Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you may want to know about our work, commissions, orders and deliveries. If your question isn’t answered here, we would be glad to hear from you.

About Udhbava

Udhbava is a design-led studio where heritage, craftsmanship, memory and contemporary imagination meet. It brings together three things: a Museum Studio of collectible objects, a founder-led atelier for bespoke work, and a space for cultural conversation and collaboration. Its guiding idea is Living with Classics.

Udhbava is led by its founder and creative director, Gayathri Krishnamoorthy. Her vision is expressed through heritage woods, textiles, Indian handicrafts, classical forms, upcycling and bespoke design.

The studio creates furniture, collectible objects, gifts, clothing and interiors. Each begins with something that already has a life, such as century-old teak, a family textile, a ritual or a classical form. Each is then reimagined for the way we live today.

Please contact us before your visit so we can make time for you.

Collections & Products

There are six collections:

  • Udhbava Signatures: ritual, symbol and classical form, reimagined for daily life. Examples include the Vishu Mirror and the Marapachi Bookends.
  • Udhbava Bespoke: commissioned and one-of-a-kind pieces.
  • Udhbava Gifting: heritage teak and silk, made to be given.
  • Udhbava Reclaimed: furniture and artefacts with a past, renewed for today.
  • Sutra by Udhbava: clothing, soft furnishings and fabric-led décor.
  • Udhbava Heritage: palm-leaf, reading and desk objects.

Udhbava Reclaimed brings together furniture and found artefacts that already have a history, such as heritage teak tables from traditional Indian homes and rural wooden trays. The studio rediscovers and renews them for contemporary interiors. Their age is celebrated, not hidden.

Many are. Reclaimed furniture, carved tea tree tables and pieces made from vintage textiles cannot be exactly replicated. Other pieces are made in limited quantities. Every handmade piece will carry its own small variations.

Each piece is shaped by hand from natural materials, often old wood or vintage silk. Slight differences in colour, texture, finish or appearance are an inherent part of artisan-made work, not defects.

Sutra is Udhbava’s textile line. Its first collection, Sutra by Gayathri, is a limited-edition range of handcrafted shirts, dresses and tunics. It is made in small batches from linen, hemp linen and handwoven cotton, with hand embroidery, beading and eco-printing using real leaves and flowers.

If you are unsure, please contact us before ordering.

Care depends on the material, whether teak, silk inlay, marble or linen.

Bespoke & Commissions

Yes. Commissioned work is at the heart of Udhbava Bespoke. You can use Commission a Similar Piece on any product page, or Begin a Commission from the home page, to share your idea.

Often, yes. Bring us what you cherish: an old piece of furniture, a family sari or textile, or an object of personal significance. It may become a tray, a panel or a new piece altogether, depending on the material and its condition.

Yes. Udhbava creates interiors that bring together cultural memory, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary living. They draw on handcrafted furniture, heritage materials, regional textiles and collectible objects.

It begins with a conversation about the object, space, heirloom or feeling you have in mind. We then discuss materials, design and timelines with you.

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

Gifting & Corporate Orders

Yes. Udhbava’s heritage teak coasters and photo frames have been selected as corporate gifts for Diwali. The studio has also handcrafted 100 coasters as curated gifts for a client’s event. Share your quantity, occasion and timeline, and we will discuss what is possible.

The Udhbava Gifting collection was created for this, with silk-inlaid teak trays, teak and silk coasters, bookends and cutlery holders. Signature pieces such as the Marapachi Bookends and the Vishu Mirror are also meaningful gifts for weddings, housewarmings and festivals.

Orders & Payment

Not online. The website is a place to discover the collections; we do not take orders or payments through it. Every order is confirmed personally with the studio, so we can answer your questions, confirm availability and talk through any customisation.

Select Enquire Now on any product page, or Talk with Us from any page, and tell us which piece you are interested in. We will reply to confirm availability, price, shipping charges, estimated timelines and how to make payment.

Once your order is confirmed, we will share payment details with you directly.

Orders are processed after successful payment confirmation.

Processing times may vary depending on product availability, customisation requirements and production schedules. Where applicable, we will share an estimated dispatch timeline when we confirm your order.

Shipping & Delivery

We partner with reliable courier and logistics providers to deliver your order safely.

Delivery timelines vary based on the destination, courier service availability and external factors beyond our control.

Yes. You will receive shipment tracking details once your order has been dispatched.

Shipping charges are borne by the customer and will be shared with you when we confirm your order, before payment.

We do our best to meet estimated delivery timelines. However, delays caused by courier partners, weather conditions, natural events or other unforeseen circumstances may occur. We appreciate your understanding in such situations.

Please check your shipping details carefully. Customers are responsible for providing accurate shipping information. Udhbava Studio cannot be responsible for delays or non-delivery caused by incorrect or incomplete address details.

Product Availability

Our products are handcrafted and produced in limited quantities, so availability may change without prior notice.

In the rare event that an item becomes unavailable after purchase, we will contact you to discuss alternatives or refund the unavailable item.

Returns, Exchanges & Refunds

Due to the handcrafted and limited-edition nature of our products, we do not accept returns or exchanges for:

  • change of mind
  • personal preference
  • minor variations in colour, texture, finish or design
  • differences resulting from the handmade production process

Please notify us within 48 hours of delivery with:

  • your order details
  • photographs of the product and its packaging
  • a description of the issue

Once we have verified the issue, we may arrange a replacement, subject to availability, or issue a refund for the affected product.

Approved refunds are processed through the original payment method you used to pay for your order. Refund timelines may vary depending on your payment provider and bank.

Where a return is approved, you may be asked to return the product to Udhbava Studio. In that case, we will arrange and bear the cost of the return shipping. The refund is processed once the product has been received and verified to be in the same condition as shown in the photographs and information you first shared.

Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Approval of refunds, replacements or exchanges is at the sole discretion of Udhbava Studio, based on the circumstances of each case.

Events & The Udhbava Journal

Yes. Over the years, the studio has hosted workshops, exhibitions, artist interactions and cultural gatherings. These include The Culture Collective, Fusion Couture and Heritage Cuisine, and collaborations such as The Meaning Makers with Neurokrish.

You can also follow the studio on Instagram at @udhbava.studio.

The Journal is the studio’s space for essays on craftsmanship, material culture, traditional Indian aesthetics and the objects we live with. It also carries conversations with clients, collectors, artisans and collaborators.

Contact

For any questions about a piece, a commission or your order, please contact us through the details on our website. We will make every effort to resolve genuine issues in a fair and timely manner.