Onam is the deadline
In Kerala, new clothes for Onam have a name: Onakkodi. Kerala Tourism describes it as an unavoidable part of the festival, and elders often gift new clothes to family members. The favourite outfits are the off-white kasavu saree with its gold zari border, the two-piece mundum neriyathum (set-mundu), and the mundu for men.
For a Kochi boutique, that means the weeks before Thiruvonam bring a wave of kasavu blouses, set-mundu blouse pieces, kids’ pattu pavadai and family matching sets, all due before one date. Christmas and the wedding season add their own peaks later in the year.
The kasavu weave itself has deep roots in Kerala. The Balaramapuram saree, from near Thiruvananthapuram, received a Geographical Indication in 2010, and Chendamangalam, close to Kochi, is another recognised weaving cluster.
Where your clients buy fabric
Kochi’s cloth trade is centred on Broadway in Ernakulam, a market more than 100 years old near Marine Drive, with Market Road and its wholesale textile shops running parallel. MG Road is the other big textile stretch. Clients often walk in with a kasavu set or blouse piece bought there and want it stitched in a week.
Planning the Onam weeks in VogueDesk
Before the rush
- Add your karigars and any outside workers. The capacity calendar counts both.
- Set up your stages, such as cutting, stitching, hand work, hooks and ironing.
While booking
- Each order gets an order date, a start date and a delivery date. One order can hold the whole family’s garments.
- VogueDesk can estimate a delivery date from the current workload, so you do not promise the impossible.
- Clients can pick a trial time on your online booking page instead of calling.
During the rush
- The assignments board shows each karigar only their own tasks to mark started or done.
- The dashboard lists every delivery due in the next 30 days, so nothing for Thiruvonam slips to the bottom.
At delivery
- An automatic WhatsApp message tells the client the order is ready.
- The GST invoice already has the advance adjusted.
WhatsApp in Malayalam
Most Kochi clients prefer a quick WhatsApp to a call. Connect your own WhatsApp Business number through Meta’s official platform, and VogueDesk sends messages when an order is created (with a tracking link), ready, delivered or paid. Write templates in Malayalam, for example “നിങ്ങളുടെ ഓർഡർ തയ്യാറാണ്” with the client’s name and delivery date filled in. If you also want to deliver, VogueDesk can ask the client to pin their location on a map. More on WhatsApp for boutiques.
GST, payments and the galla
- GST invoices with HSN/SAC codes, GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B reports.
- Cash, UPI, card, bank transfer and cheque payments, plus partial payments.
- A daily cash register (galla) and expenses by category, from fabric to electricity.
Starting out
VogueDesk is online, so there is nothing to install. Try the Studio plan free for 14 days with no card, or start with the Free plan for up to 30 orders a month. The plans are on the pricing page. Starting before the next Onam season gives your team time to get used to it.
Frequently asked questions
Can VogueDesk send WhatsApp messages in Malayalam?
Yes. You write the message templates, so they can be in Malayalam, English or both. Meta must approve templates that are sent after the 24-hour chat window.
How early should I stop taking Onam orders?
That depends on your team. VogueDesk's capacity calendar shows how full each day is and can estimate a delivery date from the current workload, so you can see when you are fully booked instead of guessing.
Can clients book a trial slot themselves?
Yes. Your boutique gets a public booking page where clients choose fitting, trial, pickup or consultation appointments. You see them in the app.
Is VogueDesk available in Kerala?
Yes. It is online and works anywhere in Kerala on Android phones, iPhones, tablets and computers. VogueDesk has no office in Kochi.
Where is the data kept?
VogueDesk data is hosted in Germany on Hetzner servers. You reach it through the browser.
Last updated 31 October 2026.