Born from the dreams of a little girl.
Our Story
Kickstarting...
In 2015, apparel industry veteran Jaya Iyer went shopping for her space-obsessed daughter, who had wanted to be an astronaut since she could say the word. Sadly, Jaya couldn't find a single space shirt for girls. Seeing a gap in childrens' clothing for kids whose interests aren't "gender traditional," she used her industry expertise to launch Svaha, funding its first line through a Kickstarter that raised over $30K.
Expanding...
As the brand grew, we received request after request for adult sizes. Now, we make dresses, polos, pants, T-shirts, bags, jewelry and more for those of any age, and have grown year after year thanks to our amazing fanbase.
Liftoff!
Svaha's mission is to shatter gender stereotypes in clothing and in society, and encourage inclusivity and self-expression. Our bold, super-soft cotton designs feature quirky, educational, and interesting prints so you can wear your heart on your sleeve. Svaha means "Well Said". It's why we design our prints to spark conversations and let you wear what you love.
Our Founder
Jaya Iyer is originally from India, however she was inspired to live the American Dream. She moved to the US from India carrying nothing but a backpack of her belongings along with a mountain of ambition. She worked hard to obtain a Ph.D. in Fashion Merchandising from Iowa State University. She has taught Fashion buying and wrote a textbook on Fashion in Emerging Markets which is widely used in universities. She also worked in apparel manufacturing and exporting. She is the former apparel buyer for the cult-favorite store, ThinkGeek. Thanks to inspiration from her daughter, Jaya founded Svaha and became determined to change the landscape of apparel. Jaya is the proud mother of 2 and enjoys nurturing her children’s interests through fashion, adventures, science, and social responsibility. She is a world traveler and an artist.