Our Story

Rithihi is an almost serendipitous creation. I spent 20 years of my life at Kalakshetra in India, learning dance, performing and teaching. The experiences in that very special school, the encounters with the subtle yet vibrant aesthetic nurtured there, found a natural culmination in Rithihi. But Rithihi is not just mine. Artisans, artists, designers, and most importantly our customers, have all somehow contributed to Rithihi’s identity and are influential to its state of being.

The main thread running through this story is a love for the inherent beauty of woven textiles, especially the saree. As a garment, the saree is the ultimate embodiment of freedom in fashion. A single, seemingly endless stretch of unstitched cloth, its only boundary is one’s own creativity in wearing it. The saree is also the living embodiment of textile heritage, worn lovingly and often passed down from generation to generation.

Every saree in the Rithihi collection bears witness to a refined sense of craftsmanship. Cherished tradition and dynamic innovation co-exist in designs which use hand-processed cloth and raw material, silks and cottons in endless variety.

It has been a joy to see the brand widen its range over the years. A growing number of collaborations with designers, artisans and artists as well as brands from across the sub-continental region have resulted in a whole spectrum of sarees that fuse craft and creativity in heartening measure.

Today, Rithihi draws in a circle of people who share a deep appreciation for the saree and woven fabric. Our dedicated store in Colombo is designed to be a point of attraction that is equally meant for both the enthusiast and the casually interested. I invite you to walk in at your leisure and be intimately acquainted with our collection. You just might find yourself falling in love with woven art… as I did, a lifetime ago.

By hand, and heart

Every woven piece is organically produced, using only the deftness of hand as guided by emotion.

Artful longevity

Our design are meant to live long and stay relevant; Slow-fashion at its vital best.

Evolving to be ethical

We are on a gradual path of transformation to honestly becoming a fair brand in every aspect of being.

Our artisans, are as important in the value creation and exchange journey as our patrons are.

Brand Promise

Joy, optimism and a sense of wonder that is intimate are the first of, but, certainly not the only emotions Rithihi embraces you with in our infusing of sense to cloth and colour; an aesthetic that is grounded in the beauty of unreserved fairness to the artisan and value to the wearer.

Valli Mohideen

Director - Rithihi

Conception through colour

The full spectrum of emotions as coded in colour, helps us objectify our design purpose for each saree or garment, which individually stands to celebrate a particular moment or feeling. However, it is important to mention that the application of colour to emotion is done quite liberally and without restraint in letting our creators make their own interpretations and so etch their identity in each piece.

Articulate threading

Our artisans are incredible in how they are able to give life to coherent thought and emotion, using only the language of the weave. Every time their creations are worn, or laid out even, you would see all of the elements; from the colour pairings to the border-work and the motifs, come together to form stories and secrets that would be robbed of their intricacy and charm, if they were somehow to be stated by words.

Eclectic collaborations

We have a deep love for the artisanal and cultural diversity of South Asia, an affinity that sees us working in tandem with designers, artisans, artists, and brands from the region, creating new paradigms not just for the saree, but for the broader representation of all subcontinental design. However, it is our more ‘personal’ inclination towards art forms such as dance that imbues the necessary soul to making Rithihi a brand that transcends traditional material trappings.