Everything we are asked most often about upcycled sari garments, natural silk, sizing and shipping. If your question is not here, write to hello@yayavaracreation.com.
What are your upcycled sari garments made of?
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.
How do I choose my size for a sari kimono?
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.
How do I care for a vintage sari silk garment?
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.
Is the embroidery on your Indian handcrafted garments done by hand?
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.
What is sari upcycling fashion?
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.
Where are your upcycled sari clothes made?
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.
What is a vintage Indian sari?
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.
Are your pieces really one of a kind?
Yes, literally. One sari gives one garment. We never buy two identical saris, we never restock, and we never reproduce a design. When a piece is sold, its page stays online in our Archives, but the piece itself is gone.
How can you tell real natural silk?
Natural silk has a weight synthetic never has: it falls rather than floats. Its shine shifts with the angle of the light instead of reflecting flatly. Crushed in the hand it creases, then relaxes. And it feels cool at first touch, then warms to your skin. Every Yayavara piece is cut from 100% natural silk.
Can a vintage silk kimono be worn every day?
Yes, and that is what they are made for. Worn open over jeans and a t-shirt, a silk kimono dresses a plain outfit without effort. Our cuts are oversized and fluid, so nothing constrains. The pieces that see the most wear are not the quietest ones: they are the ones people stop being afraid of.
What is the difference between an upcycled sari dress and a new dress?
Three things. The silk has already lived, so it is softer and drapes differently from new fabric. It exists in a single copy, because one sari gives one dress. And no new material was produced to make it, which is the whole point of upcycling.
How much does shipping cost?
France and Europe: free, 3 to 5 days.
Switzerland, United Kingdom, Norway: 15€ small parcel, 20€ larger parcel, 5 to 8 days.
North America and Australia: 40€, 5 to 12 days.
The piece I wanted is sold. What now?
Write to hello@yayavaracreation.com and tell us which one. Every piece is unique, so it will not come back, but a new sari selection arrives every month and we can let you know when something close to it joins the shop.