Sujatam Atelier: A Kolkata House of Banarasi Handloom
Curated in Kolkata. Handwoven in Banaras. Shaped by a continuing conversation between tradition and the present.
Sujatam is an independent handloom atelier founded by Sujata and Somenath Mukherjee. We curate authentic Banarasi sarees, create contemporary expressions of inherited weaving traditions and design bespoke Bengali ceremonial wear for weddings and significant celebrations.
Why Sujatam Exists
A Banarasi saree should never be understood only through its colour or ornamentation.
Its true character lies deeper—in the silk, the zari, the construction of the weave, the hand of the artisan and the knowledge with which it is selected.
Sujatam began with a simple conviction: a customer should be able to understand what she is choosing. At a time when handwoven, powerloom, pure, blended and imitation products were becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish, we chose to build our work around transparency.
Every saree entering a Sujatam collection is considered for its material integrity, weaving technique, craftsmanship, drape and enduring relevance. Some are traditional expressions of Banaras. Others reinterpret inherited techniques through contemporary colour, geometry and restraint.
Our purpose is not merely to sell a Banarasi. It is to help every customer recognise why a particular Banarasi deserves to become part of her life.
The Sujatam Journey
From a relationship with handloom to a house of contemporary heritage
The early years
Sujata’s journey began through design, textile merchandising, quality control and close engagement with India’s handloom traditions. Her understanding developed through the material itself—learning to examine yarn, tension, weave, colour and finishing rather than treating a saree merely as a finished visual object.
2017 — Two disciplines converge
Somenath joined Sujatam after more than fifteen years in corporate leadership, marketing and technology. His systems-oriented approach met Sujata’s curatorial eye, creating the partnership that now defines the atelier.
2019 — Banarasi becomes the centre
Sujatam began developing a deeper focus on pure Banarasi sarees, working closely with weaving communities and introducing customers to the technical and cultural vocabulary of the loom.
2020 — Banaras enters the customer’s home
When travel and traditional retail were interrupted, Sujatam began presenting Banarasi sarees through live digital conversations. Customers could experience the sarees from the source, understand the people and processes behind them and choose with greater confidence.
2022 — A new organisational foundation
Indyloom India Private Limited was incorporated to provide the retail and operational structure for Sujatam’s next phase.
2023 — The Gariahat atelier
Sujatam opened its Kolkata atelier at Mahanirban Road, creating a physical home for Banarasi sarees, bridal consultations and bespoke Bengali menswear.
Today
Sujatam continues to build a living archive of authentic Banarasi weaving—connecting bridal heirlooms, everyday handloom, rare collectible sarees, contemporary Banarasi design and ceremonial menswear within one evolving house.
Sujata Mukherjee \
Founder, Design Director and Banarasi Curator
Sujata’s relationship with handloom begins with the discipline of looking closely.
Trained in fashion design and experienced in textile merchandising and quality control, she approaches every saree through its construction: the quality of the silk, the nature of the zari, the precision of the weave, the balance of colour and the way the textile responds when draped.
Her engagement with the weaving traditions of Varanasi shaped Sujatam’s central philosophy—that authenticity must be understood, not merely claimed.
At the atelier, Sujata leads the curation of Banarasi collections, bridal consultations, colour and styling guidance and the development of contemporary interpretations of traditional weaving vocabulary.
Her work has received recognition from Femina for excellence in Banarasi handloom and from organisations acknowledging women’s entrepreneurship and contribution to the handloom sector.
For Sujata, preservation does not mean asking tradition to remain unchanged. It means understanding the grammar of the craft deeply enough to allow it to evolve without losing its integrity.
Co-founder, Strategic Director and Menswear Designer
Somenath brought to Sujatam more than fifteen years of leadership experience across technology, telecommunications, marketing and large-scale business systems.
An MBA in Marketing and Systems and formally trained in painting, he combines commercial structure with a visual and narrative approach to design. Since joining Sujatam in 2017, he has worked to translate the depth of handloom into experiences that can travel beyond the traditional store—from live presentations in Banaras to digital consultations, destination storytelling and an increasingly knowledge-led website.
Somenath also designs the Sujatam menswear line, drawing from Bengal’s sartorial memory while exploring how handloom silk, embroidery and traditional silhouettes can belong naturally within contemporary ceremonial wardrobes.
His work at Sujatam focuses on the point where craft, design, technology and communication meet: ensuring that the knowledge behind a textile remains visible to the customer who ultimately wears it.
Somenath Mukherjee
The Sujatam method
Curation Before Commerce
A saree enters a Sujatam collection only after being considered for its silk, weave, zari, craftsmanship, drape and lasting relevance.
Knowledge Before Recommendation
We explain the materials, techniques and differences behind every textile so that customers can choose with confidence rather than depending upon labels alone.
Tradition in the Present Tense
Our Modern Banarasi Edit demonstrates how inherited techniques can meet contemporary colour, negative space, geometry and restraint without losing their material integrity.
Personal by Design
From bridal guidance and private video viewings to bespoke Bengali menswear, every important selection begins with a direct conversation.
Recognition and Independent Coverage
Sujatam’s work in Banarasi handloom, design and contemporary heritage has been recognised through awards, editorial coverage and participation in conversations concerning the future of Indian handloom.
These include recognition from Femina for excellence in Banarasi handloom, a Times Power Icon recognition in 2026 and features across publications including Anandabazar, The Telegraph, Indulge, Calcutta Times and HT City.
For us, recognition matters when it brings greater attention to the knowledge, people and processes behind handloom.
Button: Explore Sujatam in the Media
Founders of Sujatam: Sujata and Somenath Mukherjee receiving Times Power Icon Award 2026 for Excellence in Banarasi (East)
Founders of Sujatam: Sujata Mukherjee receiving Femina Excellence Award 2025 for Excellence in Banarasi (East)
Founders of Sujatam: Sujata Mukherjee receiving Crazy Tales Award 2023 for Excellence in Banarasi
The Atelier Is an Invitation
"To look more closely.
To ask what a textile is made of.
To understand how it was woven.
To choose what will remain meaningful after the occasion has passed."
Visit Sujatam in Gariahat, Kolkata, or meet us through a private video consultation from anywhere in the world.