FAQ

Premaasi is a handmade textile house. I curate scarves, shawls, sari silk necklaces, garments, and textile-based pieces for both the wardrobe and the home. Everything is made by skilled artisans in India, using traditional techniques and natural materials. Nothing is produced at scale, or replicated exactly.

My name is Preeti Mehta. I grew up in Mumbai and have had a lifelong relationship with handmade textiles. I started Premaasi because I wanted to bring this work into modern wardrobes and homes. I source directly from artisans and small craft organizations, and I stand behind every piece I carry. Read more in My Story 

All pieces are made in India by skilled artisans using traditional techniques. Many of the women who create this work do so from home, which allows them to support their families while earning a livelihood from their craft. Several of the organizations I work with are social enterprises specifically focused on supporting women from low-income households.

Scarves, shawls, sari silk necklaces, garments, and textile-based home pieces like kantha sari napkins (on occasion). Techniques include kantha stitching, hand block printing, shibori, bandhani tie-dye, hand weaving, and more. The common thread is that every piece is handmade from natural materials. The kantha sari shawls and nakshi kantha pieces also make beautiful home accents like wall art. 

These are not artisan-inspired pieces. They are made by actual artisans, using traditional techniques that take years to learn. The materials are natural. The quantities are small. Many pieces are one of a kind, and once they are gone, they are gone. The techniques used to craft the fabric create their own unique design elements and texture. The difference is something you notice the moment you hold one. 

Most of them, yes. Because these textiles are made by hand using traditional techniques, no two pieces are exactly alike. Even within a colorway or pattern, variations in the handwork mean each piece is slightly different. That is a feature of the craft, not a flaw.

Primarily natural fibers: cotton, silk, wool, and linen. Many of the silk pieces are upcycled from vintage saris. Natural dyes are used by several of the artisan groups I work with. I do not carry synthetic fabrics.

Some are, specifically the  kantha sari shawls, which offer two completely different looks in a single piece.

 I include care guidance in each product listing and also with each order. Please be careful with these handmade products.  I always advise my customers to spot clean my scarves and shawls when possible. If you must wash them please hand wash, use cold water, a mild detergent and wash each separately. Do not soak or wring. Hand wash all clothing using the same directions as above for the scarves. 

That is a fair concern with any online textile purchase. What I can tell you is that customers consistently say the pieces are more beautiful in person than in the photographs. If you have a specific question about the feel, drape, or weight of a piece, reach out to me directly before you buy. I am happy to describe it.

This is one of the most common concerns, and a fair one. Most of the scarves and shawls work across multiple situations: think of them as a layer to finish any outfit. I think of them as pieces that make a simple outfit look intentional. If you are unsure about a specific piece, email me and I can help you think through how it would work with what you already wear. Also, because I hear this concern a lot from my customers, I have a blog post that 

Yes. I am a real person and I respond to emails. Tell me what you are looking for, what you tend to wear, and what the occasion is, and I will help you narrow it down. I would rather you buy the right thing than the wrong one.

They are some of the most-commented-on gifts my customers give. A common pattern: someone spots a Premaasi piece on a friend, asks about it, and ends up buying one for themselves and one for someone else. The packaging is thoughtful, the story travels well, and the pieces are genuinely beautiful. Recipients wear them often and get stopped regularly by people asking where they came from.

Most scarves and shawls are one size. For color, rich earthy tones tend to work across a wide range of skin tones and wardrobes. If you tell me a little about the person you are buying for, I can suggest a direction. I am also happy to help you pair a scarf with a necklace if you want to give a set.

That depends on how you think about value. These are not fast fashion prices, and they are not meant to be. You are paying for natural materials, skilled handwork, small-batch production, and pieces that will last. Customers who have bought from me over the years consistently say the pieces hold up and that they reach for them again and again. If you are comparing to a mass-produced scarf, the math looks different. If you are comparing to something you will actually use and love for years, it usually makes a lot of sense.

Currently I ship primarily within the US only. If you are outside the US and interested in a piece, reach out to me directly and I will see what I can do.

All U.S. orders ship free via USPS Ground Advantage. Most orders arrive within 7–10 business days. You will receive a tracking number as soon as your order is on its way. If you have a deadline—a trip, a birthday, an event—email me and I will do my best to work around it.

Because each piece is one of a kind and handmade, I handle returns on a case-by-case basis. If something arrives damaged or significantly different from its description, please contact me within 7 days and I will make it right. For other concerns, reach out and let's talk. I would rather you be happy with your purchase than not.

Occasionally, yes. If you run a shop or gallery that you think would be a good fit for Premaasi pieces, I am open to a conversation. Reach out at preeti@premaasi.com with a bit about your space and what you are looking for.

Because I do not send many, and when I do, they are worth reading. I write about specific pieces, the people who made them, and occasionally the textile traditions behind the work. New arrivals are shared with email subscribers first, and some pieces sell out quickly. If you care about this kind of work, being on the list means you hear about it before anyone else.

Roughly once a week when I have something worth sharing. I am not going to fill your inbox with promotions and countdown timers. If I email you, it is because I have something specific I want to tell you about.

No. Your email stays with me and is used only to send you Premaasi communications. I do not sell or share customer information.

Yes, any time. Every email has an unsubscribe link. No hard feelings.

You do not have to be a frequent buyer to belong here. A lot of people on my list enjoy reading about the textiles and the people who make them. Some buy once a year, usually when they have a trip or an event coming up. Some buy for gifts. Sign up because you are curious. Buy when something catches your eye.

I understand. I keep it short and I keep it real. I write the emails myself, in my own voice, about things I genuinely want to share. If you read one and it feels like noise, you can unsubscribe. But most people who join the list stay, because it does not feel like a newsletter. It feels like hearing from someone who knows their stuff.

I source from organizations and artisans whose practices I know and trust personally. Several of the groups I work with are social enterprises specifically built around fair wages and dignified working conditions for women artisans. If you want to know more about where a specific piece came from, ask me. I can speak to the sourcing behind everything I carry.

That is a question worth asking. What I carry is made by artisans from the cultures whose techniques are being used, not by outside manufacturers replicating those techniques cheaply. The work supports the people and traditions it draws from. That is a meaningful distinction.

Natural materials, small-batch production, traditional techniques, and pieces designed to last. Several of the silk pieces I carry are made from upcycled vintage saris. Nothing I sell is designed to be replaced quickly. For me, sustainability means making and buying less and better. It is not a marketing word here.

Sometimes it means a product or colorway is gone for good. That is the reality of working with small-batch, handmade work. I do not replace it with something that looks similar but is not the same. If something is gone, I say so.