Bespoke Clothing

- Handcrafted Shirts, Dresses and Tunics

Sutra begins with a thread, and becomes more

A limited-edition collection of shirts, dresses and tunics by Gayathri, made in small batches from linen, hemp linen and handwoven cotton, and finished with hand embroidery, beading and prints taken from real leaves.

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Begins with a Thread

In Sanskrit, sutra means thread: the single line that holds things together. Sutra by Gayathri begins there, and becomes much more. It is a small, limited-edition collection of handcrafted shirts, dresses and tunics, created from a love for India’s textile traditions, handwork and quiet elegance.

The collection treats clothing as something personal, tactile and expressive, a play of art and craft rather than a seasonal trend. Each piece is inspired by nature, memory and the beauty of the handmade process, and is made in small batches with close attention to detail and comfort. Every garment carries traces of thoughtful making: a stitch that can be followed, a leaf that left its own colour, a weave that recalls an older loom.

For Udhbava, Sutra is a natural extension of the studio’s work. The belief that objects should hold memory, already shaped in heritage teak and vintage silk, here moves into what we wear every day. As the collection puts it: what we inherit, we remember; what we weave, we leave behind.

Sutra is made for those who value natural fabrics, authentic detail and understated elegance. The pieces are easy enough for a working day and considered enough to be kept for years. They sit comfortably within a contemporary wardrobe, worn in your own way.

Product Details

Product Name

Sutra by Gayathri - Bespoke Clothing

Category

Clothing / Shirts, dresses and tunics

Primary Material

Pure linen; soft hemp linen; handwoven cotton (fibre composition and weave origin)

Design Inspiration

Nature, memory, India’s textile traditions and heritage weaves

Craft Technique

Hand embroidery; hand-beading; eco-printing with real leaves and flowers; subtle sequin embellishment; woven textures inspired by heritage weaves

Function

Everyday wear and easy workwear in natural fabrics

Customisation

Made in small, limited-edition batches; whether made-to-measure or bespoke orders are offered

Design Details

Three Expressions of Craft

The collection moves between three ways of working, each with its own character but sharing a palette of natural whites, earth tones and soft botanical colour.

Embroidered linen. Pure linen shirts become a ground for hand embroidery and beading. A crisp collared shirt carries a hand-beaded golden dragonfly on its pocket, designed to catch the light with every movement, set against bold dark buttons. An easy, short-sleeved shirt with a band collar is scattered with lilac and ochre florals that recall a meadow in full bloom. Another shirt lets rust and olive flowers spill from the collar across the yoke, traced by a fine line of running stitch.

Eco-printed hemp linen. Leaves on linen, stitches by hand. Soft hemp linen is eco-printed with real leaves and flowers, leaving impressions in olive, ochre and rust. The silhouette is soft and feminine, with a ruffled collar and cuffs, a pintucked yoke and gathered sleeves. Delicate hand embroidery and subtle sequins pick out the printed blooms without overwhelming them.

Handwoven cotton. Shirts and tunics in handwoven cotton draw on heritage weaves: indigo checks edged with embroidered trims, an earthy brown check with embroidered pocket edges, a black-and-white gingham with a contrasting woven panel, and a rust shirt with pintucks and a rounded collar. Relaxed shapes keep traditional textile artistry easy to wear today.

Raw Material

Linen, Hemp and Handwoven Cotton

Sutra is built on natural fabrics chosen for how they feel and how they age. Pure linen gives the embroidered shirts their crisp, breathable body. Soft hemp linen takes the eco-prints, which are made with real leaves and flowers, so each print follows the shape and colour of the plant that made it. Handwoven cotton brings the texture of heritage weaves to the shirts and tunics.

Behind every silhouette lie hours of dedicated hand-work: embroidery stitched by hand, beads set one by one, and sequins placed sparingly so they catch the light without taking over. Because each garment is made in small batches, the marks of the hand remain visible, and that is the point. These are clothes that show how they were made.

Create with Udhbava

Bring Heritage into Your Everyday

Many Udhbava pieces can be made again with your home, your collection and your story in mind. Where the craft and the material allow, details such as size, wood tone, finish, motif or configuration can be adapted to suit your space.

You can also bring us something you already cherish, such as an heirloom, a family textile or a piece of old furniture, and we will explore what it might become.

Let’s Connect With Us

    UDHBAVA CONVERSATIONS

    Story Of Prabhavali

    Essays on craftsmanship, material culture, traditional Indian aesthetics and the objects we live with. You’ll also find conversations with the clients, collectors, artisans and collaborators who shape the studio’s work.

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    RELATED BLOGS

    Stories Behind the Work

    FAQ’s

    Questions, Answered

    A few things worth knowing before you choose, commission or gift a piece from Udhbava.

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    Yes. Every creation is handcrafted with care and attention to detail. Many pieces are made in limited quantities, and some involve artisan-led production, from hand-carving and hand-painting to embroidery and silk inlay.

    Because each piece is made by hand, often from old wood, vintage textiles or natural materials, slight variations in colour, texture, finish or appearance are natural. Grain, patina and the marks of the hand are part of the character of an artisan-made object. They are not defects.

    The studio works mainly with heritage and natural materials. These include century-old and reclaimed Burma teak, rosewood, tea tree wood and padauk, marble, granite, brass and glass, and vintage Kanchipuram and Banaras silks. For Sutra, the fabrics are linen, hemp linen and handwoven cotton. Each product page lists the materials used for that piece.

    As our products are handcrafted and produced in limited quantities, availability may change without prior notice. Some pieces, particularly in Udhbava Reclaimed and the carved tables, are one of a kind. Use Enquire Now on any product page to check current availability.

    Yes. Select Commission a Similar Piece on the product page and share what you have in mind. Where a piece is one of a kind, such as a reclaimed table or a carved tea tree table, we can discuss creating something in the same spirit. The exact result will depend on the materials available.

    Often, yes. Bespoke work at Udhbava begins with a simple invitation: bring us what you cherish. An old piece of furniture or a family sari, for instance, can be repurposed into a silk-inlaid tray. Tell us about what you have, and we will discuss what it might become.

    Yes. Pieces from Udhbava Gifting, such as our teak and silk coasters, have been made in curated sets for events and selected as corporate gifts for Diwali. Get in touch with the quantity and occasion, and we will discuss what is possible.

    Our website is a place to explore the work; orders are not placed or paid for online. Select Enquire Now on the piece you love, and we will get in touch to confirm availability, price, shipping charges and payment details. Your order is processed once payment is confirmed.

    Orders are processed after payment is confirmed. Because many pieces are handmade or made to order, processing times depend on availability, customisation and production schedules. Where applicable, we will share an estimated dispatch timeline during the order process.

    Due to the handcrafted and limited-edition nature of our products, we do not accept returns or exchanges for change of mind, personal preference, or natural variations from the handmade process. If your piece arrives damaged or is not what you ordered, please notify us within 48 hours of delivery. See our Returns & Refunds Policy for details.

    Customised, personalised, commissioned and made-to-order pieces are non-refundable and non-returnable unless they arrive damaged or incorrect.