Return to My Roots - A Journey Back Home

I grew up watching my mother, a talented seamstress, transform simple fabrics into beautiful clothes for our family. During her work trips, she would bring home ikat, kalamkari, and mangalgiri fabrics from small villages across Andhra Pradesh — each piece carrying its own texture, story and soul. China silks were reserved for special occasions, treated with the same reverence as heirlooms. I was always thrilled to wear my siblings and cousins clothes that my mom sewed.

As a child, I didn't realize how much those memories would shape me. My mother's love for sewing came not just from passion but also from necessity. She learnt tailoring from a masterji in the old city and Sunday afternoons were my favourite. I'd hop on the bus with her, clutching newspaper farmas (patterns) and watching her bring her ideas to life. Peplums, cowls, knife pleats, embroidery, appliqué she did it all even before it was called fashion. My grandfather's old sewing machine sits in a corner of our home today, still used, still humming with stories of another time.

Back then, I didn't appreciate what I saw. I envied the fancy frocks my friends wore from Chermas in Hyderabad. I didn't yet understand that what my mother created was far more special - clothing born from skill, patience, and love. Today, I see the beauty and the deep connection between fabric, craftsmanship, and identity - the very essence of what handmade truly means.

Today World of Ikat is a sustainable fashion brand and social enterprise that empowers artisans and underprivileged women. We create handloom ikat clothing that blends timeless craftsmanship with thoughtful design — inclusive, zero-waste and made with purpose.

Every collection is a tribute — to my mother's craftsmanship, to the artisans' skill and to the belief that fashion can be beautiful, mindful and rooted in culture.