Ode to Odd’s Once Upon a Time emerges from a sense of longing for something slower, something more personal, shaped by an instinctive return to objects and textiles that had been kept away, almost forgotten. Without a fixed beginning, the collection takes form as ‘collecting moments… a memory, a feeling and letting them come together organically,’ allowing fragments of the past to surface and settle into the present. Rooted in this ethos, it becomes ‘those memories you keep pressed carefully in a book,’ translated into garments that feel familiar. The founders Shreya and Priyal take us behind the scenes.
The Idea Behind Once Upon A Time
It started with a sense of longing for something slower, something more personal. We found ourselves drawn to objects and textiles that had been kept away, almost forgotten. There was no fixed starting point. It was more like collecting moments, an old swatch of petite point our mom passed down to us, a memory, a feeling and letting them come together organically. Once Upon a Time grew out of the memories you keep pressed carefully in a book.
The Presence Of Nature
We have always been drawn to nature since it carries time without trying to preserve it. It allows things to change, to weather, to exist in cycles. That felt very aligned with the collection. There’s also a parallel between natural environments and the way we approached the collection organic, slightly undone, and evolving. It felt like the right context to frame the narrative without over-defining it.
Creative Process
Our process rarely begins with sketches. It usually starts with touch handling fabrics, layering, moving things around. A good day in the studio feels almost meditative. It involves constant reworking, draping, deconstructing, rebuilding. We don't look for immediate answers but trust in the process.
Nostalgia Through Clothing
We approach nostalgia as a sensibility rather than a reference point. It’s not about looking back literally, but about embedding familiarity into the garment. It’s in the subtle details, the way a fabric drapes, the slight irregularities, the softness of wear. It should feel like something you’ve known, even if you can’t trace it back.
The Craft Of It All
The base of the collection is built on breathable, natural fabrics like linens, mul chanderi, handwoven mulberry and cottons that respond beautifully to handwork. We worked extensively with surface techniques such layering, patching, and delicate embroidery. Our signature beadwork and cross-stitch remain integral to our collections, quietly anchoring each piece in craft and continuity. The stitching is often left visible, almost like a trace of time passing through the garment ringing together.
What are you working on currently and what’s next?
We’re thinking a lot about continuity, how pieces live beyond a single season. We are also focusing on bringing different craft to our body of work. What comes next will still be rooted in craft, but perhaps exploring new material stories. For us, it’s always evolving, but never disconnected from what came before.
Words Platform Desk
Date 14.4.2026
Creative Direction Priyal Mewara, Shreya Mewara
Photography Pagel Lepcha
Videography Jayant Lakra
Models Dina Chhetri, Tas
Hair and Makeup Rynn.V
Assisted Ruchika Mantri
Styling Amy Fanai