Apparel March 2020 Apparel March 2020 issue | Page 61

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
their crafts drew me close to textiles. This is how
I was introduced to fashion. Though design -
college taught me a lot, my responsibility toward
the growth of textiles began when I started to
learn about the different craft clusters of India. My
paternal grandmother, who was an artist, was
the niece of a very famous Assamese artist called
Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha. My family believes
that my passion for art and fashion comes from her.
WHEN AND WHY DID YOU START
URA MAKU?
After my Graduation from NIFT as a textile
designer, I started travelling and visiting craft
clusters across India from Bhuj in Gujarat to
Bhagalpur in Bihar. I was stunned by their skilled
handicrafts. More importantly their humbleness
and values made me realise the importance of a
designer was to be responsible and thoughtful
towards Indian artisans and their craftsmanship. I
started Ura Maku in 2017. It is a shout out to the
sustainable movement of clothing.
WHAT DOES THE NAME URA MAKU
MEAN? WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT
PROCESS BEHIND IT?
In Assamese, Ura means to fly and Maku is the
shuttle in weaving. The shuttle is a crucial part
in weaving and textiles and plays an important
“FASHION IS A
REVOLUTION. IT IS AN
EXPRESSION OF YOU.
URA MAKU IS THE STORY
OF EVERY PERSON WHO
DARES TO FLY HIGH
YET IS ROOTED IN THEIR
CULTURAL VALUES.”
role. We believe that without textiles, fashion
would merely be an imagination. Ura Maku is the
story of every person who dares to fly high yet
is rooted in their cultural values. Ura defines our
timeless power suits and tailored clothes while
Maku represents the handwoven and handcrafted
textiles of India
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO HAVE A
SUSTAINABLE LABEL?
Sustainability has become a vast topic of concern
and a movement. Fashion has always been a
revolution. I believe it is an expression of you. Ura
Maku is an extension of my design self. I believe
in this fast-growing world, we are compromising
our crafts, environment and future. It is time that
we are mindful of what we are doing and try to
APPAREL
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March 2020
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