Created at the intersection of mythology, art, and design, Leela reimagines ancient Indian narratives through a contemporary visual language. Each collection begins with a mythological story that is transformed into wearable art.
Leela was born from a simple observation that stories have always been woven into the fabric of Indian culture. For centuries, narratives were passed from one generation to the next through many forms like spoken word, dance, sculpture, painting, rituals and textile traditions. Stories were not confined to books. They were lived, worn, performed, and shared. They shaped cultural memory and connected people to something larger than themselves. While their relevance remains timeless, many of these narratives now exist at a distance from contemporary life. Leela emerged from a desire to bridge that distance.
The saree became our chosen medium because it is itself a living heirloom. It has evolved across centuries, adapting to changing times while retaining its essence. Like the stories that inspire us, the saree carries history, identity and continuity.
Through illustration and design, we invite these narratives to move beyond museums, books, and temples and into everyday life. When someone wears a Leela, they become part of the storytelling process, carrying the narrative forward and giving it new meaning through their own experiences.
Leela exists so that stories are lived, inherited, preserved and reinterpreted through art, fabric, and time.
About the Artist
Priyanka Sachdev is an illustrator and textile designer whose creative practice explores the meeting point of mythology, memory, and contemporary design. Having spent over a decade as Partner and Visual Artist at the core of the art label Quirkbox, she has illustrated several award winning artworks and collections for the fashion label as well as its eponymous design studio.
Having grown up immersed in Indian mythology through classical dance, she came to see these stories not as distant legends, but as living ideas that continue to shape the way we understand ourselves today. Through her own creative practice, she has explored different aspects of mythology, from illustrating book covers and children's books to launching her first capsule collection of sarees with stories from mythology under the name Leela in 2014.
For Priyanka, the saree became a natural canvas. It is a garment that is as fluid as it has structure and has stood the test of time in its evolution. In carrying illustrations, each piece becomes a story that lives through its wearer.
Through Leela, Priyanka hopes to create pieces of art that encourage curiosity, conversation, and a renewed relationship with India's rich mythological heritage ensuring that these stories continue to evolve with every generation that chooses to wear them.