Unnati Silks

From the business

Unnati Silks is a saga of 'HANDLOOMS FOR WOMEN' that began in 1980. Three decades hence it has transformed from a single shop entity to become a family enterprise with extended arms and global operations. Customer - Centric that it is, Unnati Silks anticipates, innovates and provides with a strong belief that each and every customer is special and requires that something, which is unique, refreshing, fashionable and of quality.

An experience of three decades plus in silk and cotton textiles Unnati has carved out a niche presence for itself in being the manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer and exporter of genuine silk cotton handlooms like sarees, salwar suits, kurtas, kurtis and other Indian ethnic fabrics. This has thereby created for it, a sizable domestic market from across the country and overseas.

Having a product range that is as varied as it is vast, handwoven and handcrafted, the devotion and dedication of talented ethnic artisans from across 21 states of India comes through in the products on display. Having the Handloom Mark and Silk Mark for most of its products, Unnati's customers are assured a legitimate backing too, despite being guaranteed original handloom products from the start.

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• Sarees, Indian Clothing, Women's Clothing
• Hyderabad, India. All rights reserved., Telangana, India
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Business History

In the 1980s weavers worked on silk and cotton threads, were conventional in outlook and wove limited design fabrics. Art Silks at that time were mass-produced, had plenty of designer fare and were quite cheap. Conventional handloom fabrics were fast losing a battle not of their calling but a situation that threatened their very existence. It was in 1980 that Mr. Devender Gopal Ladha had started his journey in textiles with a single-minded effort and a small room in Hyderabad to do something worthwhile in a well-established world of fabrics, where he was a relative greenhorn in a market already having big & not so big players.

It is said – ‘when you have nothing much to lose except your face, you have every chance to gain if you bear the strain’. Unnati Silks, as it was named, started doing business slowly and surely with its small sales and big contacts that grew over the next few years. The single room became several rooms and led to becoming a store - a destination for shoppers interested in handlooms and the small variety that it offered under one roof.

Mr. Ladha travelled a lot, many a time over days, covering rural destinations that had weavers and traditional craftsmen, who eked out their existence through the making of silk and cotton handlooms that took time to weave, got little remuneration, faced the brunt of cheaper arty fabrics and kept on doing what they knew in silent misery and a hope for better days to come. He observed the limited designs, the lack of variety, the ignorance of getting their products sold reasonably.

A brainwave struck him, where he felt Unnati could contribute to the handloom effort through a direct engagement with the weaver. Unnati would suggest the ideas of color, designs and other info that hinted at market tastes, the weaver would translate them into fine count handloom weaves that would fetch them a respectable livelihood while Unnati would gain from the authentic goods.
The idea that Mr. Ladha had in mind bore fruit when some weavers wove some of the designs in the colors he suggested that were current and catchy. The outcomes on silk and cotton were novel and created a stir by their changed look.

Unnati Silks no longer remained an idea. It became a reality. It was the start of a long standing relationship that has endured in time till date, a bond that will not break easily. Since then associated with talented master weavers in ethnic fabrics across India, he has helped in his own small way in the revival of traditional weaves. Through Unnati Silks he has afforded them a global platform for the continued display of their skills and a decent livelihood.

Unnati under Mr. Ladha and his strong team of 200 plus, has grown from strength to strength over the years, added landmarks like offline stores at Hyderabad, added a manufacturing unit, printing units, an online website in its ‘Unnati’ or progress ahead. But has never given up its passion for handlooms nor changed its vision of contributing in the nation’s effort to better the conditions of the ethnic practitioner.

Company Representative

Unnati S.