"Jasmine drifts, kolam sways,
Stone walls whisper bygone days.
Threads of exile, steps unfold,
A story of courage quietly told."
Malli: The Jasmine Flower
Sari ID: 26 LAKS MAL AAM
By Lakshmi Srinath
Collection: Journey and Exile
Created by: Lakshmi Srinath, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Latest Exhibit: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (March 2026)
Status: Available for sale
Includes: Hand-embroidered silk sari, blouse kit materials for two blouses, certificate of authenticity, full provenance
Care: Dry clean only by textile specialist
The Artist
Lakshmi Srinath is an artist and designer whose work draws from India's heritage sites and natural landscapes.She studied Fine Arts at Stella Maris College. After starting a children's boutique, she returned to painting and expanded into textile design. She is the founder of Tvam Art and Design Studio, which is known for its textiles that translate architectural and cultural heritage into contemporary design.
The Inspiration
"Malli" draws from the life of the jasmine flower, long associated with South Indian temple rituals, devotion, and womanhood. The sari interprets Malli as a figure of quiet strength who lived within sacred spaces yet navigated the challenges of exile beyond their walls.
Rendered in stone grey, echoing the weathered temple walls, the sari features scattered jasmine motifs, suggesting rupture, movement, and transformation. The kolam, traditionally a symbol of home and continuity, is intentionally deconstructed: its fragmented lines traverse the fabric, transforming static ritual into a path of journey and liberation.
As the wearer moves, the sari evokes fluid terrains of memory, belonging, and passage, celebrating transformation through movement and the resilience of heritage.
From Sari to Art
Creating this sari required mastery of multiple textile techniques. Lakshmi combined wari embroidery, beadwork, cords, silk threads, and zaris to render the jasmine tactile and dimensional, while preserving fluidity and drape. The scattered patterns and deconstructed kolam lines were meticulously arranged to evoke both rhythm and narrative, ensuring that each motif responded to the motion of the body.
The result is a wearable story, where artistic craft, symbolism, and movement converge seamlessly, allowing the sari to carry its layered narrative with grace.
Message for the World
This sari invites the wearer to embrace transformation, resilience, and beauty in the journey.
It celebrates movement beyond boundaries, both physical and symbolic.
A tribute to memory, devotion, and the quiet strength of tradition.
A reminder that growth, courage, and hope are carried in every step of life.