For the love of Sabyasachi, go buy his sarees

...And it costs only Rs 3,500

It so happens that I am currently basking in the glory of becoming designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's first customer at his new boutique in Kalaghoda, Mumbai. Yeah! the feeling is 'ecstatic'. And before there is any assumption of the price tag of this saree that I recently bought, let me tell you it's only for Rs 3,500 (I wouldn't have invested in a saree for anything more than that though, for I don't wear sarees often).

Sabya (as this Kolkata-based design genius is lovingly called) is supporting a non-profit initiative called 'Save the Sari'. With this, the handloom weavers of Murshidabad, a place near Kolkata, will get a new lease of life by way of funds for their livelihood. Sabya says that he has been sitting with the weavers for many months now and weaving cotton sarees with so much love.Today, these sarees are beautifully displayed at his store and come at a cost which wouldn't pinch even if you aren't truly a saree-wearer). Best of all, is the capsule box he wraps the saree in is uber cool. The box comes in three hues — rose, yellow and gold tint and has a well-done coating inside which makes the box air-tight. Once, you've started to sport the saree, you can use the box to store cookies in any weather and can be sure, it wouldn't get spoilt.

Incidentally, his close friends and muses, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vidya Balan have joined hands in supporting this cause by wearing the beautiful handwoven sarees themselves, either in their films or in real life. Aishwarya wore a black Murshidabad saree in Raavan (when Abhishek calls her Mahua) and Vidya too has sported the drape at some events around town.

But there's something else that Sabya's happy about. He's opened a store in Mumbai, which he had been wishing to do for long and "I've adorned the walls with mementos and collectibles which I've collected over the years from Indian and abroad. My father keeps telling me that I spend all my money on artefacts but today, these walls look priceless." He's right, you must walk into Sabyasachi's store at Kalaghoda, which is adjacent to a blue Synagogue and even if you don't end up buying anything, you can enjoy the interiors. There are vintage pictures of royal families, chandeliers, wall clocks and dhoop lamps which burn only rose aroma. 'Rooh-afza' is the only drink served in this store (you can ask for lime tea though) and it bears a fabulous Sabya signature touch. He says, this will also usher a new direction in the way designers do up their stores. The man is pursuing interior designing too as an option apart from jewellery, footwear and clothes designing. And if you still aren't impressed enough, then just do it for a humane cause of saving Indian weavers from succumbing to their professional lows.