SARITA HANDA

It takes a true visionary like Sarita Handa to channel her passion for textiles to build a multimillion dollar company such as SARITA HANDA. 25 years ago, she started with nothing other than her name, a list of customers she wanted to be associated with and a hole lot of zeal to create a company with a heart.Exclusive and authentic, the SARITA HANDA Collection reflects the subtle elegance of French design with unique hand embellishments. 

ABOUT HER

The building of a multi-crore textile business.

A big part of her career in textiles wasn't planned. In the late 1980s, she decided to take up a job with Shyam Ahuja in Delhi, but quit in 1990. For two years she researched before starting a home furnishing product manufacturing unit in 1992.

Choosing textiles as a career.

• Since she was married to an army officer, she travelled across the country with him and even learned to stitch her own clothes. In 1972, he was at the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, Tamil Nadu, where she came across beautiful hand-embroidered linen.

• she brought them back to Delhi and sold them to friends over a coffee party. However, it wasn't till the 1990s that she thought of starting her own venture due to two reasons—her husband's job did not allow them to stay at one place and did not have enough financial support.

Sarita Handa brand establishment - Once she found herself drawn to textiles and antiques, she started collecting books, documents and textiles from museums, flea markets and quaint old shops. she did not have any formal training as a designer but learnt from friends, family and mentors.

The Sarita Handa brand was born in February 1992- She hired a few tailors and started operations from her mother's home at South Extension, Delhi. In 1993-94, they hired a small workshop at Tughlakabad.

Journey from idea to execution - They began as a small line, but entered the international market for fashionable home furnishings right from the start.They first did business with a German catalogue company called Heine GMBH, which owned companies called Spiegel Inc and Eddie Bauer in the US.

Scale up the Business

In 1995, they set up first factory at Udyog Vihar, Delhi. Since they had eight clients, including Ralph Lauren, Bloomingdale's and LA Rinascente SpA, they started focusing on manufacturing products.

In the following year, they set up another 40,000-50,000 sq ft factory in the same area.

Though they had bought land at Manesar, Haryana, in 2000, they continued with four factories and office at Udyog Vihar till 2005.

She was shaken by her husband's demise in 2001, and it took a few years to regain control of her life and business. Eventually, in 2006, they moved to the 1.8 lakh sq ft factory at Manesar, which is also the location of head office.

PESONAL INTERESTSLove for nature and flowersTravellingPersonal favourite is a wooden sculpture depicting Lord

ShivaPersian rug collectionParis- best flea market to pick items for décorQuality, maintenance and colour- fastness to choose the

right fabric

WORKS

SARITA HANDA is a name that stands for uncompromising quality, design and elegance. The collection is a result of a love for the aesthetics of French style, interpreted through the traditional art of Indian needlework.

The designs and colors are inspired by rare 18th century French textiles, ribbons and embroideries updated to appeal to the modern eye.

Today, driven by this passion for arts, textiles and the finer things in life, she has set the tone for SARITA HANDA Exports, the manufacturing arm of the business which does private label bedding for the Pottery Barn, Macys, Ethan Allen and Bloomingdales to name a few.

Belief Statement - ‘I do not give myself the liberty to take things for granted no matter how good the situation is‘.

She personally oversees all developments in every department.

Her unparalleled discipline, an unerring vision and trusting her instinct to take calculated risks is what makes Mrs. Handa the kind of business woman that many entrepreneurs look up to. ‘There comes a time when one has to overlook short term benefits, instead look at the larger perspective. This is key to the success of a business' believes Mrs. Handa

Her dream was to design and sell not just textiles but lifestyles. Today her team and she proudly says that they are doing just that.

The collection has the best of natural fibers for maximum comfort. A subtle and soothing color palette harmonizes seasons, moods and decor, while classic styling is complemented by the exquisite design and crafts skills. Every product is a piece of art, lovingly brought into being by skilled craftspeople exposed to an International aesthetic.

PRIVATE LABEL

A very creative and innovative design team and an equally talented and meticulous group of crafts persons collaborate to turn out design that are impossible to resist. The influence and inspiration come from traveling the world and visiting places as diverse as Flea Markets and Museums. Little wonder then, that Sarita Handa line of Fashion Bedding and Decorative accessories is very sought after.

Her first home furnishing brand private store is in sultanpur,MG road.

Home Décor store in Khan Market.

HER ACHIEVEMENTS• From India, Sarita Handa - a luxury lifestyle Brand has been identified by Cannes Lions 2014 for submission in this new category for the first time. It is a very prestigious festival for the brand to be associated with and a perfect platform to showcase the brands key strengths - design, innovation, exquisite detailing and quality craftsmanship.  • Sarita Handa’s submission for this category is the much appreciated Fauna collection decorative cushions, which has been inspired by the natural world of exotic wild animals as well as classic art based on Tigers, Zebras and monkeys. These naturalist designs interest customers who like natural colors, materials such as wood and bamboo and a desire to decorate with visuals from the jungle, desert and Asian landscapes.

• India Design ID had been an excellent platform to showcase our designs for all home decor requirements that one could wish for. The Internationally inspired textiles and linens have now expanded into a comprehensive and extensive home decor collection. This year's booth was inspired by Sarita Handa’s Mumbai store. The vertical booth displayed 5 elaborate installations with our new designs of furniture consisting of modern chesterfield sofas, wing backed chairs and for the first time we presented traditional designed furniture in sleek contemporary black and white finish and for the true traditionalist we reintroduced the caned furniture.

IDS 2015 COLLECTION

STORE COLLECTIONS

Compiled and Presented by

Rashi GoyalSonali AgarwallaYamini Sharma

Sakhi Jain