No industry background, no shop, no Plan B: How three Sentul sisters built Pattushastra, Malaysia’s pioneer of Kanjivaram silk sarees

Pattushastra, Malaysia's pioneering Kanjivaram silk saree brand, was founded by three sisters from Sentul with no industry background, no business plan, and no initial capital other than what they had personally saved. The sisters, Suvitha and Jeevitha Rajasingam, registered the company on August 23, 2012, with their elder sister Kavitha Rajasingam supporting them.

The idea for Pattushastra emerged from the sisters' frustration in trying to find authentic, reasonably priced Kanjivaram silk sarees for Kavitha's wedding. They discovered that such sarees were not available at fair prices in Malaysia or even in Singapore. This led them to believe that genuine craftsmanship shouldn't be gatekept by price, which became the company's founding thesis.

Bootstrapped and run from their home for more than a year, Pattushastra only moved into a rented shop lot in 2014 and then into their own boutique in 2021 during the pandemic. Despite the challenges, the sisters chose to go deeper rather than wider in their growth strategy. They built direct relationships with master weavers in Kanchipuram, India, and other weaving units in West Bengal and Varanasi.

A significant aspect of their business is their Artisan Room, which features hand-painted and handloom cotton sarees made by single mothers and unemployed women from low-income communities in Kolkata. Proceeds from these sarees go to a non-governmental organization shelter that supports these women.

Today, Pattushastra has expanded its customer base beyond its original Indian market to include Malay and Chinese customers domestically, as well as buyers from Singapore, Australia, and Canada. The company is now open to customers of all ages, not just a specific generation. Looking ahead, the sisters aim to continue preserving the heritage of Kanjivaram silk sarees while supporting the artisans who create them.