“It's so exciting to think my designs are available in a national retailer like John Lewis and I'm very grateful to everyone who's been part of my entrepreneurial journey,” says Priya, whose passion for dressmaking and design shone through during her Textiles lessons at LEH.  In the 1997 yearbook she was listed as: Famous for “making her own clothes” and Most likely to say: “Don’t you just love John Lewis?”.

Priya’s company, Pri Pri, designs and makes sustainable beautiful home decor, accessories and children's clothing – all made from preloved saris, which have been rescued to give them a second lease of life.  The products are created in partnership with the Animedh Charitable Trust in India, which helps train underprivileged women by arming them with valuable skills, including sewing.

Recognising that repurposing and upcycling are effective ways to minimise environmental impact, Pri Pri carefully uses every piece of the stunning salvaged saris, blending them with skilled craftsmanship and intricate details to create beautifully unique items.

Being an official John Lewis stockist really has been a life-long ambition. “As a child, I was often found rummaging for remnants at John Lewis,” recalls Priya who was excited when she discovered “student packs” at the Kingston branch which were free fabric offcuts and seemed about the right size to use on her upcycled bags.

In 2001 she made her second attempt to join her dream employers, with an application to the John Lewis Graduate Training Scheme, having already been turned down on a previous occasion. This time it led to a near 20-year career with the nation’s favourite department store, which she then left in 2020 to pursue her side hustle of upcycling vintage saris, setting up her business Pri Pri.

Three years ago, a careers coach encouraged her to think big and as one of her action points, she wrote down: “Pitch John Lewis”. “The coach encouraged me to say my dream stockist out loud for the first time,” says Priya, “And it led me to let go of limiting beliefs.”

After four years of entrepreneurship her hard work and dedication has paid off and a selection of Pri Pri’s accessories are now available on the John Lewis website.  You can see her stunning colourful fabric Christmas decorations, including Sari Wreaths, here: John Lewis website and in store from 27 September.

“I will always be grateful for all the incredible support that helped get me here,” says Priya. “A powerful reminder to myself and others - let go of those nagging negative thoughts and keep going!” To see her full range, please visit her website here: https://www.pripri.co.uk/