Namrata Mitra took a leap of faith and plunged into the world of fashion with ‘Namrata Weaves’, leaving a “stable” job of microbiology teacher, decade back. To celebrate this milestone, the 40-year-old designer organised an exhibition-cum-sale called ‘Apeksha’, at Lake Club on February 2. t2 checked it out.
Why did you name this event Apeksha?
Apeksha denotes wait that comes with a lot of hope for us. If you ask me, it has been a long wait for me for the last 10 years. I work with karigars from all over the country. I just aimed to present their work to the global market in style. This exhibition has three sections- menswear, womenswear and handcrafted jewellery. The pieces in the women’s section are exclusive.
Tell us about your journey in fashion...
I hail from a medical family. I was a microbiology and biochemistry teacher in the department of health and science at different colleges in the city for eight years before switching my profession. Design, textiles and fashion would always draw me. I started this venture in 2013 from my love for the creative field. I started off with saris, and slowly forayed into the different items that we offer today. Leaving a stable job and taking an uncertain route that business is, was a challenge.
Namrata Mitra
I play around with waste fabrics and put them to maximum use, often turning them into bookmarks and bags. I was invited by Arts Council of Winston Salem & Forsyth County in the US as a fabric artist from India to display Indian work and make installations based on my work, last year. I also collaborated with the women centre of Wake Forest University and showcased my work, which was basically the fabrics we do. I also displayed my work in the UK last year.
What kind of fabrics and styles do you work with?
Traditional silk, chiffon, chinon, Kota, organza, cotton, net, shimmer, foil and crepe are among our fabrics. We have stoles and shrugs. The options cater to all age groups. Every piece is lightweight so that it can be worn throughout the year. Even our Benarasi silk saris are lightweight. We have tried to keep things subtle, not making them too conventional. Our contemporary jewellery will complement both Indo-western and Western silhouettes. Our clothes come from both handloom and powerloom. We do handwork on powerloom fabric as well.
Where are your artisans based?
The majority are from Calcutta. I love how skilled the Muslim artisans are in their artistry and craftsmanship. They especially excel in thread work, zari work and stone work on fabric. I procure fabrics from places like Jaipur, Delhi, Bangalore and Benaras.
You are a style consultant for men. How did you realise your forte?
Exclusively for the men’s section, I double up as a style consultant and customise everything to a T, right from shirts to Jawahar coats, prince coats and trench coats. As a consultant, I give them suggestions and help them arrive at a fair idea of what will look best on them, based on their personality. I also recommend which watch and what pair of shoes will complement the attire.
I feel men are not too fussy and the majority do not even bother checking out too many stores. I wanted to bridge that gap and make them fashion-conscious too.