"Birds rise without border,
Wings cross every shore,
Threads bind worlds together,
Hearts unbound once more."
Freedom in Flight
Sari ID: 26 VMOR FIF AAM
By Pavithra Muddaya, Vimor
Collection: Journey and Exile
Created by: Pavithra Muddaya,Vimor, Bangalore
Sari Details: Iconography custom-woven in Kanchipuram silk
Latest Exhibit: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (March 2026)
Includes: Blouse kit (materials for two blouses) and certificate of authenticity
Care: Dry clean only by a textile specialist
Status: Available for sale
The Artist
Pavithra Muddaya is a handloom practitioner with over five decades of experience in Indian textiles. She is the co-founder of Vimor, a Bangalore-based handloom brand established in 1974, and leads the Vimor Handloom Foundation, which supports weaving communities across South India. Her work focuses on reviving heritage sarees while building sustainable livelihoods for artisans. In recognition of her contribution to textile revival and community empowerment, she has been honored at The New Indian Express’ Devi Awards.
The Inspiration
Freedom in Flight explores universality.
The sari features two mythical birds: Annam Pakshi, symbolizing discernment and wisdom, and Gandaberunda, a powerful emblem seen across Karnataka, Russia, and Persia. These birds embody shared cultural memory, symbols that predate national boundaries.
Woven on a pure gold Kanjivaram base, they are shown in flight, crossing invisible borders. Pavithra’s work suggests that the world must move beyond territorial divisions toward integration, shared stewardship, and collective celebration.
From Sari to Art
Unlike painted works, this sari is entirely handwoven.
Pavithra’s expertise lies in designing directly on the loom. Using jacquard weaving, she emphasizes precision, structure, and visual impact rather than experimental technique. With decades of experience across cotton, silk, and wool, silk posed no challenge, it was simply another medium she masters.
What sets this sari apart is its meticulous “binding.” The weave is executed with such care that there are no loose threads at the back, resulting in technical excellence and complete wearability.
Message for the World
This sari embodies two forms of freedom.
Physical: softness, fluidity, and craftsmanship that honor the wearer.
Symbolic: birds crossing borders, traditions transcending nations and ideas belonging to all.
When worn, it invites the wearer to feel graceful, empowered, and unbound.