Thread Talk SG (Featured Artist/Store)

Based in the metropolitan city-state of Singapore, Thread Talk SG founded and owned by Sagorika strives to positively impact the Indian weaving community, their fast-growing global consumer base and focuses on conscious sustainable fashion so as to leave a reduced carbon imprint. What I absolutely admire about this brand is:

~ Their timeless and classic creations that are not mandated by trends but rather driven by Sagorika’s love to keep the traditional weaves/crafts alive and thriving. 

~ Not tampering with the process and age old techniques of the bountiful and unrivalled craft and textile heritage of India and yet generating innovative and fresh designs that appeal to the new-age Indian woman. 

~ Embracing sustainability through and through – be it designing, sourcing, production or their distribution practices. 

I’ve first hand witnessed the quality of work and effort that Sagorika puts into the design and making of a saree. My collaboration with her has been in the works for over a year now (yes you read that right, that’s how elaborate and labor-intensive it is!). Finally, when the saree arrived, I was fascinated to see just how effortlessly, Sagorika had managed to bring 3 Indian states together in designing a one-of-a-kind saree for me. The only brief that I gave her for this customized piece was it had to be soft silk (as I personally like fluid and luxurious drapes), an Ashta Lakshmi theme for the palla and the saree in a color other than maroon. After which she took it entirely upon herself to design and execute it.

The finished saree is the outcome of Maheshwari silk handwoven in Madhya Pradesh that then travelled to Srikalahasti in Andra Pradesh to be penned for Kalamkari. Once that was done, it went to Bhuj (Gujrat) for the Kutchi embroidery and mirror work. As you can see, none of the traditional processes were manipulated in the making of this saree. Sagorika worked with each authentic craft cluster from the original state to which it belongs.

I had the opportunity to deeply understand the workings of the brand and the thought process of its owner and designer Sagorika. I now have so much more appreciation and respect for what she does. I hope this tête-à-tête with Sagorika gives you too a similar insight into the brand and its soul.

Hello Sagorika and welcome to TECD! Please tell us about your foray into the work of textiles and drapes and your brainchild Thread Talk SG? 

“Armed with a Masters degree in Microbiology from Mumbai University and a post-graduate diploma in pharmaceutical marketing, it’s contrary to my creative field of designing and fashion that I'm pursuing currently. I had a short stint in the Insurance industry before I quit to settle into matrimony and move to Singapore. My love and appreciation of weaves has largely come from my mother who has impeccable taste when it comes to sarees. 

Thread Talk was registered as an entity in 2014 in Singapore when my first born turned 15-16 months old and I was craving to do something creative whilst still being able to devote significant time to him. I had already decided I wanted to work with weaves as there were not many options in Singapore if one really wanted to explore the rich plethora of Indian weaves. There was Nallis ofcourse but that largely curated Kanjeevarams and then there were other boutiques that made cheap imitations of the Bollywood inspired fashion with nets and synthetic fabrics loaded with bling. I ached to find Dhakais, Chanderis, Maheshwari’s, Ikkat’s, Kanthas or Kalamkaris. Once I had made up my mind on what I wanted to do, I started with the branding, name, logo etc. Threads being the very basic unit of weaves that I wanted to work with and Bread Talk being a very popular chain for breads and bakes in Singapore, I took inspiration from both to come up with “Thread Talk”.”

Kindly highlight what sets your brand apart from others? 

“Thread Talk started out with curating weaves but now most of what we showcase are our own creations, where we have been involved in designing and execution of the particular weave. While I prefer not to tinker with original weaving process, I often experiment with different yarns, natural dyes and sometimes try contemporary designs with traditional methods besides combining 2 or more traditional crafts to create a single, exclusive piece. As a Singapore based business, we are probably the only one that works with designing traditional weaves from scratch. But even otherwise, I’d say our USP lies in how we can see many regional crafts coming together seamlessly to create a one-of-a-kind piece.”

What would you say has been the greatest influence on your designs? 

“I wanted Thread Talk sarees to be able to narrate stories and be conversation starters. India is a land full of stories and mythologies and symbolism, so what better inspiration than India. Also, as Indians living outside of India, what more could evoke cosy, fuzzy emotions than stories from our own land.

My biggest inspiration is India and all the thousands of stories that she holds within her. However, we are also looking at other cultures, other stories different from our own but which, nevertheless invoke a feeling of nostalgia. I Guess I am an old soul which is why I move backwards more than forward For eg: our Kantha + Batik saree featuring toadstools was totally out of an Enid Blyton book. The Poppy Kantha saree was also something that reminds you of Remembrance Day. So yes, India and the past era would be our biggest inspirations.”

Please enlighten us about the design process that you adopt to create each piece/ collection?

“The way Thread Talk works, it’s not possible to have one unit as these are all regional crafts and the artisans are geographically based in their respective craft clusters. So whether it’s weaving or embroidery, they all happen strictly in the craft clusters that they belong to. It would be mis-selling if not. Like I see a lot of Paithanis, Patolas, etc from Benaras. Those are definitely not authentic. We are very careful after learning along the way about these crafts and hence work with regional clusters only. For the regular “adda embroidery” and for tailoring we have separate units, other than that all work happens in original craft clusters and we take this very seriously.”

I also see that you have branched out into the jewelry category too. What do you intend to bring to this section of your business?  

“Though my main focus is on weaves, I have loved working with jewelry too. Like with our drapes, “wearable art” is an inspiration. Our first neckpiece was a pure silver Panchamrit spoon that we thought of as a pendant. Soon enough, I was working on a few more designs. Some involved making new ones where as others, like our Betel-nut cutter necklace just involved looking at the beautiful, vintage, artistic betel nut cutter in a different light to know it would make a fantastic statement necklace.”

How would you describe your ideal Thread Talk SG woman ? 

“For me, the woman who would resonate with Thread Talk’s designs would most importantly be someone who is extremely confident. She is someone who is mature and refined, takes pride in her roots and origins and will flaunt and promote them without any inhibitions. She is not someone who will be a crowd pleaser or someone who tries hard to “fit in”. Thread Talk designs are very subtle and never over the top! So it takes a woman of substance to be able to drape one without having to make a “bold, loud saree” or a more acceptable/ fashionable garment as her crutch.”

What are your future plans for Thread Talk SG?

“Because I have never treated Thread Talk as a business, I have never had any plans for it. I go with the flow. I just hope I can reach out to more people so they can see what we have to offer. When people appreciate the effort we put in behind creating a single piece, it gives us a high as no other. The focus is always on the craft. If people value the craft, if the design resonates with them, they buy it.”

Where can one shop for these beauties?

“No retails plans and no website either. I showcase everything on FB and IG and those in Singapore can always drop by to check out stuff and pick them. I’d never want to lose the personal touch in pursuit of commerce.” 

Finally, what would you say is the success mantra for a small business? 

“There is no mantra! Also, how does one measure success. If I have to go by account books, Thread Talk fares poorly. If success is a measure of my happiness and sense of fulfilment, then I’m extremely successful. I love what I’m doing and in the small scale it is, I’m able to manage it as a one woman army. I often tell my husband I don’t want to lose this charm of a small, mumprenuer owned business. The day the joy of creating goes away and stress comes in, I’ll hang up my boots."

That brings us to the end of this feature and a motivating interview with Sagorika. She through her wonderful brand Thread Talk SG is here to harness the power of merging aesthetics, crafts, old traditions and ethical fashion. The interaction I’ve had with her has been such a pleasure and I see how her designs and work is an extension of her honest and authentic self. Hop onto her page and enjoy surfing their Facebook and Insta-gallery and I hope you’ll come away feeling tempted and inspired to order your own customized unique creations from them - be it sarees, jewelry or blouses.

(Photo Credits & Image Copyright: 2,3,7,9,11-Sruthi Singh for Thread Talk SG; 1,4,5,6,10 - Thread Talk SG: The images may not be used for commercial or non-commercial use without the prior written permission of Sagorika, Thread Talk SG & TECD.)   

Introducing Jewelry Brand "Mahasara" (Featured Brand)

At TECD, we believe in promoting and shining the spotlight on small business entrepreneurs engaged in producing handmade products. The passion with which these individuals steer their business is contagious. Every product created has a part of the creator’s heart and soul embedded in the product! Supporting them in any way means empowering them to dream bigger and rallying the cause for ethically sourced products. Today, our new debutant in the field of handmade jewelry is Jayanthi Kanderi with her creative venture, “Mahasara”! 

Founder of Jewelry label "Studio Mahasara", Jayanthi Kanderi, flaunting one of her own creations!

Currently based out of Atlanta, USA, Jayanthi was born and raised in Chennai. Having parents who constantly fed her curious and creative brain with art shows, trade fairs, street fairs, book fairs, classical concerts and all things cultural, the love to “create" was inculcated at a very young age. Further, armed professionally with an MBA and Diplomas in Textile Design, Fashion Technology and Visual Design, Jayanthi shares, “these have helped shape and prepare me for what I am doing now”. I’ve known Jayanthi (virtually) for a while now and have always admired her personal sense of style when it came to dressing. There was always a “je ne sais quoi” charm to her. This also extends to her very first collection at Mahasara, titled "Hema Malini". This capsule collection has simple yet refined pieces that gravitate towards an ethnic Indian style. Her astute and imaginative eye, deftly combine traditional ethnic pendants with colorful beads and semi precious stones to create one-of-a-kind pieces that exude understated elegance. I got chatting with the lovely lady and wanted to delve more into her creative process of jewelry making and know more about her new journey.

Lapis lazuli beads with sterling silver dolki beads and a grand sterling silver pendant. 

TECD: Hello and welcome to TECD, Jayanthi! Mahasara is a very unique name. Tell us more about its significance? 

Jayanthi: "So excited to be here on TECD! The name Mahasara is one of the 1008 names Goddess Lakshmi Devi is known by. Mahasara in Sanskrit literally translates to great knowledge. I’d also like to make a mention of the logo design - the beautiful lotus flowers were done by artist Aarti Karwayun." 

Orange coral beads accented with green onyx and black and white bone beads from Africa with an antique tribal pendant.

TECD: How did the idea for Mahasara germinate? 

Jayanthi: "Its been a long and joyful journey for me. Growing up I've been fortunate enough to travel and I would always end up bringing back some jewelry (I still do). I would pick up odd trinkets at local markets and string them on a cord. I immensely enjoyed having one of a kind unique pieces. Then I moved to the US and discovered Gem and Bead shows. Lo and behold, I started collecting beads. I've religiously attended every show I possibly could for the last 17 odd years. I have a collection of old and new beads from all over the world. I did a basic beading class back in 2010 in one of the local stores and have been making my own since then. My last 9 to 5 job came to an end a couple of years ago and there was nothing else I could think of doing other than make jewelry. That's how Mahasara was born." 

Pink Sapphire with garnets and Sterling silver pendants.

TECD: When it comes to the topic of having a competitive edge, what would you say is your USP?

Jayanthi: "Apart from doing silver and beaded jewelry I am also a Metal smith and Mixed media artist. I enrolled in Mixed media design a couple of years ago and I am still learning new techniques every day. My work will include plenty of handcrafted pieces made from copper, glass, brass and bronze in different techniques. I truly believe they are bound to stand out. "

Deep yellow Recycled glass krobo beads from Africa accented with Corals and rudraksh. The pendant is sterling silver with gold plating

TECD: Do give us an insight into your design process? 

Jayanthi: "With beads and ethnic silver, the material itself is enough to create. I never really start with a plan and the necklace takes its own course and always surprises me. But with metal work or mixed media designing I need a plan. I had to learn how to draw the design on paper with the exact measurements. Then decide on the material, gauge of the metal, the technique, the patina and tools. Its a very fascinating process with endless possibilities. I am lucky enough to have fellow jewelry artists and my instructor Rochelle Nation was always ready to help with ideas and advise. I am very lucky in that aspect."

Turquoise rondelle beads with a sterling silver amulet.

TECD: How strong would you say is the Indian influence on your design process? 

Jayanthi: "You can take a girl out of India but you cant take India out of a girl. Having travelled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari I have an immense love and fascination for India and all that it is. India and its mythology will always be my muse. 

Having said that, inspiration also comes to me from every thing I see, feel and take in. A few years ago Divya Thomas of Karmasuthra Jewelry talked to me in length about how her work is inspired. I don’t think I understood back then. My inspiration at that point was only the material in front of me. So I took time to satisfy the subconscious and I slowly started doing the kind of work that made me happy. And the designs came easily. No second guessing. After finishing a piece I would look at it and I can see how it was inspired by a painting I loved or the ever changing scene outside my window."

Amethyst Druzy beads with an old sterling silver amulet.

TECD: Any insider scoop on what’s on your cards next when it comes to Mahasara?

Jayanthi: "Future plans include plenty of metal and conceptual art jewelry. And maybe a line of Men's jewelry! 

I am only getting started and there has been so much support and love. I have to say a special thanks to my social media friends who are always so uplifting. And to the many many wonderful jewelry artists who are doing amazing work and are so very kind and encouraging. These artists have stretched the dreams of so many women like me. It truly is about community over competition and I am loving it :)" 

Lapis lazuli beads accented with swaroski crystal beads and a chunky sterling silver amulet.

Pieces from the Hema Malini collection are versatile enough to be styled either with traditional Indian attire or western outfits. To order from the lovely collection seen here, connect with Jayanthi on Instagram and Facebook. Mahasara will be coming up with their spanking new virtual boutique soon, so make sure you stay connected for regular updates. 

Thank you Jayanthi for sharing your special moment with us. Truly feel honored that you chose TECD as your debut platform. We are so excited for you and Mahasara! We wish only the very best for you in your creative endeavor!

(Image Credit: Mahasara. Please do not use the images without the prior written permission of Jayanthi Kanderi)  

Girl Thinks (Featured Artist/Brand)

Here at TECD, we revel in showcasing artists who push the limits of originality, dream big and venture to turn those dreams into reality! Today’s feature throws spotlight on a new-age jewelry brand that embraces more than just precious metals and thrives on the model of avant-garde. Our featured brand, believes in embracing the ephemeral quality of paper and has judiciously manipulated the so-called fragile material to create light-weight, vibrant, versatile, whimsical accessories with a boho-chic appeal. Introducing, “Girl Thinks” (GT) - a Gurgaon based jewelry brand that churns out fashion accessories with a distinct style! Characterized by combining paper, graphic designs and colorful beads/pom-pops, the term paper jewelry has a whole new meaning. Vivid pop art colors bring alive designs inspired by India – the lotus, pankha (handfan), mehendi inspired art, popular Indian Hindu deities and the traditional Madhubani art are just some of the core design muses that appear on these unique creations. 

Girl Thinks is led by mother and daughter duo, Aparna and Ananya Vyas. Though they come from different professional backgrounds, anything creative has always been their common meeting ground. Aparna hails from a prominent art family in Lucknow and is an artist herself. Combining her passion for art and her need to share her knowledge, she takes great pleasure in teaching visual arts. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Ananya too graduated with a degree in Fine arts and a specialization in Advertising. I had the opportunity to have a one-on-one with Ananya and talk to her about her foray into the world of design and learn more about their company Girl Thinks.

TECD: Welcome to TECD Ananya! Delighted to talk to you about your creative venture Girl Thinks! Let’s start by asking you what does the name “Girl Thinks” actually symbolize?

Ananya: “We always wanted to have a name that was an interesting one. Something that made people stop and wonder what it could possibly mean. Well, we’re a team of two girls doing it all. The best team that could ever be. We’re a mother daughter duo and Girl Thinks is our little company where we love dreaming of all things beautiful and work our best to make them happen.”

TECD: Do share more about your journey into the world of jewelry design? 

Ananya: “A few years back, a relative of ours was having an exhibition of her kurtas and sarees in Delhi and had asked my mother to keep a bunch of her handmade terracotta and paper earrings alongside her display of clothes. By the end of that one day exhibition we were completely sold out on all our paper earrings while we still had a lot of the terracotta ones left. We were beyond thrilled, it was a fun day and that was it. We did not see any reason to pursue it, until a few years later when I was working as an associate producer at an Internet based start-up and the work load was insane. Seeing me hustle so hard, it was my mother who suggested if I could do something of my own and put all that hard work for myself. Glad I took up on that suggestion and after endless sessions of scratching our heads in hope of finding an idea, we finally saw what had always been right in front of our eyes and it was the paper jewelry my mother did years back! That is how the idea fell in place and we couldn’t have had anything more unique to start off with!”

TECD: What according to you is the USP of your brand? 

Ananya: “Girl Thinks is our innovative little take at making pieces of jewelry that are exquisite and fun at the same time, a refreshing break from the kind of jewelry we’re used to see every day. The medium being Paper of course gets people fascinated and makes us get noticed amongst the massive jewelry jungle that’s out there. But besides it all, what we truly believe sets us apart are the designs that people have been showering their love upon. Bold, India inspired pieces with a dash of quirk and lots of color is how we do it. Keeping it all handmade in times of things being mass produced, we are so proud to be making it all, one at a time which adds a special uniqueness to each piece and keeps us different.” 

TECD: How different is it working with paper as a medium? What would you say are the advantages and challenges of working with paper from your experience?

Ananya: “We don’t consider Paper differently. It’s just like any other medium that comes with its own set of flexibility and challenges. What really makes the medium different is the way we’ve put it to use and we’re more than happy to be able to give it an innovative twist by making beautiful, long lasting jewelry and in the way invent a style that’s our very own. Advantages – Amazingly Light weight and hassle free. Jewelry that you can wear all day, every day. Disadvantages – Although we’ve made the jewelry moisture resistant, we still advise to keep it off water.”

TECD: I'm curious about what your creative process entails. Tell us more? 

Ananya: “We don’t settle down to create our jewelry piece by piece, but rather by a vision as to how we want the entire collection to look and create a theme around it. We’re seeking inspiration all the time, pinning ideas on the internet to jotting them down in diaries and mobile apps. Over the time we’ve learned to find inspiration in little things around us and living in a country like India- you really don’t have to look far to find something interesting and give it your own unique twist. Since we are handcrafting every piece, we are sharp on details. Be it a certain color, the size of a bead or the weight of the jewelry, every aspect is well thought of and has hours of brainstorming sessions behind it with layers of detailing underneath. It’s such an incredible and satisfying experience to see an inspiration form into an idea and travel a long way to finally become a product that becomes a part of so many other lives.“

TECD: Who according to you is your ideal GT woman? 

Ananya: “The ideal GT woman is someone who makes her own style rather than be trend follower. She loves color and a touch of culture to her personality. Bold and headstrong, she isn’t afraid to embrace something new and be different. But having said that all, we’d simply want every women to wear our jewelry!”

TECD: If you had to narrow it down to one memorable experience w.r.t. GT, what would that be?

Ananya: “When we look back to how we begun to how things are today, all we have in between are so many wonderful experiences. But the most precious one being of a day when I was travelling by the metro and a girl walked in wearing a pair of our Kathputli earrings! What a thrill that was, spotting someone flaunting our jewelry, it was just too much happiness to contain!”

TECD: What are your future plans for GT?

Ananya: "With our designs being the soul and strength of our company we are excited to be expanding into a range of other beautiful products, within this year, besides the jewelry, that will always remain an integral part.”

TECD: What is your success mantra as a small business owner? 

Ananya :"It’s not that we’re a pro at this, but here are a few things that we’ve learned along the way:

· Always remember why you started and let your business be an unapologetic reflection of your dreams.

· Failure is inevitable, so learn to take the blows and embrace them because they happen for a reason. 

· Make your products speak for yourself. Good products and a sweet word go a long way and have people come back to you for more. 

· Success doesn’t happen overnight, so learn to be patient. 

· Count your blessings and don’t even think of giving up!”

Thank you Ananya for taking the time to share your wonderful brand and your inspirational journey with my readers. We wish this very talented duo nothing but the very best! 

With summer here, team pieces from the GT collection with an ethnic sleeveless kurta, saree or a regular white tee and jeans. These pieces will effortlessly fit into your style and get all the lovely attention your way! To place your order, write to Ananya at girlxthinks@gmail.com. To see their entire collection and stay abreast of latest updates on their upcoming collections, connect with them via Instagram and their FB page. 

As for you my folks, I hope you enjoyed this feature and have yourself a great week ahead!

(Image Courtesy: Girl Thinks)