No Fashion Background, No Business Background, No Outside Funding - How This Sister Duo Built a Rs 75 Cr Turnover Ethnic Wear Brand

In 2016, Sujata and Taniya Biswas were working stable corporate jobs when a simple thought kept surfacing – what if they could build something rooted in their culture and values?

They weren’t chasing a big business idea. 

What started as a shared love for simple, handwoven sarees soon turned into Suta, a brand that would not only reshape how young India sees traditional wear but also rebuild the lives of weavers and artisans across the country.

Suta, A Brand Woven with Purpose

Suta isn’t just a brand name—it’s a story stitched together with love and meaning. 

The name comes from combining ‘Su’ for Sujata and ‘Ta’ for Taniya, but it also means ‘thread’ in Sanskrit. It’s fitting, because at its heart, Suta is about weaving stories, memories, and culture into every piece of fabric.

Growing up in a Bengali household, Sujata and Taniya were surrounded by the quiet elegance of sarees. Their mother and grandmother would often be seen wrapped in soft, breezy mulmul, a fabric that felt like home.

“Our love for sarees began by seeing our mother, aunts, and everyone around. Sarees just look elegant on people,” Taniya once shared in an interview with Sambad English. “We felt that sarees should make a comeback. If not us, then who will do it?”

At the time, both sisters had built steady corporate careers—Sujata was working in the steel industry, and Taniya was at IBM. 

But even with impressive job titles, something felt off. 

There was a growing urge to do something more personal, more meaningful.

That search led them to explore India’s handloom communities. What started as curiosity quickly turned into purpose. They found stories of weavers struggling to find work, of skills passed down through generations at risk of disappearing. That’s when they knew: this was what they were meant to do.

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Launching a Bootstrapped Company

In 2016, with no big investors or fashion background – just grit, savings, and a strong sense of purpose – Sujata and Taniya started Suta.

Their goal wasn’t to make high-fashion statements.

It was simple: bring the saree back into everyday wardrobes and give a voice and income to the artisans who had long been overlooked.

But nothing about the journey was easy.

When they approached traditional weavers with the idea of creating plain mulmul sarees instead of the usual heavy silks or ornate patterns, they were met with confusion and often, outright refusal.

 “They thought we were mad,” the sisters have recalled in multiple interviews. Weavers were used to working on elaborate designs, and the idea of making soft, unembellished sarees seemed like a step backwards.

Still, Sujata and Taniya kept going—sometimes quite literally from door to door in rural weaving communities, trying to explain their vision.

“We’re not designers,” Sujata told Sambad English. “We just wanted the simplest of things, made with the best quality.”

And slowly, that simplicity caught on.

Reviving Forgotten Skills, One Saree at a Time

From the very beginning, Sujata and Taniya knew that Suta had to be more than just a clothing brand – it had to stand for something real.

And at the heart of it all were the weavers.

What started with just two artisans has now grown into a network of over 14,000 weavers, dyers, spinners, and craftsmen across India. But the sisters didn’t approach this as a business transaction; they saw it as a relationship.

“It’s not just about giving work to one or two weavers,” Sujata shared in an interview. “We think of it as adopting the whole family. You can’t empower one person and ignore the rest.”

Many of the weavers they met were on the verge of giving up. 

Years of unstable demand and unfair wages had made them question if their skills had any value anymore. Suta changed that. By offering fair pay, steady orders, and dignity in work, the sisters gave these artisans something they hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.

In villages where looms were gathering dust, you can now hear the rhythmic click-clack of weaving again. And more than just keeping a craft alive, Suta has helped bring back a sense of pride, of knowing that the work of one’s hands is not just appreciated but celebrated.

As their relationship with artisans deepened, so did their creative vision.

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Blending Tradition with Modernity

Suta isn’t just about sarees – it’s about keeping tradition alive in a way that feels fresh and relatable. While their roots lie in age-old weaving techniques, their designs are simple, modern, and easy to wear.

What started with soft mulmul sarees has grown into a full range of handwoven blouses, dresses, and loungewear. Each piece is inspired by nature, emotions, and memories.

“Suta is a short, humble word—just like our designs,” says Taniya. “It may not mean much at first, but it stays with you.”

What also stays with people is how openly they share their journey. On social media and their website, Suta regularly features the weavers behind their collections, the meaning behind each design, and the small stories that make their brand feel personal.

It’s this mix of honesty, simplicity, and soul that has made Suta more than a brand – it’s a community rooted in both craft and connection.

Sustainability and Ethical Practices

In a world where fashion often takes a toll on the planet, Suta is doing things differently.

The brand puts sustainability at the heart of everything using natural fabrics, earth-friendly dyes, and keeping waste to a minimum. Instead of chasing trends or mass-producing collections, they make everything in small batches, focusing on quality and keeping their environmental impact low.

“We see technology as a silent ally,” Sujata shared in an interview with Fibre2Fashion. “It can never recreate the beauty of something handwoven, but it can make the process smoother. It should help the artisan, not replace them.”

Even their packaging reflects this mindset – it's simple, eco-conscious, and often reusable. For Suta, sustainability isn’t just a checklist; it’s a way of doing business with care and intention.

Building a Brand by Sharing, Not Selling

Sujata and Taniya leaned heavily into the digital world to grow their brand. 

Without big budgets or investors, they built a strong online presence—one rooted in honesty, emotion, and community.

From Instagram to their website, everything about Suta feels personal. The stories behind the sarees, the faces of their weavers, even the quirks of running a small business—nothing is hidden. And people love that. 

Whether it’s a behind-the-scenes reel or a heartfelt caption, their followers feel like part of the journey.

“Feedback isn’t something we brush aside, it’s what shapes our decisions,” the founders shared in a Route interview.

That open-door policy has paid off. Customers don’t just buy a product – they become part of the Suta family. Many proudly call themselves “Suta Queens”, a nod to the connection they feel with the brand and with each other.

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An Ethnicwear Brand Worth Rs. 75 Cr

When Sujata and Taniya Biswas started Suta, they had no business background, no outside funding—just a strong belief in their idea. Their bootstrapped brand clocked over ₹75 crore in annual revenue as of FY24. 

“We didn’t set out to build a ₹75 crore company,” says Sujata in an interview with YourStory. “We just wanted to create something meaningful, and we grew step by step.”

Instead of chasing trends or VC money, the sisters focused on quality, built trust with their community, and reinvested every rupee they earned. From selling a few sarees online to becoming a household name in ethical fashion, their journey is a testament to patience and purpose.

“We grew slow, but we grew right,” Taniya told Fibre2Fashion. “That’s why people keep coming back.”

In a world of flashy funding rounds, Suta’s steady rise proves that doing business with heart and a strong product still works.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Sujata and Taniya envision Suta as more than just a fashion brand. 

They aspire to create a movement that celebrates Indian craftsmanship, empowers artisans, and redefines fashion norms. Their plans include expanding product lines, collaborating with more artisan communities, and exploring global markets.

"We are exploring biodegradable blends and more sustainable dyeing methods," says Sujata. "But at the end of the day, our core will always be the human touch."

Their journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the impact of combining passion with purpose.

Sujata and Taniya Biswas didn’t just build a clothing brand - they built a community, stitched together by stories, dreams, and purpose. 

With every piece, they’ve shown that fashion can do more than just look good; it can connect people, preserve heritage, and spark real change. 

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