimalistic saris to opulent lehengas with intricate embroideries, WeaverStory has pretty much everything a textile-conscious bride needs in her wedding trousseau.
While Ekaya has a textile-first approach rooted in tradition, their design philosophy is anything but traditional. The brand constantly reimagines sari through a contemporary lens. From houndstooth-print saris to zebra-print ones and polka-dotted saris to saris with micro-blouses, Ekaya proves that slow fashion doesn’t have to be boring.
Shanti Banaras
One can’t talk about textile-forward brands and leave Shanti Banaras out of discussion. From traditional handwoven saris to bridal lehengas with corsets, Shanti Banaras has something for everyone. Much like Ekaya, this is a great brand to consider if you like paying homage to traditional textiles, fused with cool, contemporary silhouettes.
Tilfi Banaras
Tilfi Banaras is characterised by a classic, almost old-money aesthetic. A lot of their designs feature intricate patterns, including fine florals and paisley. Blurring the lines between art and clothing, they also have blouses made entirely in metal, with embroidery embossed on it.
The Warp 'n Weft
The Warp 'n Weft works closely with the weavers of Varanasi, to preserve handloom traditions. From intricate Shikargah and Jangla-inspired patterns to Rangkats, Guldavaris, Gyasar, Khinkhwab, and Jamdani techniques, this label is all about craftsmanship, with traditional design sensibilities.