25 July 2026 · 7 minute read
What to Wear for Onam 2026: A Simple Guide for the Whole Family
Onam dressing is the easiest dressing of the year, if you know the rules. This is what our clients wear on Thiruvonam morning, and why.
The Journal
Notes from the studio.
Slow reading on sarees, weaves, and the parts of a wedding that are worth thinking about carefully. Written from the Allies Atelier studio in Bengaluru.
22 July 2026 · 7 minute read
The Onakkodi: How Kerala Gifts New Clothes for Onam
Of all the small rituals of Onam, the Onakkodi is the one that carries the most feeling. This is what it is, and how families keep it alive across distance.
18 July 2026 · 6 minute read
Settu Mundu or Kasavu Saree: What Is the Difference?
The two most common festival garments in Kerala look almost identical in a photograph. In the hand and on the body they are very different pieces of cloth. Here is the difference.
14 July 2026 · 6 minute read
Onam Gifts for Amma: What to Send Home This Chingam
Every Chingam our studio fills with orders from sons and daughters living far from Kerala, all with the same question. What do I send home to Amma. Here is what we say.
10 July 2026 · 6 minute read
Real Zari: How to Tell in Two Minutes
The single largest hidden cost in a good silk saree is the zari, and it is also the easiest thing to fake. Here is how to tell.
4 July 2026 · 6 minute read
The Onam Saree Guide 2026: Choosing and Wearing Kasavu
Every Chingam, Kerala turns towards a saree it has worn for centuries. This is a small guide to choosing one this year, whether you are wearing it yourself or sending it home.
18 June 2026 · 7 minute read
How to Choose a Wedding Kanjivaram: A Calm Guide
A wedding Kanjivaram is not chosen quickly. It is a saree that will be photographed once and worn again for the rest of a life. This is how we help people choose one.
20 May 2026 · 5 minute read
What Kasavu Means: The Story of the Kerala Saree
Almost every saree in the world starts with a colour. The kasavu starts with an absence of one. This is the story of a saree that Kerala has quietly worn for over three centuries.