I love wearing saree.  My love for this iconic outfit came from watching my mother drape seven to nine yards of fabric around her body and come out looking like a goddess. I wanted to look just like her. Finally, for my 10th-grade graduation, my mother presented me with my very own 7 yards of Kanchipuram silk.

My mother draped it on me, giving me insights into each pleat. And with each pin and tuck, she would tell me stories of the women in my family. I felt beautiful, and it showed in my carriage at the ceremony. My friends gathered around me, admiring my curves. From then on, I always wore sarees to all important functions. My friends, seeing how elegant I looked, would come to me to help them look just as neat and graceful. I took it upon myself to learn more about the art of draping sarees in traditional, contemporary, and artsy styles. I also went to different saree stores with my mother to get a feel of different textiles to seen how they yield and mold around the body.

My family members benefited from my expertise, and soon I was draping all my cousins for every occasion to the point that during wedding season, my house or hotel room would become the bridal party hangout. My family encouraged me to turn this fun thing into a professional service, and with their encouragement, I took a very bold step and launched “STAR & STYLE.”