Every Khinkhwab saree begins with a dream that started two generations ago, in a family home in Varanasi — and grew, one saree at a time, into a family that now stretches across the world. This is our story.
✨ Fun fact: Our name says our mission out loud — kinkhab (kin + khab) means “a golden dream,” the old word for the gold brocade of Banaras.
Khinkhwab was born from a love that came long before the business: a love of Banarasi silk, passed down through a family’s own heirlooms. We exist to keep the handloom tradition of Varanasi alive, to stand behind its weavers, and to place a piece of that golden dream into the wardrobe of every woman who wants one.
A dream that began with an heirloom
Khinkhwab is the long-cherished dream of a mother-and-daughter duo from Varanasi — Geeta Agarwal and Ruchi Agarwal — who grew up treasuring the Banarasi silk heirlooms handed down by the generations before them. The craftsmanship of the weavers, the ancient art of the loom, the colour and detail of those sarees: it won their hearts completely. That love became a shared dream, and the dream became Khinkhwab. Ruchi’s father, Ashok Agarwal, helped lay the foundations — shaping the supply chain and the quiet, careful work behind the scenes.
It started with a phone call — and seven sarees
Every big thing starts small. Ours began with a single phone call to Varanasi, and a first collection of just seven sarees. We carried them to our very first exhibition here in Singapore, not quite knowing what to expect — seven sarees, and a great deal of hope. People fell in love with them, and that was all the encouragement we needed to keep going.
A brother, and a brand that found its voice
As the dream grew, it became a family effort in the fullest sense. Ruchi’s brother, Amit Agarwal, came on board — and helped Khinkhwab find its voice online. We began by sharing our sarees on Instagram, then Facebook, and finally built our own website, so that anyone, anywhere, could discover the weaves of Banaras. Before long, orders began arriving from overseas — from women across the world who wanted a little of that golden dream for themselves.
The weavers who became family
Behind every Khinkhwab saree are the weavers of Varanasi — and over the years they have come to feel like family, not suppliers. Nothing proved that more than the pandemic: through those hard, uncertain months we held together, stood by our weavers, and looked out for one another the way a family does. In many ways Khinkhwab has become like another child of ours — one we have watched grow, worried over and loved — and the weavers who have grown alongside it are part of the family now.
Why “Khinkhwab”?
The name is the heart of everything. Banaras brocade has always been known as kinkhab or kamkhwab — from kin (golden) and khab (dream): a golden dream, woven in golden thread. It’s the perfect description of what we set out to do — to showcase the golden dreams woven by the brilliant weavers of Varanasi. (If you’d like the fuller story of the word, we wrote about it in Kinkhab & Kamkhwab.)
What we believe
Weaving has been part of Varanasi since ancient times, colouring millions of chapters of its history in Banarasi silk — and we want to carry that forward, not let it fade. So Khinkhwab is built to be a bridge: between the handloom weavers of Varanasi and the people around the world who love their work. We believe in supporting handmade, in standing behind the artisans and the many hands behind every saree, and in blending the ancient art of weaving with modern designs and colours — so that Banaras reaches a younger generation, in their own language of style.
Come and experience it: our Singapore studio
What began with seven sarees at an exhibition now has a home of its own. We have an in-house studio in Singapore where you can book an appointment, see and feel the silks in person, and take your time choosing — an unhurried, personal experience, the way buying something this special should be. We’d love to welcome you; simply get in touch to arrange a visit.
Ruchi’s vision
“My dream is that every Indian woman owns the Khinkhwab Banarasi saree. I want to see every woman enjoying the pleasure of wearing a pure silk fabric. I wish to promote Banarasi sarees all over the world.”
— Ruchi Agarwal, co-founder
The bigger picture
What we hope sets Khinkhwab apart is a vision to elevate and inspire the thousands of skilful weavers of Varanasi — to help them show their artistry in a contemporary way, with fresh designs and colours, without ever losing the soul of the craft. Alongside that, our aim is simple and joyful: to bring our customers some of the most beautiful, traditional and authentic pure Banarasi silk sarees and lehengas we can find — and to keep this art form alive for generations to come.
That’s the dream you’re part of every time you wear a Khinkhwab. Explore our handwoven Banarasi collection, or read more about the history of the saree we love.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Khinkhwab?
Khinkhwab was founded by a mother-and-daughter duo from Varanasi, Geeta Agarwal and Ruchi Agarwal, who grew up loving their family’s Banarasi silk heirlooms. Ruchi’s father, Ashok Agarwal, and her brother, Amit Agarwal, are closely involved too — Amit helped build Khinkhwab’s online home and its journey to customers overseas.
How did Khinkhwab begin?
It began with a single phone call to Varanasi and a first collection of just seven sarees, shown at our first exhibition in Singapore. From there it grew through Instagram, Facebook and our own website into a brand that now reaches customers around the world.
Can I visit Khinkhwab in person?
Yes — we have an in-house studio in Singapore where you can book an appointment to see and feel the sarees in person. Just contact us to arrange a visit.
What does the name Khinkhwab mean?
It comes from kinkhab / kamkhwab, the traditional name for Banaras gold brocade — kin (golden) and khab (dream): a golden dream woven in golden thread.
Where do Khinkhwab sarees come from?
Our sarees, lehengas, dupattas and fabric are handwoven in Varanasi (Banaras). We work directly with the city’s handloom weavers to bring their craftsmanship to customers in India and around the world.
Does Khinkhwab support handloom weavers?
Yes — supporting the weavers and artisans of Varanasi and keeping the handloom tradition alive is central to why Khinkhwab exists. We champion handmade work and aim to bridge the gap between these weavers and the people who love their craft.
More from Khinkhwab Diaries: the meaning of Kinkhab · the many hands behind a Banarasi · the history of the Banarasi saree.
