A Story Woven in Pink and Purpose

Vasanthi and her Anupama

In the world of handloom, there are creations that follow a pattern, and then there are those that break through it—quietly, gracefully, and with immense purpose. Anupama, a sari born from a collaboration between a patron’s memory, a designer’s vision, and a community of skilled artisans, stands proudly in the latter category. It is not simply a sari—it is a declaration of what is possible when tradition is not just preserved, but actively lived and lovingly reimagined.

This note is a tribute to that journey: the story of a sari woven not only with silk and zari, but with affection, trust, and intentionality. It is about colour as identity, design as dialogue, and heritage as a living force. At its centre are three women—Vasanthi, the patron whose pink dreams sparked the project; Ane Thomas, the designer who shaped those dreams into form; and Kamala, one of the weavers whose hands gave it life.

The Patron as Muse: Vasanthi and the Colour Pink

The inception of Project Anupama came not from a design studio, but from a deeply personal request. Vasanthi, a long-standing Parvai patron, reached out with a single photograph. It was of a sari she had once worn, long lost to time. The colours were etched in her memory: a luminous Rani pink paired with a deep forest green—a combination both striking and serene. She asked us, not to replicate it, but to honour it. To create something new that still carried the emotion of what once was.

Vasanthi is not just a buyer—she is a creator in her own right. A self-taught artist, a connoisseur of detail, and someone for whom colour is more than aesthetic—it is elemental. Pink, for her, is not just a shade. It is a statement of joy, self-expression, and personal history. It is a hue she returns to repeatedly, not out of habit, but from love.

This request was not a commercial inquiry. It was an offering of trust—a desire to co-create. And for Parvai, it was a gift. An invitation to do what we value most: to create with intention, intimacy, and integrity.

The Designer as Translator: Ane Thomas and the Language of Motif

At Parvai, the design process is never abstract. It begins with the person, with their story, their vision, and their environment. Ane Thomas, co-founder and design lead at Parvai, took this commission to heart.

Ane did not begin with fabric swatches or CAD renderings. She began with listening. What did Vasanthi love about the original? What emotions did she associate with it? What should stay, and what could evolve?

Drawing from Kanchipuram’s extensive design grammar, Ane created a wholly original pattern—blending tradition and quiet innovation. The body would remain Rani pink, but not any pink. It had to be vibrant without harshness, celebratory without flamboyance. After multiple dye trials, the exact shade was found: luminous, joyful, and bold.

The borders and pallu would be in forest green—a rare pairing that balanced the pink with grounded elegance. The Korvai technique would be used to join the contrasting warps, ensuring the distinction between body and border remained crisp, dignified, and classical.

The buttas on the body were designed as silver zari florals—small, refined, and placed with meditative precision. The retrapettu border carried layered vines and the pullinakham (tiger claw) motif—symbols of strength and protection. And the pallu, Ane’s signature touch, was composed of alternating zari lines and grids that mirrored architectural balance. It was a pallu that did not demand attention, but drew it in, quietly.

Throughout production, Ane remained intimately involved—not only in guiding design execution but in daily coordination with dyers, loom setters, and weavers. The result was not just a Parvai original. It was a Parvai commitment, overseen from concept to completion.

The Weaver as Keeper: Pachiappan and Kamala at the Loom

If Vasanthi gave Anupama its soul, and Ane gave it its form, it was Pachiappan and Kamala, a husband-wife weaving duo in Chinna Kanchipuram, who gave it breath. Alongside their master weaver Dhanashekhar, they undertook the task of executing the design on a traditional three-shuttle handloom, where the Korvai join between body and border is not just a technique—it is an act of virtuosity.

The pre-loom process itself took eight days. Sizing the yarns with rice starch, winding them on warping drums, dyeing, drying, and aligning every thread took the coordinated effort of a six-person team. Only after this preparation could the loom be set, a ritual in itself.

The weaving of Anupama spanned fifteen days. Every inch required coordination between hand and foot, between design and dexterity. Every flaw meant reweaving. Every success brought pride.

For Kamala, this project was a revelation. She had woven many saris before, but never one in this particular colourway, and never with this motif configuration. It pushed her skills, refined her sensibilities, and reminded her of the joy that comes when a weaver’s craft is fully seen and honoured.

The Sari as Story: Vasanthi Wears Anupama

The sari was finally complete.

A masterpiece in Rani pink and forest green, finished with 200+ person-hours of work, signed and steam-pressed, ready to meet its muse.

When Vasanthi received the sari, she chose to wear it on a deeply personal milestone: her 28th wedding anniversary. She sent us this note, glowing with gratitude:

Thank you so much, dear Effie! I absolutely loved everything about the saree: the colors, the texture, the structure… just everything! It felt so luxurious and vibrant, exactly what I had imagined. That’s why I chose this beauty for such a special occasion. My husband and I are celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary, and this saree truly made the day feel even more memorable. Grateful to you for being a part of it! 💖

In her words, the circle was complete. What had begun as a longing became a memory renewed.

For our team, that message meant everything. It validated every hour at the loom. It reminded us why handwoven craft still matters. It proved that when patrons bring imagination, and artisans meet them with dedication, beauty follows.

Why Anupama Matters

We named the sari Anupama, meaning “incomparable,” because it holds no equal.

It is:

• A Parvai-original design, developed from memory and rendered in artistry
• A rare colour pairing not often seen in contemporary Kanchipurams
• A celebration of slow craft, made with devotion and excellence
• A collaboration across disciplines, with trust as its foundation
• A proof of what is possible when fashion is personal, not performative

It is also a quiet revolution. In an era where clothing is consumed, Anupama was co-created. It carries not just silk, but soul.

A Final Word: Where the Patron Meets the Maker

Anupama is more than a product—it is a process made visible. A sari made not just for someone, but because of someone. It reminds us that the future of craft lies not only in preservation, but in participation.

At Parvai, this is our deepest belief:

That the act of making should be as thoughtful as the act of wearing.

That beauty arises when hands meet hearts.

That the patron and the maker do not stand apart, but walk together.

Thank you, Vasanthi.

Thank you, Ane.

Thank you, Dhanashekhar & team 

And thank you to those who continue to choose stories over trends.