A LITTLE OF MY STORY
~Elevate Your Corporate Dress Code with Odesi !!
In the bustling world of corporate attire, where professionalism meets personal expression, finding the perfect balance between style and comfort can be a challenge. With global warming and increasingly unbearable temperatures, more and more people opt for breathable cotton fabrics as an optimal choice. If you’re searching for fine cotton, let me introduce you to Odesi—a hidden treasure I discovered during my last visit to India. I was so impressed with their vision and mission that I couldn’t resist sharing this find with you.
I am greedy when it comes to using every minute of my stay in my home state. It was on the day of my return, after checking out from the hotel, that I scheduled a few meetings with friends in the lobby as my flight was late in the evening. A dear fashion designer friend, Satya Moharana, a faculty member for fashion design at ITI, Bhubaneswar, came to visit. I had fond memories of my accidental fashion walk experience with him. (read here). During our chat, he suggested that instead of hanging in the lobby, we visit a place that might interest me. That brought us to a warehouse, Odesi, in Bapuji Nagar, Bhubaneswar. It is not a shop open to the public, so most people on the street might also be unaware of it.
We were there for hardly half an hour, but the ethos left such an impression on me that I felt compelled to write about it. A brother and sister duo, Saswati Choudhary and Saswat Mahapatro are the founders of Odesi Handlooms and Handicrafts Pvt Ltd(www.odesi.in). Their bold idea is to produce premium quality fabrics and fashion, create a seamless supply chain, generate employment, and offer a sustainable, feather-light, breathable experience since 2019.
Handwoven cotton is not just a fabric; it’s a testament to craftsmanship passed down through generations. Odisha has been renowned for its centuries-old rich handloom tradition, boasting seven iconic weaves: Sambalpuri Ikat, Bomkai Cotton, Berhampuri Silk, Khandua Silk, Kotpad Cotton, Habaspuri, and Saktapa/Pasapali. Each of these weaves stands unique with its distinct craft and pattern. However, with the rise of Western fashion, traditional weaves and local weavers have suffered.
The majority of Odisha’s population consists of farmers, followed by weavers who come from rural areas. For Odisha’s economy to compete on par with other states, theOdesictors need sufficient attention. Therefore, I strongly appreciate the founders’ philosophy at Odesi to bring these breathable, fine, weather-friendly fabrics to add elegance to corporate dress codes.
Odesi, the name itself draws attention for something home-grown. Their sustainable process of selecting the source for the finest cotton fibers, and from fiber to fabric, is entirely manual, consuming zero electricity. Their manual dyeing, sorting, and weaving processes ensure an eco-friendly approach.
I always believe the human body is acclimatized to its surroundings and climate. Given that the Indian climate is hot and humid for most of the year, cotton is a wise choice for adding comfort to the skin. Cotton handloom fabric is gentle on the skin, providing a luxurious feel while allowing airflow easily.
Though the wave of Western garments is becoming more popular within India, in many foreign countries, cotton is highly valued. Lately, many designers are coming forward to incorporate Odisha’s weaves into their collections for ramp walks, bringing much-needed awareness and appreciation to these traditional fabrics.
Odesi targets a diverse range of customers, from corporate office wear to luxurious loungewear, from fashion enthusiasts to environmentally conscious consumers. To address this imbalance, Odesi utilizeson is to bring weavers to the forefront and raise awareness about their contributions to economic growth, provided they receive the necessary support. Among weavers, those who weave sarees receive more demand than those who set their looms for making dhotis and towels. To address this imbalance, Odesi utilizes these weavers’ looms to produce fabrics by the yard, ensuring a broader market reach and sustainable livelihood for all weavers.
Odesi believes in embracing the extraordinary rather than settling for the ordinary. They not only promote style but also emphasize sustainability and tradition. Proudly supporting weavers who create exquisite handwoven cotton, Odesi offers fabrics that are perfect for the corporate dress code. These unique weaves not only showcase the weavers’ artistry but also bring a level of sophistication that mass-produced fabrics cannot match.
Through this blog, I would like to reach out to all socially responsible customers to understand how their decisions impact and touch lives. Follow them on social media for the latest updates and styling tips or join the conversation here to proudly showcase your handloom heritage. Do share your handwoven cotton looks to inspire.
I bought a few pieces and took some pictures before saying goodbye. I came to know that many dressesOdesistitched here at the facility for fashion ramps or directly for customers. Most of the students are trained at ITI Institute, Bhubaneswar, for garment making. The multi-layered opportunities Odesi creates for different sectors of people are truly praiseworthy!
#Odesi #odesihandlooms #HandwovenElegance
Thank you for reading! Feel free to like, share, and explore more of my posts. Stay tuned!
Jitendra Kumar Mohanty
08/26/2024Thank you dear Manorama for you wites in your blog on Odesey.Infact I also inspired on your explore of this venture and could get good number of Handloom Gamuchhas from them for seva in Sree Madir work. Excellent thought, Unparalleled attempts and Unique collection by Smt Saswati and Sri Saswat,brother and sister.
Thanking you once again for your love to your motherland.
Manorama Choudhury
08/27/2024Thank you dear Jitendra bhai for believing in my words. All that is good needs to be shared with others. Thank you for taking time to read and share your feedback:))
Satvinder
08/29/2024Best Wishes
Odesi Handlooms
08/29/2024Thankyou so much Manorama Choudhary for acknowledging our work and scripting it so beautifully. It means a lot. We are waiting for your next visit to experience Odesi.
Warm regards
Team Odesi
Manorama Choudhury
09/06/2024Thank you!
Sayad Suleman Ali
08/26/2024An excellent article on Handloom of Odisha.
Manorama Choudhury
08/27/2024Thank you!!
Odesi Handlooms
08/29/2024Thankyou so much Manorama Choudhary for acknowledging our work and scripting it so beautifully. It means a lot. We are waiting for your next visit to experience Odesi.
Warm regards
Team Odesi
Manorama Choudhury
09/18/2024Thank you and looking forward to!
Saswati Choudhury
08/29/2024Thank you Mam for visiting us and making out a heart touching write up which we want to reach people so that we can creat more awerness and usage of the cloth more and help our weavers more. Thank you 🙏❤️🙏gratitude
Manorama Choudhury
09/06/2024I am neither greedy nor miserly when it comes to sharing the goodness I find. Keep doing good work:))
Saswat Mahpatro
09/01/2024Thankyou so much for recognizing the hard work Mam. Your linking for handloom and taking out your precious time to write this beautiful article is really precious to us. Thankyou so much once again and wishing you all the very best.
Manorama Choudhury
10/05/2024All good deeds must be appreciated!