For designer Anjali Purohit, it’s quality over quantity and timelessness over trendiness. That’s what her fashion accessory company, Variously, is all about.
“The time taken to make these products is a lot more because they’re all handcrafted,” explains Purohit. “I would rather try and take more time, but make them well so that even 10 years down the line they are not outdated. I want somebody to have it forever.”
Born and raised in India, Purohit’s heritage is reflected in her company’s eye-catching textiles. The scarves and throws use traditional techniques like block printing, hand weaving, and shibori dyeing to create their unique look. They use natural dyes, so they’re eco-friendly.
“They are ethically made, they are sustainable, and they are definitely a classic product,” says Purohit, a Creator Awards winner. She was one of 18 winners at the Detroit event, one of a series sponsored by WeWork.
Purohit also works with artisans in India, Nepal, and other places to create materials that are not only beautiful, but use techniques passed down from generation to generation.
“Some of the weaving techniques are more than 1,000 years old,” says Purohit. “There are very few people still using them.”
She helps artisans—many of them women in rural areas—learn these techniques so they won’t be lost to the ages. The money stays in these communities, bolstering the local economy. All this makes the garments even more special.
“It’s no longer just a scarf or a throw,” she says. “There is a genuine story behind it, and a genuine person who has a lot of skill to share behind it.”
