Ganjam’s rising fashion entrepreneur Shivashree Rao received the prestigious Times Business Award – Odisha at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar, organised by The Times of India.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and noted actress Shilpa Shetty presented the award, bringing pride to Ganjam district.
Shivashree, daughter of D.K. Rao of Grasim Industries and D. Saipramila of Jayashree Chemicals School, was recognised among achievers who have made a mark in the business world.
From childhood, Shivashree dreamed of becoming a designer. She pursued fashion design at NIFT Global, Kolkata, where she transformed creativity into craftsmanship. At 19, she began working as a freelance fashion designer, building her own identity in the industry. By 21, she launched her own fashion label, Prayanvi, a platform that brings together sarees from across India.
Her early career included collaborations with Reliance Jewels, designer Anita Dongre, and celebrity stylist Ashley Rebello. Her work has featured at Bhubaneswar Runway Week, Patna Fashion Week, Sambalpur Fashion Week, and even New York Fashion Week. She has styled and collaborated with personalities like Priya Choudhury, Elina Samantaray, Bhumika Dash, Sailendra Satya Pathi, Debjani Deguria, and Adline Castelino.
In 2020, Shivashree formally launched Prayanvi, born out of her love for sarees and their stories. The brand offers sarees from Banarasi to Kanjivaram, Tussar to Patola, making India’s weaving traditions accessible to women who value authenticity and heritage.
“Prayanvi means a beautiful journey rooted in tradition, where heritage evolves gracefully with time,” Shivashree explained.
Her recognition at the Times Business Award highlights Odisha’s growing presence in the fashion and entrepreneurial landscape.
