A friendship, an idea and a journey of a lifetime
Born and brought up in New Delhi, India, we both belong to closely-knit, middle-class families. Our families emphasised on the importance of tradition and culture and made sure it is a big part of who we are today. They also encouraged us to explore the world and adapt to changes that came in with modernisation. This balance of keeping the old and adapting to the new made us independent women who are deeply connected to their roots.
A friendship like no other
We met in college and instantly hit it off like a house on fire! It has been over a decade and we have been with each other through thick and thin.
A shared passion for Art and Exploration
Dating back to our childhood, we have always been fascinated with the local crafts & arts and fondly remember our grandparents knitting and stitching everything from clothes, bedding and accessories for the family. Hailing from a country with no dearth of culture, we are always travelling in search of these traditional skills that have been passed on from generation to generation in families of artisans that are the hidden gems of rural India.
An Idea so close to our hearts
On our trip to Udaipur in 2017, we were sitting by the lake-side at Ambrai Ghat at dawn. Little did we know, that it was going to be the most magical and life-changing experience. We were moved by the beauty and serenity that our country is blessed with, and started talking about how we could take this experience to the world. After hours and hours and countless chais, we decided to create a collection of unique hand-made pieces that truly represent various arts and crafts that are born in our country. A brain child of our friendship and passion - Ambrai is an effort to bring the rich cultural heritage of India to the fore.
About the collection
With a work experience of over a decade in the field of product development, design and marketing with leading global companies, we aim to create a collection of hand-made home decor and lifestyle products that speak for the artisans. We make sure we use only high quality materials and work with experienced artisans so that our customers are happy with finished product. The entire range is designed with a contemporary edge to suit modern spaces and evolving fashion. Each piece takes a lot of time to finish and looks more artistic and personal compared to a mass-produced, machine-manufactured product. As the pieces are hand-made, variations and asymmetric patterns are common. They add character to the product and are to be celebrated.
We also hope that this endeavour will help empower the rural artisans by creating awareness for these precious art forms, globally.
Love,
Sahira & Vasundhara
