Meet the woman behind one of India’s most exclusive ikat sari brands

“A particular sari for a big day,” says Hyderabad-based Gajam Narmada, gently unfolding a handloom ikat silk sari in a hanging cream, offset by a purple border. Narmada, who runs Narmada Handlooms in Kothapet , has chosen this piece to put on on August 7, when she is going to obtain the celebrated Sant Kabir Nationwide Handloom Award from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. Recognised within the class for advertising handloom merchandise, she additionally turns into the primary girl from Telangana to be honoured with this distinction.

Enterprise at house

Sharing concepts with a weaver
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Particular Association

The Gajam household hails from the weaving group of Puttapaka in Telangana’s Nalgonda district — a well known hub for ikat. Narmada, who had solely accomplished her intermediate schooling and had no prior expertise in enterprise, started her journey as a homemaker supporting her husband, Narendra. He had moved to Hyderabad in 1998 to arrange a handloom sari enterprise, and whereas he travelled for advertising, Narmada quietly managed the small enterprise from their house.

It was her father-in-law, Chandraiah, a seasoned weaver, whose phrases helped her discover her function and step by step develop right into a businesswoman. “He as soon as informed me, ‘Weaving will assist us meet our every day wants, but when we construct one thing of our personal and work onerous at it, we will create a future not only for ourselves, however for others too.’”

In 2013, Narender established Narmada Handlooms, naming Narmada because the proprietor. Whereas he travelled throughout Hyderabad and past to safe orders, she oversaw operations at house — liaising with weavers, managing inventory, and nurturing the rising enterprise.

“Designers normally hand over patterns to weavers,” Narmada, now 46, explains. “However we provided concepts based mostly on what prospects truly wished and what was altering on the bottom.”

Sturdy weaver base

Gajam Narmada along with her husband Gajam Narendra
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Right this moment, the enterprise helps a collective of 300 weavers from ten villages, together with Puttapaka, Chandur, Ghattuppal, Munugodu, Balemla, Narayanapuram, and Choutuppal. This sturdy community, constructed over 20 years, is a testomony to the Gajam household’s long-standing relationship with their weaving group. Supporting livelihoods has been central to that belief.

“COVID was tough for everybody,” Narmada remembers. “However we stayed in contact with our weavers, reassuring them to not lose hope. We’d say, ‘Weave and hold the sari prepared, somebody will certainly purchase it later.’ If a weaver doesn’t have work, how will their household survive?” She additionally encourages them to evolve with altering occasions, whereas sustaining constant high quality.

The Gajams stay in a two-storey complicated in Kothapet, which homes each their residence and wholesale retailer. “I merely transfer between flooring to change roles,” she laughs, on juggling life as each homemaker and entrepreneur.

Displaying a set of saris
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Particular Association

Round 60 saris are delivered to their unit every day by weavers, and practically 100 exit to shops throughout India. “Our energy lies in exclusivity,” Narmada says. They don’t promote on-line, preferring as a substitute to produce to premium retailers similar to Singhania’s, Kalanjali, Neeru’s, Second Pores and skin, Gaurang Shah, Radha Krishna, and Kankatala in Hyderabad. Their saris additionally discover cabinets in shops throughout practically 15 cities nationwide.

As she lives out her dream, Narmada’s subsequent objective is to take their assortment to a global viewers.

Revealed – August 06, 2025 02:17 pm IST