Today on the blog, we feature Textile, Print & Jewelry Designer Mrunmayee Namjoshi. She is is the creative head & founder of Studio VAM, a home grown label in Indore. Her story…  

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Being born and brought up in Indore, my creative initiation happened at my alma-mater, National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad, where I specialized in Textile Design. After graduation, while working on print and textile designing projects, I got a chance to work in various craft-clusters throughout the country. The love for jewelry, hand-making and the skill-set acquired from various craftsmen, led to the setting up of Studio-VAM. We create hand-crafted and textile based mix-media jewelry.  

How did you begin STUDIO-VAM and how has it evolved over the years?

Jewelry is something I have always been curious about making, even as a child. This curiosity, when met with the spectacular diversity of traditional Indian handicrafts and hand-making techniques, VAM was found. We aim at celebrating each craft, one collection at a time, using fabric as a medium. 

The debut collection combined fabric with metal trinkets using hand-stitching. In the second collection, we collaborated with the blue-pottery craftsmen from Jaipur and local aari-embroiders.

In next few collections, we aim at collaborating with artisans practicing bead-work, metal casting & enameling, leather craft, etc. 

Why is making so important to you? 
My mother and grandmother, were both fond of hand-making. All my dresses as a child would be designed, stitched and often times hand-embroidered by the duo. The love for hand-making has traveled its way to me from them. India probably has one of the richest cultures of hand-crafting. In the current era of consumerism and fast fashion, a lot of this skill is getting lost because of it being a time and labor consuming process. There is a definite need to preserve these skills. By hand-making, we try to help the traditional artisans in continuing the legacy of their craft. Introducing hand-making techniques to many women has also made them self-reliable. I also feel when you make something by hand, you add a little bit of yourself to the product you are making. This is what makes the product unique.

Your work space. 

I work from my home-studio. Its a small studio with many plants and ample sunlight giving me and the karigars company throughout the day. 

Describe your artistic process. 
At VAM, we learn from the traditional, and try to marry it with contemporary aesthetics for today’s global wearer. Textile as a medium is very versatile in terms of form and texture. You can stitch it, fold it, shape it, embroider on it in any way you like. This versatility is explored along with addition of unprecedented material combinations in the making of the jewelry. 

Once the mood and inspiration of a collection is set, I start by sketching out a few rough ideas on paper. These sketches become the framework but most of the detailing work, color schemes etc. happens hands-on while making the sample. I make all the samples myself before teaching/handing over to the karigars.

What is currently on your work table?

I am currently working on a few designs to add to our blue-pottery collection. 

What is your personal favorite pick from Studio VAM right now? And why?

My personal favorites are the various fabric-strap neck-pieces. These beautifully combine the two materials, fabric and ceramic. The two crafts of hand-embroidery and blue-pottery come together in a fresh manner to create very contemporary pieces. It is my go-to accessory for the current wedding season.

What are your displaying at the By Hand, From The Heart.

At By Hand, From The Heart, Studio VAM will be displaying two jewelry collections consisting of earrings, neck-pieces and finger-rings.

First collection, the textile+metal collection, is inspired from the tribes all across India.

The maximalism in the attire yet the effortlessness with which it is carried is beautiful. This balance is translated into the collection.

The second collection is the blue-pottery collection that takes its inspiration from the rich and colorful culture of Kuchi nomads and their lifestyles.

Meet the Maker @
25th edition:  By Hand From The Heart Makers Market
8 – 9 – February 2019 | Friday – Saturday | 10 a.m – 9 p.m
Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park, (old Adyar Gate Hotel)
132, T.T.K Road, Alwarpet, Chennai – 600018, India.

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