Wearing Our Roots: The True Value of Affordable Heritage Sarees

Wearing Our Roots: Why Iraaya Believes Heritage Weaves Belong to Everyone

At Iraaya, every saree we create is born from a simple but radical idea: heritage should be lived, not locked away.
We’ve all seen the shimmering Banarasis, lush Kanjeevarams, dreamy Chanderis, textiles that carry the memory of a thousand hands and generations. Yet, somewhere along the way, these stories became out of reach for most. The price tags rose, the shelves turned exclusive, and the weaves of our everyday life became ornaments of status, rather than threads of community.
As the founder of Iraaya, I’ve often asked myself: Can a craft really survive if it is only celebrated on runways or behind glass? If the people whose lives are intertwined with these weaves are themselves priced out?

The Problem With “Heritage as Luxury”

Indian weaves once belonged to everyone, school teachers in Jamdani, homemakers in Khadi, workers in Tangail. But over time, handloom became a marker of “taste,” available only to those who could afford it.
Today, many heritage sarees cost more than a month’s salary for the average Indian. And while the artistry, time, and skill must absolutely be valued, true respect lies in making sure that these creations remain part of our daily story not just a festival or wedding.

What Iraaya Stands For

At Iraaya, affordability is not about discounts, it’s about dignity, inclusion, and scale.

• Making Demand Sustainable: When a young woman from a small town can wear a Banarasi to her first job interview, or a teacher chooses a Chanderi for her classroom, we know the craft is alive. Affordable pricing turns rare moments into everyday pride.

• Ensuring Livelihoods, Not Handouts: We work directly with weaving clusters, minimize middlemen, and invest in digital innovation. This way, fair prices uplift artisans, and reasonable prices invite more buyers. It’s a win-win.

• Designing for Today: We blend classic weaves with contemporary styling, lighter fabrics, and accessible silhouettes, keeping the tradition visible in modern wardrobes, not just in family trunks.

• Building a Community, Not an Audience: When more of us wear handloom, more stories get woven in. The saree stops being just “heritage”, it becomes ours.

Challenging Old Notions, One Saree at a Time

Elitism in heritage fashion doesn’t just keep buyers out, it keeps culture small. At Iraaya, we believe taste isn’t about price or pedigree. When a college student pairs Ikat with jeans, or a homemaker chooses a Mashru for her daily wear, they become ambassadors of living heritage.
This is the revolution we stand for: culture as a shared language, not a secret code.

What We’re Doing, and What We Ask of You

• Direct to Weaver Supply: Your saree comes from the hands that wove it, no unnecessary markups, no hidden costs.

• Transparent Pricing: We tell you exactly where your money goes. Because respect is rooted in honesty.

• Accessible Design: We create pieces meant for living, easy to drape, easy to care for, easy to make your own.

• Digital First: From WhatsApp catalogs to Instagram stories, Iraaya brings heritage to your fingertips, wherever you are.

Let’s Reclaim Culture, Together

Heritage isn’t a luxury. It’s a living, breathing inheritance, meant to be worn, cherished, and passed on.
At Iraaya, we invite you to drape your story in our weaves, not as a symbol of status, but as a celebration of belonging. Because when we make our heritage affordable, we don’t just grow a market, we grow a movement.

Let’s ensure our children don’t just inherit stories of textile greatness, they live them, every single day.