Every Yayavara Creation piece is cut from a vintage Indian sari in 100% natural silk. The Ceremonial and The Ritual are fully lined in 100% cotton velvet. The Magical is lined in synthetic faux fur, and that lining is being phased out as we move to entirely natural fabrics. Each piece is one of a kind.

Our collection is gender-free and cut oversized, with a deliberately wide shoulder seam so it adapts to many body shapes. We offer S/M and M/L.

Measurements differ from one collection to the next, so the size guide is on every product page. Open the Size guide section on the piece you are looking at: you will find length, sleeve, shoulder and front width in centimetres, measured flat. A full table for every collection is also on our size guide page.

Between two sizes? M/L falls longer and looser; S/M sits closer at the shoulder.

Dry clean only is the safest way to preserve both the silk and the embroidery. If you prefer to wash at home: 20°C, 400 rpm, washed separately, laid flat to dry. Never wring vintage silk. A steam iron on low heat is enough to relax the fabric.

Both, depending on the sari. Many carry hand embroidery worked stitch by stitch; others are machine embroidered. We choose each sari for the density and beauty of its work, not for the technique. For The Muse we deliberately select lighter, less embroidered saris so the dress stays fluid.

Upcycling means transforming an existing material into something of greater value, rather than breaking it down into raw material. A sari is the traditional garment of Indian women, roughly seven metres of cloth. We buy only premium second-hand saris, selected one by one, and cut them into garments. Nothing is woven, dyed or produced for us. The material already existed, and it already had a life.

Every Yayavara Creation garment is handmade in Rajasthan, India, in Tanu and Anju's family atelier, a small independent workshop where each piece is made with care, far from any industrial logic.

Rajasthan is also where the vintage saris are sourced. Alice selects each one herself on every trip to India: unfolding it, examining the fabric, the embroidery, the state of the silk. Every piece is visualised before it is cut.

Tanu employs mainly women in his atelier, as part of a commitment to economic independence. Men and women work in two separate spaces, in keeping with local traditions.

A sari is the traditional garment worn by women in India: a single length of cloth, around seven metres, draped rather than cut. A vintage sari has already been worn, often for a wedding or a ceremony. The silk has softened with time and carries a history we will never fully know. That is the material we start from.