Sabyasachi Saris range from Rs.2,000-5,000

Sabyasachi’s Save the Saree project

Sabyasachi has sold close to 500 saris under the project this year.

This project focuses on the retail of handwoven Indian saris, and the proceeds go to 50-60 weavers in Andhra Pradesh and Bengal. “In Bengal, we work with weavers in Fulia, Murshidabad, Kalna. We source telia and Pochampally weaves from Andhra and jamdani and Tangail from Bengal,” says Mukherjee. The idea behind the project is to support the weavers in the lean season and hence most of these saris are commissioned to be woven in the summer months. “My goal is to make Indians aware of our country’s resources. No machine can replicate what Indian hands can achieve with textiles. The trick is to make consumers take pride in wearing our saris and weaves.” It started two years ago after a trip to Pochampally, Andhra Pradesh, where Mukherjee had gone to source cotton and silk saris. “I realized a family of four makes less than Rs.4,000 a month. Half the money is eaten by middleman. The handloom industry is slowly dying because few Indian designers patronize Indian textiles.” About 500 saris are sold each season and Mukherjee is hoping to increase numbers for next season which starts in April.

Canisters in which Save the Saree project saris are packed.

Saris range from Rs.2,000-5,000, but can cost more. Available at Sabyasachi stores in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Delhi; and www.sabyasachi.com.