Pooja Sundaresh
Founder & CEO of HOA
Ayana is inspired by our founder's roots in the Indian classical arts and modern tradition. Having grown up in a country of marvelous beauty and tremendous potential, Pooja felt inspired but also crestfallen at how this talent was stunted by a lack of opportunities and exposure to global markets. Through her travels to Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Nepal and Turkey, Pooja was influenced to connect indigenous craft to international markets, and to connect the creators of products to their consumers. While in graduate school in the UK, her work on development in emerging economies and belief in social entrepreneurship influenced Pooja to give up her job in the UK and move to India to pilot a program that engaged gifted Indian artisans. In spring of 2016, she launched the ethical fashion label - Ayana. Pooja’s dream is to create a brand that sells stunning products that are unique and inspired by collaboration between our artisans and innovators and will have large scale social impact.
House of Ayana was awarded the best Boutique for Craftsmanship and Innovation by Times Business Awards.
The award was presented to Mrs. Pooja Sundaresh, CEO and Founder by Mr. Anil Kapoor (Bollywood Actor & Producer), at an award ceremony in Chennai.
House of Ayana is the voice of our customers and our creation for the inspired. Vibrance, luxurious craftsmanship and social ethos – these pillars have defined Ayana since its founding in 2016. Steeped in the traditions of India’s silk capital and long celebrated for its kanjivarams, House of Ayana’s journey originated with an emphasis on celebrating women – expression of a sense of individuality, creativity and confidence. As Ayana continues to flourish, its qualities will however remain unchanged. These qualities define us and will allow us to bring exquisite fashion right to the doorstep of vivacious women around the world.
As traditional Indian clothes that draw heavily on the textile and embroidery heritage of India de-evolve, Ayana is pushing the boundaries of traditionalism to meet the changing needs of the new generation – to re-inspire millennials and adults back into Indian clothing with a contemporary twist. We have evolved radically with each collection, translating locally sourced exquisite materials and embellishments into refreshingly creative and astonishingly contemporary silhouettes. We take immense pride in prioritising quality over quantity and obsess over sourcing the most vibrant and high quality raw materials from weavers across the country.
While we are bound by our pillars - outstanding craftsmanship, innovative design, contemporary functionality, and the highest quality materials, Ayana’s commitment to its ateliers, where artisans of remarkable skill combine traditional mastery with breathtaking innovation has remained unwavering. We bring to you an exquisite collection of handwoven kanchivaram saris, exclusive readymade blouses, designer sarees, skirts, crop tops, bridal lehengas, work wear, brunch wear dresses, kurti and palazzo sets, western wear and a fine collection of blouse fabrics and handmande jewellery for all occasions.
Ayana, conceptualized as a bespoke fashion startup from a 200 sq ft condo in Central London has now grown its wings and expanded its portfolio. Reminiscing on this journey, we must say, Ayana’s customers have been so understanding, patient and motivating throughout our years of operations. We’re extremely overwhelmed and grateful for all this love. We want you to know that we’re listening, we’re one hundred percent committed and that we’re always, always trying to better ourselves from the previous day. If you are in Chennai, come visit our exclusive FLAGSHIP boutique store located at Nungambakkam, Chennai and cherish the individualistic sense of style. For those outside of Chennai, worry not as we ship our products worldwide across 6 continents and over 30 countries.
