India Part 1

I am now in India, sourcing fabrics and manufacturers. I started off in New Delhi, and met up with a friend who works for Medicos Sis Fronteras (Doctors Without Borders). They give medical aid and emergency assistance to areas in need and emergency situations. I also became acquainted with one of his friends who works in the UN dealing with funding for a certain aspect of their work. On one of the days I went and had lunch with him at the UNICEF canteen with all the people who are employed there, which was really fun.
I met with Kusum Tiwari, the head of Mura Collective a textile project that employs handicapped women to dye natural fabrics with natural dyes in different styles including Shibori. She is currently moving the whole production and organization into the mountains, the foothills of the Himalayas and therefore isn’t able to work on any new orders for this year. Nonetheless, the meeting was fascinating and enlightening.
I also met with several local designers including Indians (Parveshjai), Dutch and Italian. They all gave me some tips, advice and further sourcing contacts which was very interesting.
I am now in the south of India, the state called Tamil Nadu, where much of the cotton and silk comes from. When I arrived at the airport I wasn’t sure where to go as all the hotels I had called the day before had said they were full. But within a few minutes a group of local college students who study pharmacy adopted me and took me around in their car to all the hotels until we found somewhere ideal. I have made especially good friends with a girl called Kavita, she is one of the most switched on people I have ever met. I had dinner with her on the day I arrived and last night I was invited to one of the Professors from their university which was really fun! I felt like the guest of honor and it wasn’t even my wedding! The groom was so excited to have me there and kept on wanting to take photos with him. Apparently white people at Indian weddings are a sure sign of prosperity and luck! Well I wish them all the best.
Today is Monday, and I finally am at Assisi Organics, the garment factory where I intend to have most, if not all, of my cotton garments made. It was so exciting to have a tour around the factory and meet all the peoples. Assisi was “Set up by Franciscan nuns, it provides employment for deaf, mute and poor women who were considered unfit for marriage by their families. Assisi provides a haven for these women to live in and a safe and supportive working environment. They are paid a fair wage and a lump sum paid after five years of employment to start a home.”
I toured the Assisi Organics plant where my pieces will be constructed and then had several other meetings throughout the day to begin shaping my clothing line. I was so excited to see the fabrics, the designs, and the first samples, as well as share our ideas for what the line will become.
The factory is immaculate, the work they do is such good quality, I am really happy with everything so far! The pattern master has started working on the patterns and he should be done by the end of the week. Tomorrow I will find out if they require me to stay here and work on the patterns with them, otherwise I might travel to Pondicherry for the time being, just to have a look around. Photos of the factory will be up soon!