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Shavaza, a stay-at-home mom with a passion for painting, stumbled upon the idea of hand-painting baby clothes after the birth of her first child. Previously, she had been honing her artistic skills on canvas, but the joy of dressing her little one in customized, hand-painted outfits sparked a new creative direction. She began sharing pictures of her creations on Instagram, which garnered attention and positive feedback from friends and family. Encouraged by the response, Shavaza decided to create a separate Instagram account for her hand-painted baby clothes, thus giving birth to Sawa.

What sets Sawa apart is Shavaza's focus on Dhivehi lettering and designs. Inspired by her own cultural heritage, she saw an opportunity to infuse Dhivehi elements into baby clothing, which was a niche yet to be explored. Shavaza explains, "We don't usually get baby clothes with Dhivehi lettering. Dhivehi is unique and beautiful, and it's even cuter when painted on a baby's outfit." With Sawa, she aims to fill this gap and provide parents with a range of Dhivehi-inspired designs that reflect their cultural identity.

When it comes to her creative process, Shavaza takes a thoughtful approach. She prioritizes Dhivehi lettering and other traditional motifs like raabandhi, dhon hiyala, faanoozu, and foolhu dhigu handi. These designs add a touch of elegance and charm to the baby clothes. Additionally, Shavaza collaborates closely with her customers, who often provide their own design preferences for their baby's first-day outfits. This personalized touch ensures that each garment is unique and meaningful.

To ensure the safety, durability, and comfort of the hand-painted designs, Shavaza uses acrylic paint. Acrylic paint is gentle on both the hands of the artist and the sensitive skin of the little ones. It is also hardwearing, allowing the garments to withstand frequent use and washes. Parents can enjoy the convenience of machine washing and tumble drying without compromising the quality of the hand-painted designs.

Sourcing the baby clothes for Sawa is a meticulous process for Shavaza. She purchases wholesale products from abroad, ensuring that they are made from 100% cotton for the ultimate comfort of the little wearers. Additionally, Shavaza welcomes the opportunity to work on clothes provided by customers, allowing them to personalize their baby's outfits with sentimental items.

Running a business always comes with its fair share of challenges, and Sawa is no exception. Shavaza highlights meeting customer needs and marketing in a saturated marketplace as ongoing hurdles.

To order, you can DM her instagram page. Sawa does free delivery to Male', up to ground floor. Sawa also delivers to boats.