Mrinalini Shastry, a Company Secretary and an ISB graduate, founded the innovative brand—Six Yards Plus, a 100% women-owned and women-run small business. As sources reveal, 65% of the artisans they work with are women, 80% of them reside in rural areas, and 80% earn less than Rs. 20,000 a month. 

A Vision to Modernize Tradition

While working in the corporate world in 2017, Mrinalini noticed that sarees were gradually fading from everyday life. At that point, Mrinalini decided to meet the market demand by designing sarees that are authentic, affordable, and enjoyable. 

“Since I turned 21, I have worn sarees to work. I really feel powerful in them and the kind I drape are everyday sarees, mostly handloom,” she says.

What started as a small business has now grown to be a massive success with a strong online and offline presence, serving a loyal clientele, and making a substantial profit.

Handcrafted Excellence from Across India

Six Yards Plus is India’s first mindfully crafted saree brand focused on sustainability, inclusive ethos, and handloom preservation. This brand sources its sarees from over 300 artisans across 10 states of India. From the Exquisite Kalamkari prints of Andhra Pradesh to the vibrant Pattachitra of Odisha, each saree tells a story of its origin.

“There are some weaves like Benaras and Kanjeevaram that are already very popular so you don’t need to think of revival or do much about them. The others like Mangalgiri, Udipi, or gamcha sarees from Bihar feature as revival stories,” says the founder.

This brand works closely with the handloom workers to support their livelihood and to encourage traditional weaving practices. 

Sustainability at the Core

Unlike any other fast fashion brand, Six Yards Plus emphasizes the importance of sustainability in its operations. The brand relies on eco-friendly fabrics and dyes, reducing the carbon footprint associated with textile production. Additionally, Six Yards Plus encourages the revival of older sarees through its “Saree Revival” initiative. By this, the customers can have their old sarees hand-painted by artisans, bringing them back to life.

Empowering Women Through Fashion

Besides promoting traditional attire, Six Yards Plus is focused and committed to empowering women. The brand conducts draping workshops to educate women on the various styles and ways to wear a saree. This approach makes saree dropping more fun and less intimidating. By means of this, Six Yards Plus aims to make sarees a go-to option for women, irrespective of age and occasion. 

“We have the Tatas, the Birlas, and a number of brands in the artisanal saree space, which is Rs 12,500 crore market. We do have a niche in this space as we work with different clusters and that’s why these 35 weaves are important to me. We have organised several exhibitions and also conduct workshops. All it needs is get to the right location and communicate in the right way to the target group,” comments Mrinalini

In the face of fast fashion’s dominance, Six Yards Plus is proving that tradition, when thoughtfully reimagined, can lead the way forward.

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