Fashion designer Neha Kabra walks the talk with Maati, her eco-conscious fashion label that offers a unique blend of handmade and hand-dyed fusion outfits. Inspired from travels, nature and the jigs and jerks of everyday experiences, her collections are delightfully breathable, chic and versatile.
While creating and wearing sustainable fashion is about making an eco-conscious choice, there’s so much more that makes it fun and exciting. Vibrant colour blends and style sensibilities, sprawling design possibilities, breathable fabrics and seamless fusion – it’s all about thinking out of the swatch and seeking inspiration in everyday life. More and more designers today walk the talk with organic options to design exquisite ethical clothing. Neha Kabra, Founder, Maati fashion label, is undoubtedly one of them.
Versatile Handmade Collections
With her thoughtful collections, Neha brings an eclectic variety of handmade, unique and versatile styles for women who like to embrace themselves the way they are. Rather than settling for drably mass produced and tediously repetitive designs, fashionistas can now explore innovative outfits infused with traditional handicrafts from various regions.
Rich Lavender & Green Hues of Rang
Her latest collection Rang, for instance, breathes in loads of freshness from rich lavender and green hues into your fashion statement. Bandhini tie and dye has been skillfully employed to accentuate design elements such as balloon sleeves, invisible buttons, and angrakha necklines. If a combination of comfort and style is your priority, then the pure cotton collection could be an apt pick for casual wear as well as dressing up for special occasions.
Befikre – Breezy, Bold, Whimsical
For the present-day generation navigating through situationships, the Befikre line is a bold, breezy and whimsical way of processing heartaches and breakups. Neha embodies the free spirit crossovers with effortless layovers and overlapping silhouettes and geometric and striped patterns. A must-try for weekend brunches and leisurely resort wear!
Eye-catching Upcycled Jackets
Equally striking are her upcycled jackets adorned with heavy Kutchi embroidery and eye-catching applique work. Made from vintage rugs, each piece has been incredibly transformed from its ruggedness into chic sophistication and yet glows in the beauty of its natural imperfections. Crafted with 100% wool as its base, these are ornamented with cotton threads. The jackets make for great gifting options for your BFF, especially if she loves bright and boho stuff.
Inspiration from the everyday life
Having done her Masters in Pattern Cutting from Central Saint Martins, London, Neha’s travel experiences expand her vision as much as her roots nurture her sense of belonging. All these facets play a key role in her “idea of creation and enjoying the process rather than the outcome”. She points out “the influence of the lush nature of Udaipur, her hometown, in her floral works and the Portuguese artworks in her characteristic geometric patterns.
Sustainability was in fact a way of life for Neha, who grew up in a joint family with cousins, uncles and aunts. It inculcated the importance of “needs” over “wants”, which she incorporated into ethical fashion. With more than seven years of experience in the industry, she strives to make a mark with ethical values, sustainable brand philosophy to minimize carbon footprint. Her mother, Prabha Kabra, is the co-founder of the brand and has been a constant support through her journey.
Ethical Practices & No Plastic Packaging
Whether it’s talking about the family of Motilal Dangi from Lakhavali, involved in pattern cutting and sampling or Feroz Khan from Jaipur, who dyes the cloth, Neha shares a personal connect with her production staff and treats them with utmost respect, compassion and fairness. The brand’s production practices in endeavoring to achieve zero-waste goals include sourcing handloom khadi fabric created by the Ganai family in West Bengal with minimum water and no electricity. Neha also describes with a sense of pride Maati’s “No plastic packaging” that comprises use of recyclable cardboard boxes, paper tapes and corn starch bags. The brand tags are made from seed paper.
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Phone no: 8767344467
Email id: maatibynehakabra@gmail.com
