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Nov 11 09 Sakhi Fashions- Craft Carnival

THE HINDU

MetroPlus
June 20, 2009

Sari soiree

SCHATLINE Mother-daughter duo designers Chandra and Neeta make saris attractive for the younger generation, finds SHILPA SEBASTIAN R.

Chandra and her daughter Neeta are like the two sidesof a coin. The two not only breathe and design saris but also drape themselves in their own designs. They have a flair for combining the traditional with the modern and get younger women to try the sari. While the mother is the creative head, the daughter takes care of all the marketing and publicity. They seem to have a perfect understanding. Even while speaking, if one gets stuck at a point, the other will come to the rescue and complete the sentence. Together, they are a big hit, and so is their boutique - Sakhi by Chandras - in Indiranagar. The beginning "Though this boutique is four years old, my mother started the Chandra's collection at home 10 years ago," starts Neeta. "I only designed saris, for they are interesting. Initially, I would make my own saris. One day while I was shopping, a lady followed me for almost half an hour before she came up and asked me where I bought my sari. That made me feel good and I started creating something for family and friends," recalls Chandra. Though they are now based in Bangalore the design story has its beginnings in Delhi. "We would come down here once a year and I remember mom would create something exclusive for all her friends and relatives here. She would meticulously prepare all her gifts. It was remarkable to see the amount of time and energy she would invest into every gift. Our coming to Bangalore would be more like a ritual and there would be something exclusive for everyone," recalls Neeta. The family later on shifted base to Bangalore in 1992. "My husband got busy with his work and the children had grown up. I had more free time and started designing saris full time," says Chandra, who adds that the only training she had was in embroidery.

"What's the use of investing in something you're not able to wear?" Chandra

Neeta, who was busy with her studies, would assist her mother once in a while with hand painting and embroidery. "She is good at hand painting and did a short course in NIFT. It was only after she completed her education that she decided to join me," says Chandra. "I saw my mother's business grow and found my calling in assisting her. She is good in the creative aspect and is I started using my technological skills in helping her with the marketing and production. "Has working together hampered their relationship? "No, I actually see more positives," says Neeta while Chandra nods and adds: "This has brought us both really close. She used to be so disobedient but now we are more like friends. The more time we spend together, the more we value each other's opinions and ideas. "Neeta is now on a mission to make Sakhi more technologically-tuned. "We want to open up to the market abroad too. The website is designed in such as way that the customer can get what he wants - right from the details to the fabric to the kind of art work used and maintenance of fabric, you will find everything on www.sakhifashions.com.""We also have an exclusive crafts page that offers trivia on Indian arts, crafts and fabric. Those who shop online can get their products delivered within seven working days if it is to the US and within two days if it is in India," explains Neeta. "The best part about Sakhi creations is that the designs are wearable. What's the use of investing in something and not being able to wear it? They are not exactly kitschy but you will surely find something unique in our designs," explains Chandra. Chandra says that she draws her inspiration from nature.

"The market is getting younger. Youngsters like something exciting and stylish" Neeta

"For instance, I saw a couple of peacocks during my morning walk in an ashram, and you will see those colours and designs in our latest collection. These are matched with Benarasi appliqued floral cut work too and so on. Even when I am cooking my mind is busy combining colours and fabrics!" says Chandra. Promoting traditional craft "We try and promote other traditional art work, besides zardosi, like cut-work, aari work etc. Even in kalamkari we try to be different. Generally this art comes with a dull finish and rustic colours but we try and use vibrant colours for it and blend it in with some hand embroidery and use them on Kanchivarams with hand applique work and so on," explains Neeta. The mother-daughter duo has now come up with the spring summer collection. One that they highly recommend is the mirror worked sari where the mirrors are just woven into the organza fabric. "The market is getting younger. Youngsters like to drape a sari if you create something exciting and stylish. We have people aged between 25 and 35 coming in to our stores. We try and blend in the traditional with the modern," explains Neeta. "We are not here just to dress up pretty women. We market our products in such a way that everything has a message, makes a woman feel special, and makes every woman think six yards ahead of her time. This also happens to be our slogan," adds Neeta.Sakhi by Chandras can be contacted on 41155551.

Check out their website www.sakhifashions.com. The Chandras even take orders and make special saris for special occasions.

SAKHI, #305, 6TH MAIN, INDIRANAGAR, BANGALORE - 560038 PHONE: 080 - 41155551

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Sakhi Story

Indian fashion is making waves globally. Well known Indian designers like Ritu Kumar, Manish Malhotra, Manish Arora, Satya Paul, Neeta Lulla and others have a large following worldwide. New brands like "Sakhi by Chandras" are fast emerging as designer brands that add to the glamour of Indian designer sarees. Sakhi focuses on designer sarees that are wearable. They are exotic but at the same time elegant. They are unique but at the same time casual.

Sakhi is a fast growing fashion outlet founded by the mother-daughter duo of Chandra Rajendran and Neeta. Chandra is a designer with a keen eye for color and passion for design and her daughter Neeta brings a younger dimension to the designs and the brand. Sakhi specializes what they call the "wearable design" - Indian designer sarees and other products that you can wear for multiple occasions with ease and always win a complement.

Chandra's designer boutique has been active for more than 15 years, initially serving a close circle of friends. The popularity of her designs caught up and whenever people wore her designs, heads turned and complements flowed. And when Neeta, with an engineering degree and NIFT diploma in fashion under her belt joined her mother, the mother-daughter combine launched "Sakhi by Chandras" as a new brand in 2005 in Bangalore. From then on, Sakhi has grown into a well-respected brand for Indian woman's clothes today. Sakhi launched its online shopping site making it one of the best experience for Indian sarees online shopping. Sakhi launched their Hyderabad outlet in Oct'09.

With a clientele spreading across the world, Sakhi is constantly reinventing itself while not losing its core focus of creating wearable designs for the Indian woman.

Sakhi History

Chandra Rajendran and her daughter Neeta are the women who weave the Sakhi story. Chandra has been a successful Bangalore-based designer for more than a decade. She has a keen eye for colour and a passion for design.

With a modest yet loyal client base of 15 of her friends, designer Chandra first tasted success in the form of a home boutique, something she started as a hobby. Chandras penchant for innovative design ensured her clients frequented the boutique on a monthly basis. Steadily growing, the home run enterprise earned Chandra a name for herself. What started out as a hobby with 15 clients transformed, within 5 years, into a successful business with 350 clients.

Neeta, with an engineering degree and a NIFT Diploma under her belt, joined Chandra to drive the business. Together, they have combined their energies to mould Sakhi into a brand that continuously reinvents the traditional Indian garment for the modern woman. Established in August 2005, Sakhi has shown commendable progress in successfully sharing the boutique experience with an impressive list of loyal clients who have never faltered in expressing their appreciation, and have always recommended Sakhi to friends and family.

Sakhi believes that the onset of e-commerce in India has enabled it in growing its client base by traversing geographies with ease. Keeping in mind India is 60 million, and growing, internet user base which includes a significant number of net-savvy women, Sakhi has ensured that its online venture, www.sakhifashions.com, recreates the boutique experience to the very last detail. Neeta and Chandra are confident that the website will help progressive women across the world identify with Sakhi. Also on the cards is a new Sakhi store to be launched in Hyderabad, a result of Sakhis growing popularity in the city.

Sakhis Collection

Each creation that flows out the Sakhi boutique is a new-age expression of age-old tradition. Be it an exquisite saree or an elegant salwar, Sakhi weaves tussar, chiffon, crepe, kanchivaram, georgette and organza to create vibrant expressions of today's woman. From the selection of material, the weaving of a masterpiece, to the dyeing of fabric, Sakhi redefines the art of saree making to give tradition a new meaning.

Sakhis creations are designed keeping in mind the modern woman and her idea of wearable fashion. Sakhi blends traditional techniques with innovative ideas to create sarees and salwars that are both beautiful and unique.

Cut work is a Sakhispeciality which finds expression in an array of fabrics, from elegant tussars to light chiffons, from gorgeous crepes to timeless kanchivarams. A delicate, lace-like embroidery which involves intricate hand work and a keen eye, Sakhi treats cut work in a unique manner, with unusual colour schemes and quality fabrics. While the cut work is subtle and understated on sarees created for the workplace, on sarees that are designed as evening wear, the cut work is elaborate, featuring tissue that creates a zari effect. By adding an Indian touch to this French technique, Sakhi crafts a perfect blend of beauty and perfection.

The launch of Sakhis latest collection is an occasion to fall in love with elegant pure silks embellished with contemporary motifs, intricate embroidery and cut work. Pamper your artistic side with stunning mirror work on kanchivaram, floral cut work and tussar silk with tissue appliquedpallavs. Stimulate your imagination with concept sarees like the rising design saree and the partly pallavsaree, to name a few. Also on offer this season, is an exciting range of kalamkari hand appliqued on kanchivaram, with intricate zari cut work.

For more information, please call Neeta Rajendran on +91 90000 81536

Sakhi Stores

Bangalore

# 305, 6^th Main, Defence Colony, Indiranagar, Bangalore-560038.

Ph# : +91 80 41155551 / 25252007.

Hyderabad

Sakhi, 8-2-684/J/15 Plot No. 1428, Banjara Hills, Road No.12, Hyderabad-500034.

Ph# : +91 40 4456 4644 / 2338 6233

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Sakhi Story

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