Ask anyone who’s ever gotten a blouse stitched wrong right before a wedding — the blouse can make or break an entire saree look. A stunning silk saree paired with the wrong blouse just falls flat, while even a simple saree can look striking with…

The bride’s outfit usually gets all the attention when a wedding’s being planned. But the groom’s look matters just as much — and in South Indian weddings especially, where old tradition and newer styling now sit right next to each other. If you’re stuck between…

Everyone obsesses over the bride’s saree for months. The color, the zari, which Kanchipuram silk she finally landed on after visiting four showrooms — it’s basically a subplot of the wedding by itself. . However, ask the groom what he will be wearing, and the…

The choice between lehenga choli and pattu pavadai during the festive season for girls is one that each family from South India having a daughter goes through. The outfits are equally gorgeous, full of history, and take some really great pictures during family gatherings. However,…

The wedding ceremony is over. The rituals are complete, the garlands exchanged, the priest’s chants still echoing somewhere in your memory. Now comes the part of the celebration many brides look forward to just as much — the reception. And nothing shapes that evening quite…

There are some businesses that develop over time. Some become a part of people’s lives. Kasthuribai Company is such a business in Chidambaram. The story of Kasthuribai Company since 1943 has seen its transformation into an established textile store for many generations. From grandparents buying…

I’ve been standing behind the counter of what most people here call the best textile shop in Chidambaram for the better part of my life. My grandfather started it, my father grew it, and now I’m the one unwrapping bolts of Kanchipuram silk for brides…