Happy International Women’s Day! We feel incredibly lucky to collaborate with so many talented women around the world, and today we want to highlight a few from our India team. We've wanted to share their stories for some time now, and this felt like the perfect occasion.
From managing massive production scales in Delhi to hand-looming the very fabrics you’ll be wearing this Spring, these are just a few of the women who make MIRTH so special. Read on and get to know Mamta, Shashi, and Nisha.
Mamta | Handloom Weaver
MIRTH: Where are you from?
Mamta: I am from Maheshwar. It is located in Madhya Pradesh, India.
MIRTH: How did you discover weaving?
Mamta: People in my family used to do this, so I watched them. After that, I took training myself and started weaving.
MIRTH: What do you like about weaving and is there anything that makes it special to you?
Mamta: I like weaving because if we learn this work, we can set it up in our own home. We can teach it to other members of our household, and we can teach our children too. It becomes our own business.
MIRTH: What does a typical workday look like for you?
Mamta: I wake up at 5:00 AM. First, I take a bath. After that, I sweep and mop. Then, I do my prayers. After praying, I wake up the kids. Then, I cook food for them. After cooking, I finish whatever housework is left, like washing clothes and dishes, and then I come to work.
I come here at 10:00 AM. I work, and then at 1:00 PM we have our lunch. During lunch, we eat, chat, and joke around. After that, we sit back down to work at 2:00 PM. Then at 3:00 PM, we get tea. At 3:00 PM we drink our tea, and we chat a bit during that time too. After finishing our tea, we get back to work. We get off work around 5:30 or 6:00 PM.
MIRTH: What brings you joy outside of weaving?
Mamta: After finishing housework, going out with everyone feels good. Going out with family also feels good! We go out, go to the market, to buy things. And just to roam around! It brings a lot of happiness.
MIRTH: What does it mean to you to see your work worn by women around the world?
Mamta: It feels good, it brings a lot of joy. When the clothes made by our own hands go out, get sold, and someone wears them, it brings us a lot of joy. Knowing that someone is wearing our clothes. Because we make it with so much hard work. It takes a month or two just to make it. Then that cloth goes out from here, gets sold, and when someone else wears it, it gives us immense happiness. This inspires us to make these clothes even better. We want the best possible work to be done, and we want to make these clothes as well as possible.
Katie, Meenakshi and Nivedita, the head of Karghewale, one of our handloom partners
Shashi | Master Block Printer
MIRTH: Where do you live?
Shashi: Bagru, India.
MIRTH: How long have you been a block printer?
Shashi: 25 years.
MIRTH: What’s your family like?
Shashi: I have a husband, 2 sons, and 1 daughter. My son is a block printer as well!
MIRTH: What does a day at MIRTH look like for you?
Shashi: I start each day with a hearty breakfast. Then I get to work printing by making the mud paste for our indigo fabrics. Then I set up the tables with fabric and start printing by dipping the wooden blocks in the paste and stamping it onto the fabric. We then sprinkle the design with sawdust to prevent it from smudging, and put the fabric in the field behind our house so the sunlight can dry it. Once the fabric is dry, it’s put in the indigo vat for a certain amount of time so the right shade of blue can develop. It's washed of the mud usually the next day. Of course, I take chai breaks throughout the day.
MIRTH: Favorite project?
Shashi: I love working with our indigo styles because the fabric has such a big transformation. It’s so fun to see the finished product!
Nisha | Production Manager
MIRTH: Where do you live?
Nisha: Delhi, India.
MIRTH: What does a day on Team MIRTH look like for you?
Nisha: As a Production Manager at MIRTH, my typical day involves closely coordinating with various factories that manufacture products for our brand. I engage in regular communication with artisans, ensuring timely fabric production, and maintaining a balance between efficiency and quality. This includes overseeing block printers, persistently following up on sampling and production timelines, and managing the intricate challenges that arise with handcrafted fabrics at a large production scale.
MIRTH: What is your favorite part of your role with MIRTH?
Nisha: My favorite aspect of working with MIRTH is the opportunity to collaborate with skilled artisans and witness the transformation of ideas into beautiful, tangible products. I thrive on the dynamic nature of my role, where each day presents new challenges and opportunities for creative problem-solving.
MIRTH: What project are you most excited about working on?
Nisha: Currently, I am particularly excited about our new denim & fleece range, where we are exploring new fabrics and processes, offering plenty of learning opportunities.
MIRTH: Go-to workday snack?
Nisha: During busy workdays, my go-to snack is Roasted Chickpeas. It keeps me energized and focused throughout the day.
MIRTH: MIRTH piece you wear the most?
Nisha: The MIRTH piece I find myself wearing the most is the Vienna Maxi. It's very comfortable, resonates with my design preferences, and effortlessly complements my personal style.
MIRTH: Outside of work you can find me:
Nisha: Outside of work, you can find me playing with my 5-year-old, Ruaan, in a park, mall, or playhouse. Typical mom life!
MIRTH: Up next on your travel wish list?
Nisha: My next travel destination on my wish list is Mauritius.
