It was in 1994 that Delhi-based designer Madhu Rao Ayde started Sampada with her stated love for Indian prints. The label’s USP is to create an amalgam of prints and fabrics in one single ensemble. Scroll through their website and you’ll notice that different prints are mixed and matched to make one single look — an Ajrakh pant can be paired with a silk-printed kurta, or even a gota doria dupatta. Madhu began the journey by taking a trip to Rajasthan and Gujarat, and exploring prints and weaver clusters. She then brought the fabrics, exhibited extensively around Delhi and finally decided to start a store, in 1996.
Deeply influenced by Indian culture and traditions, Sampada then expanded to Mumbai in 2007 and Bengaluru in 2013. She is now joined by her daughters — Sukanya Ayde (29) and Saudamini Ayde (33), and together they decided to open their fourth store in Chennai today. “My sister and I joined at different points in time,” explains Saudamini, over a call from Delhi. “She did her textile designing and fashion designing from Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and joined us last year. She is now our creative and design head, while I handle all the operations and business developments.” With their own set of printers in Rajasthan and Gujarat, they have now started making their own prints which Sukanya has designed and incorporated into the collections, as exclusive Sampada prints.
Speaking about the 1,275 sq feet store, Saudamini explains that Chennai’s sultry weather urged them introduce more cottons into the store, as opposed to the heavier fabrics they have stocked at their Delhi store. “We will have chanderis as well, which are perfect for summer which are going to be a year-long display. What we have introduced to the Chennai store that none of the other outlets have is a home furnishing segment.” You can also find lac bangles on their website. The team also plans to introduce their sub brand Medh, which focuses more on embroideries that one can choose as an evening wear. The embroidery, she explains, is done in-house at their factory in Delhi.
Choose from an exquisite chamba cream kurta, a keva yellow schiffli kurta or even a mogra crochet cream silk kurta. “Every month, we launch a collection that is inspired by a certain theme, like Basoli ,which is inspired by the beauty of Himachal Pradesh and Gaam that combines earthy print combinations from Rajasthan and Gujarat,” says Saudamini. Silhouettes include A-line kurtas, straight cuts, toga cuts, anarkali kurtis and kaftans.
From `2,200. Launches today. At 11 am.At Nungambakkam.
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