When Yamini Arora stumbled upon a reel of a bride wearing a crochet varmala, she had one of those “Wait, why didn’t I think of that?!” moments.
“I knew about crochet flowers and plushies and had bought them before,” said Arora, 28, who tied the knot in April 2025. “But a crochet varmala didn’t occur to me until I saw it on Instagram. I liked the idea of having the varmala forever with you from your wedding day instead of using natural flowers and throwing them away after a few hours,” she said.
In an era where weddings are becoming more personal, sustainable, and Instagram-friendly, crochet varmalas are finding their way into the hearts—and around the necks—of modern Indian couples.
A varmala (or jaimala) is a garland exchanged between the bride and groom as a traditional Hindu wedding ritual. It is usually made of fresh flowers—but lately, a new, creative alternative is taking over: handmade crochet flower garlands, crafted using yarn, thread, beads, and lots of love.
“These garlands don’t wilt, don’t smell weird the next day, and don’t end up in the trash,” said Zainab Mukhtyar, 22, founder of Zain’s Story, a crochet venture she started in January 2024. “They stay with you forever—as a memory and a piece of art.”
For Yamini, that permanence was the selling point. After browsing crochet pages online, she found Zainab’s work. “Her colour options, flexibility in sizing, and reasonable pricing stood out. The varmala turned out gorgeous—we’re even planning to display them in our living room!”
The makers behind the magic
The crochet varmala is part of a larger shift toward intentional, thoughtful weddings. Crochet itself has seen a revival, with the global knitting and crochet market projected to grow by USD 10.69 billion between 2024 and 2028.
Story continues below this ad
Ananya Malhotra, 21, who runs Enchanted Threads, has been crocheting since she was 17. “Our crochet flowers were already popular, and when I saw someone experimenting with crochet varmalas on Instagram, it just clicked. I thought this is something people will love –– it’s beautiful and meaningful.”
One of the biggest reasons couples are leaning toward crochet varmalas is the idea of preservation (Source: Zain’s Story/Instagram)
She was right.
“I initially launched crochet varmalas in May 2024,” Ananya explained. “Brides want to see what they’re getting, so we made samples and did a proper photoshoot with bridal outfits. It helped them visualise how it would look on their big day.”
What makes crochet varmalas special?
Customisation is a huge draw. “You can choose the colours, the length, even where the pearls go. People want something that reflects them,” Ananya said.
Story continues below this ad
And they’re not mass-produced. “Each varmala is handcrafted in three stages: first, the flower petals are made, then the leaves, and finally the flowers are assembled into the final design,” said Zainab. “Depending on the style and length, it can take anywhere from two to three days to make a pair.”
Zainab broke down her pricing transparently: Rs 100 per rose, with an additional Rs 100 for assembling the varmala. “A red varmala with nine big roses and three small ones costs Rs 1200. A pink one with 10 big roses and three small ones costs Rs 1300. You can add more roses for extra cost.”
While others often sell them at a much higher rate, Zainab wanted to keep it affordable. “Our clients pay for exactly what they want—nothing more, nothing less. You can customise the number of flowers, colour palette, and even the placement of pearls.”
Ananya’s varmala designs take serious effort: “Each flower takes about 25–30 minutes, and each garland has about 16–20 flowers. That’s 600 minutes—or 10 hours—of pure work just for the flowers. Add to that 1–2 hours of assembly.” She keeps pricing between Rs 7000 to Rs 11,000 per pair, aligning with high-end real flower varmalas but offering a keepsake that never wilts.
Not just a trend, but a keepsake
For couples, the biggest draw is preservation. “Keeping the varmala reminds us of the day we got married,” Yamini said. “Everyone loved it—we’ve already recommended it to friends.”
Story continues below this ad
When Yamini Arora stumbled upon a reel on Instagram showing a bride wearing a crochet varmala, she had one of those “Wait, why didn’t I think of that?!” moments. (Credit: Yamini Arora)
While purists still prefer the fragrance and softness of real flowers, crochet varmalas are winning over couples who want sentiment, sustainability, and something Instagrammable.
Crochet might be old-school, but in the hands of India’s young wedding entrepreneurs, it’s weaving a whole new tradition. So, whether you’re a soon-to-be bride, a wedding planner, or someone who just really loves crochet—this trend might just hook you in.
