Sari Palace Available

Sari Palace began in 1987 when founders Anil and Asha Thakkar started selling and fitting South Asian garments from their Berkeley residence. Over the ensuing decades, the operation expanded into an established storefront on University Avenue, serving as an authority on Indian clothing construction, custom tailoring, and bridal fittings. Working with authentic South Asian fabrics requires specialized technical skill, as silk brocades, hand-woven banarasis, georgettes, and heavy zardozi embroidery behave very differently under the needle than standard western textiles.

The workshop handles a wide variety of garment modifications, with a primary focus on bridal lehengas, anarkalis, and pre-stitched sarees. One of their most sought-after technical offerings is converting traditional six-yard sarees into ready-to-wear pre-stitched garments, anchoring pleats to an exact waistband measurement so the pallu drapes reliably without shifting. During alterations, garments pass through precise structural checkpoints: seamstresses evaluate seam allowances, reinforce heavy threadwork, balance blouse bust darts against internal padding, and alter lehenga skirts from the waistband downward to avoid cutting into ornate border embroidery.

Men's formal wear receives equal attention from the tailoring staff. Tailors adjust sherwanis, jodhpuris, bundi vests, and kurtas, tapering torsos, setting shoulder lines, and re-hemming sleeves to align with wrist joints while maintaining the symmetry of plackets and mandarin collars. Alterations on heavily beaded or metallic-thread garments are executed with specialized sewing needles and manual hand-sewing techniques to ensure that zardozi and stone detailing remain intact throughout long celebrations.

Custom tailoring and intricate alteration projects generally require four to six weeks of lead time, making early scheduling essential ahead of peak wedding and festival seasons. Clients attending a fitting appointment must bring the specific shoes, undergarments, and jewelry planned for the event, as footwear height dictates skirt clearance and undergarment construction impacts blouse tailoring. Private fittings are managed through an online reservation portal to allow dedicated workshop time for each client.