In Goa, often accompanied with a smile, the phrase mog asu embodies the deep-rooted love and brotherhood shared within the community. Inspired by this spirit, Tejashree Padhye Sahakari sought to infuse her work with the same warmth that has become the essence of her 'Mogasu' sarees.
“I had to often wear sarees for events, and Goa’s humidity made it difficult to drape sarees,” says Tejashree, who after working in retail for almost three years, married and relocated to Goa.
Having lived in cities all her life, the new surroundings brought her closer to nature itself.
A fashion design graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai, she decided to find a solution herself and came up with a simple idea – how could she marry artisanal crafts, natural comfortable fabrics and the beauty of Goa?
“My inspiration for prints came from the uniqueness of the place; never in my life had I seen a peppercorn plant or a cashew fruit,” Tejashree, the owner of Mogasu, reveals.
After opting for a natural saree base that suited the humid and dry heat experienced in most parts of India, she started working with traditional Bagru artisans and block printing.
“It’s been two and half years since Mogasu started in November 2021,” she smiles. “It’s been fulfilling.”
While you often find her designing the prints on her iPad, Tejashree gives credit to her artisans who help translate these to real life sarees, which reveal stories.
Unlike traditional prints and motifs seen in block printing, their print collections are inspired by spice plantations, life under the sea, Fontainhas, birds and houses of Goa. “In fact, our latest collection is inspired by the Kaavi art of Goa,” she shares.
What’s more is that every detail is crafted with care. For instance, the saree comes with a fall with both sides hand-stitched, cute handmade tassels with wooden buttons at the pallu.
If you already have a top, their sarees are ready to wear just out of the box, and they also have pre-draped saree options.
“Watching the sarees get printed is the most satisfying and memorable experience. The block printing process is effort intensive and each saree takes one to two hours to print, depending on the complexity of the design,” she says.
Starting something on one’s own can get overwhelming, and Tejashree believes it takes patience to keep at it.
“I had to learn the ropes of marketing, social media and accounting (I still hate maths!). It took me some time to get used to it, with some help from my husband,” says Tejashree who is grateful for all the support.
Based in Goa, with the printing done in Rajasthan, Mogasu sarees today are largely sold online, through their website, with customers across India, and shipped to 15 plus countries till date.
“We have sold over 1,000 sarees all over the world since inception,” states Tejashree, who now plans to grow her online reach through engaging content.
Whether it’s her customers flaunting their new sarees or their comments – ‘Just got the package and hastily tried on each one’, ‘Wore it today for Ganesh, this cotton is makkan (butter), I could live in it for the next 24 hours’ or ‘Me in your beautiful creations, loving it!’ – such feedback often reminds Tejashree that when love is woven into something you cherish, it’s indeed palpable.
DETAILS
WORKSPACE ADDRESS: Sahakari Building, 9/208/9(5), Friends Colony, Khadpabandh, Ponda, Goa 403401
PRICING: Mogasu Sarees are priced between ₹3,150 to ₹5,250
WHERE TO SHOP: Visit Workspace (after prior intimation via Instagram DM or WhatsApp) or shop online (on the website)
WEBSITE: www.mogasu.com
INSTAGRAM: @mogasu.goa
GOOGLE MAPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ikeh2KLV8zVfbTEP9