The nine yard saree is a piece of fabric that occupies a special space in the life of an Indian or rather South Asian woman. The ancestral textile takes on a unique drape in every state and is further diversified within these communities as well. The saree has seen multiple modifications through the years and also heavily reflects the colonial and Mughal influences. However despite the many changes the indigenous drape still shares close ties with the native cultures of the land. 

'Samavai' is a young diaspora led brand that is reimagining South Asian textile in a new light by carving modern silhouettes out of vintage sarees. What started as an upcycling project has bloomed into a next-gen label erasing the divide between traditional wear and modern clothing. Created by non-binary Tamil designer, Shriya Samavai, who was inspired by the ancestral wealth hidden within the folds of indigenous textiles. Shriya is on a mission of exploring how heritage and history can be passed down through textiles to the younger generation across communities. 

The brand refuses to limit the textile to a certain region and is rather embracing fluidity to channel a shared community spirit. The products are currently cut & sewn in Tamil Nadu, India and California, USA. The entire process is rooted in conscious production and purposefully works with vintage, deadstock and handloom materials in limited quantities. The anti-trend store is transparent about their production chain as well and places importance on creating a safe environment for garment labourers as well. 

You can explore their collection here.

If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown: 

How A Genderfluid Homegrown Thrift Store Aims To Change The Way We Purchase Clothing

How A Women-Led Brand From A Small Town In Uttarakhand Is Pioneering Cultural Sustainability

A Homegrown Brand Crafting Upcycled Clothing Using Discarded Denim & Fabric Scraps