Sundari Silks in T Nagar has been one of the city’s preferred saree destinations for over 20 years. Housed in a large, white, traditional Tamil-style building with charming windows and walls, the shop also has tiny alcoves featuring brass lamps and wooden pillars. Sea green Athangudi floor tiles lend the space a sense of tranquillity, and an atrium mimicking a small central courtyard allows the store to be flooded with natural light. Combine this with attentive, well-informed staff, and saree shopping here truly becomes a delight.
As for the sarees itself, from heavy bridal Kanjeevarams, double ikat Puttapakas and vintage-royal Benarasis to chic Tussars, resplendent Patolas and trendy soft silks, Sundari Silks is a treasure trove of sarees, catering to both the young and old. You can also find Gadwals, Uppadas, Chettinad cottons, Kotas and Mangalagiris in plenty, along with intricate Kalamkari work, Kantha embroidery and Shibori tie and dye sarees.
We love their occasion wear saree collection, made just for grand festivities and events, especially the one with gold tissue and Gota-Patti embroidery. We also found rich Paithani, the evergreen Bandhini here and rare to find Koorainadu and Kodali Karuppur, all sourced directly from the looms.
If you’re not a saree person, Sundari Silks has enough to keep you coming back. The first floor stocks salwar sets for women, kurtas and dhotis for men, dupattas, readymade clothes for children and reasonably-priced blouses. It even has Kalamkari rugs, cushion covers, bamboo mats, bedsheets, and fluffy quilts to choose from. The second floor is home to handicrafts ranging from exquisitely crafted brass lamps to traditional and regional wooden toys and artefacts like key chains that make for excellent gifts.
There’s also costume jewellery to browse through, as well as handmade bags and reams of blouse material (raw silk, Matka silk, Bagh, Ajrakh, Dabu, faux and real brocades) to match your sarees with. Sundari silks also sells footwear. They are mostly comfortable slip-ons made in printed ajrakh material that come with straps or in jutti form.
