Concept to Commerce by Kusum Tiwari

In the peak summer afternoon of 22nd May, Flo hosted it’s first event at Apparao Galleries , The Leela Palace. The scorching heat didn’t deter the members from coming in large numbers. Kusum Tiwari who co-founded Mura, a textile venture seemed nostalgic, returning to Chennai after 35 years, having settled down in Delhi. Her entire journey and the birth of Mura seemed steeped in serendipity. She recounted her fascinating journey which was filled with delightful incidents and each time she felt Mura had reached a dead end, the road only seemed to be a curve ahead. From foraying into textile production using weaving and block prints, she moved to natural dyes. Indigo caught her fascination and it currently accounts for 40 per cent of Mura’s total production. And then ‘Shibori’ was stumbled upon.

Shibori is a Japanese technique that comprises various methods of dyeing cloth. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the same dye and the same technique never yield the same result twice. Shibori has become the cornerstone of Mura which has a boutique in Delhi and supplies to Fabindia, Westside, besides others. Mura creates saris, kurtas, dupattas in different hues and works on natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, tussar silk. The journey is not only about herself, but a few hundred more underprivileged women whom she is taking along as well…..

Her story gave the message that, faith in the heart and persistent hard work leads one to where one is destined. It is an amalgamation of pristine factors that never let you down ever in life, no matter what !