June 17, 2009
designer sarees
," says Chandra, head of design, Sakhi Fashions. Chandra draws her inspiration from nature and everything around her, churning out new patterns and ideas and adding them to her collections. To assist and focus on the business aspect of Sakhi is none other than Chandra's daughter, Neeta Rajendran, CEO, Sakhi Fashions. After completing her degree in telecom engineering, Neeta decided to help her mother in her creative venture and realized this is where she could utilize her potentials in a dynamic way. Neeta has used her skills to improvise the boutique using latest technologies. She is the first in the country to deploy RFID technology for managing inventory in a fashion store. "I've used all the latest technologies to make Sakhi a modern store, also keeping in mind the needs and comfort level of our clientele and customers," says Neeta. Neeta has also created anonline store
of Sakhi for clients outside the country like Hong Kong, France, the UK etc. At a time when Indian garments are rapidly gaining popularity in the current pulse of fashion all over the world, Sakhi aims at adding an innovative and modern touch to Indian tradition. "There are so many different craft and art work in India from different states. Through our designs we are bringing these lesser known art forms to the market," says Neeta. "We specialize in a fine form of needlework called cut-work, which has its origins in France. One can find the use of the needle work in most of our designs made out of the luxuriousKanchivaram silk
woven exclusively in Tamil Nadu," she adds. Sakhi also specializes in certain kinds of Indian block printing where the blocks are a mix of modern geometric and traditional floral. Keeping in mind the urban, modern women, Sakhi offers new ways of draping sarees. "Thesarees
are only 6 metres in length, making it possible to easily wear and drape in various drape in various ways, yet look stunning," says Chandra. "We also use various patterned colours throughout the body of the saree and give an option to accessorize it," she adds. Sakhi's list of clients include women from all walks of life including actress Kirron Kher.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
# 305, 6th Main, Defence Colony, Indiranagar, Bangalore-560038.
Ph# : +91 80 41155551 / 25252007.
Sakhi, 8-2-684/J/15 Plot No. 1428, Banjara Hills, Road No.12, Hyderabad-500034.
Ph# : +91 40 4456 4644 / 2338 6233
