Mingei

MORII DARSHAN | FESTIVE 2022

Mengei was an apparel collection developed during my internship at Morii Wearables. Built around the idea of nesting and living with movement, the collection looked at the way birds, cattle and nomadic communities move together in groups. This translated into womenswear silhouettes drawn from nomadic clothing and embroidery patterns that explored rhythm, movement and the formation of stitches. The work involved developing the colour palette, silhouettes and embroidery patterns, while coordinating sampling for woven textiles and craft interventions in Rabari embroidery from Kutch, Gujarat, and Sujni embroidery from Bihar. More than the design development, the project offered an early understanding of what it means to work with a craft cluster. The process was about adding to the visual possibilities of an existing craft without disrupting its character, while working closely with artisans and understanding their pace, skills and ways of making. It taught me that good craft intervention begins with empathy, patience and respect for the people behind it.