What began as a small hobby of turning waste into something useful has today grown into Shreya’s Silai — a tailoring studio in Ponda, Goa, known for handcrafted bags, saree upcycling, and sustainable stitched products. It is the inspiring journey of Shreya Bakhle, a physics graduate who once worked in the travel industry but discovered her real passion in stitching and creative design.
From Hobby to Handcrafted Business
Shreya’s journey began in an unexpected way. After completing her graduation in Physics and a diploma in Travel Management, she worked in the travel industry for a few years. But personal circumstances brought her back home to Ponda, and with no job in hand, she found herself experimenting with “best out of waste.” From making pen stands out of paper to coasters from cake boards and envelopes from craft sheets, she loved creating small things with a purpose.
At first, these items were simply gifted to family and friends. But in 2010, Shreya decided to test her creativity at an exhibition during Diwali at Khedekar Hall, Sankhali. To her surprise, everything sold out. Encouraged by the response, she began participating in more exhibitions — from Lokotsav and Aprant Mand in Goa to an art festival in Delhi through the Goa Government. Each event gave her more visibility and confidence to take her work further.
The Birth of Shreya’s Silai
What started as a hobby became a brand when Shreya discovered her love for stitching. With her sister’s help, she learned tailoring and soon specialised in making handcrafted handbags, potli purses, saree storage bags, jewellery pouches, and custom stitched gift bags. Customers loved the neat finishing and creative designs, especially the upcycled saree and denim bags which gave old fabrics a new life.
After her marriage in 2012, she continued exhibitions in Ponda and Vasco, slowly gaining word-of-mouth publicity. As orders grew, she trained another woman to assist her, and eventually opened her own workshop at Curti, Ponda in 2022. Today, Shreya’s Silai has four sewing machines, employs women, and delivers orders not just in Goa but across India — and even internationally.
What Makes Shreya’s Silai Unique?
At Shreya’s Silai, one of the most loved services is saree upcycling in Goa — where old sarees are redesigned into storage bags, travel pouches, organisers, and return gift bags. Many families also come to her for handcrafted potli bags, which have become especially popular for weddings, haldi-kunku ceremonies, and festive occasions. Her work with eco-friendly materials like denim and jute gives every bag a sustainable edge, while her range of custom-stitched products — from jewellery organisers to fabric-based gift bags and party pouches — remain favourites among her customers. What makes Shreya’s work even more special is the personal connection she maintains with each client; customers from Goa and even other states courier their sarees to her, and she transforms them into useful, stylish pieces with neat finishing and creativity.
Growth, Recognition & Sustainability
From starting with just one sewing machine to running a small workshop with four, Shreya’s journey is a true example of how passion can be turned into a career. In the past 15 years, she has built a loyal customer base, delivered bulk orders for weddings and events, and promoted the idea of sustainable fashion in Goa.
Her products — from eco-friendly potli bags to saree upcycled organisers — now reach homes all over India, and recently even international customers have begun placing orders. By employing women who work from home, Shreya has also created small but meaningful job opportunities, proving that even a homegrown tailoring brand can make a difference in the community.
A Sustainable Fashion Story from Goa
Shreya’s Silai is more than just a tailoring studio in Ponda — it is a story of determination, creativity, and sustainability. From exhibitions to international orders, from upcycled sarees to handcrafted gift bags, Shreya has shown how local talent can create global value.
For anyone looking for handcrafted bags in Goa, eco-friendly potli purses, or custom stitched sustainable products, Shreya’s Silai is a name worth remembering.
👉 Explore more about Shreya’s Silai through their [GoanLane Listing].
