Kochi designers use memories, motifs and gold for their Onam collections

Kerala quirky Rouka by Sreejith’s collection of Kerala handloom saris for Onam are a bit whimsy, quirky and bring in a whole lot of nostalgia. “This connection to our roots is also sprinkled with who we are now.” “Onam is a search for home — for a sadya that takes you back to childhood; for the comfortable wrap of a kasavu that connects with your grandmother; for that feeling of being one among a closely knit family even when you know it’s through a Whatsapp call.” The designer’s take on the Kerala sari for the festivities is modern meets traditional, “a kasavu that can multitask into our quirky lives of today.” Some of the saris, handwoven at Chendamangalam, have applique motifs derived from celebrations and kuruthola, indigenous flora and of course the signature Rouka kasavu with its stripes, checks and stunning variations. Prices start at ₹3,995; available at the Rouka store and shoprouka.com Memory chips Poornima Indrajith has pieced together snatches of people’s Onam memories including her own for her collection, Onam’24. The Dipped in Gold Onam range was inspired by an old sari Rasmi found in her mother’s cupboard — an old off-white kora sari with gold flowers on it. Prices start at ₹4,999 for saris; at turmerikofficial.in Ivory and rose gold Besides Kerala sari, Label M and Mannath Kochi designers Anu and Reshma have experimented with malai chanderi fabric in their Onam collection, Nalini, which means lotus.