Hand embroidered · Pure Tussar silk

Heirloom sarees by tribal women

Each Shraddha heirloom saree is embroidered by hand, by tribal women. It is made to order, for the days a family remembers, and meant to be kept.

See the designs Enquire
A daughter settling the embroidered Tussar pallu on her mother's shoulder
The embroiderers seated around their frame on a verandah
The women

The tribal women behind the work

These sarees are embroidered by tribal women, from a region that is home to the Kokna, Warli, Katkari and Arunthathiyar communities.

Most had never done this kind of work before. They learned it stitch by stitch from a master trainer with over 20 years of experience. They work from home, and each saree means steady work and a better income.

“The first time we finished a saree, we kept unfolding it to look again.”Kamal Gavit
“With this work, I am able to support my daughter's education.”Sunita Bhoye
5women on one frame
10 daysper saree, down from 2½ months at the start
4tribal communities
100%pure Tussar silk
The craft

From hand to heirloom

Every stitch is made by hand. Up to five women work on one saree together.

  1. A design drawn in pencil on tracing paper

    1Design

    Drawn by hand on tracing paper.

  2. Plain Tussar silk stretched on a wooden frame

    2Frame

    The silk is stretched taut on a wooden frame.

  3. The design being transferred onto the silk

    3Impression

    The design is traced onto the silk.

  4. Five women embroidering around one frame

    4Five hands

    Up to five women embroider together.

  5. Close-up of a finished embroidered pallu

    5Pallu

    The richest work is saved for the pallu.

  6. A folded saree in its kraft paper wrapping

    6Finish

    Finished as carefully inside as outside, and wrapped by hand.

100% pure Tussar silkEmbroidered in the Bengal tradition, on silk yarn-dyed for lasting colour and sourced directly from weavers in West Bengal and Jharkhand.
The collection

Choose a design, or bring your own

Each saree is made to order in pure Tussar. Silk in natural Tussar or black, with more colours on request.

Kalka design pallu
NO. 01

Kalka

The paisley, a Bengal favourite.

Shyama design: ivory paisleys on black Tussar
NO. 02

Shyama

Ivory paisleys on black Tussar.

Mayur design: peacocks around a lotus medallion
NO. 03

Mayur

Peacocks around a lotus medallion.

Matsya design: fish among stitched waves
NO. 04

Matsya

Fish among the waves, for plenty.

Kalpataru design: a tree of life with birds
NO. 05

Kalpataru

The wish-fulfilling tree, with birds.

A family motif, a pattern from an old saree, a drawing
CUSTOM

Your design

Our trainer adapts it for hand embroidery on Tussar.

Made for you

A saree to keep, and to pass on

For the mother of the bride, a gift that means something, a puja at home, or simply to hand down.

WeddingsGiftsPuja and festivalsTo hand down
  1. 1

    Choose a design

    Pick one from the collection, or share your own idea with us.

  2. 2

    Choose the colour

    We confirm the silk and thread colours, the price and the delivery date with you.

  3. 3

    Confirm with an advance

    The tribal women begin work on your saree.

  4. 4

    Receive it, wrapped by hand

    Along with a note on how to care for it.

Contact

Begin your saree

Write to us by email. We'll talk you through the designs, colours and timing.

Email
[email protected]
Visit
Ramakrishna Mission, Ramakrishna Mission Marg, 12th Road, Khar (West), Mumbai 400 052

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