EXPLORING NATURAL PHENOMENONS THROUGH TEXTILE TECHNIQUES WITH MORII DESIGN

We want to know where did your attachment to nature begin and how has this influenced your design practice?

I have always found inspiration in nature. Since school days I have been fascinated learning about the relation between geometry and nature. Concepts such as sacred geometry, fractals, golden ratios and such have been the biggest source of inspiration for me. I have been creating artworks inspired by natural phenomenons such as tides in the ocean, sound waves, flowing river, movement of celestial objects and simple play of light and shadow. These artworks become a base for further explorations using various textile techniques.

Have you re-connected to outside spaces or developed a new relationship to public spaces from a year of living in a pandemic?

We have started enjoying the beauty around us, instead seeking for fancy parties our journeys have become intrinsic.

We have found ourselves exploring more local options and understanding our own spaces. Things like hiking trips seem more fascinating than partying in shiny clubs! We have started enjoying solitude to a greater extent. In short words, concrete has started repelling – and rightly so! Our present public space needs a makeover, more work of hands to give a sense of care and love.

Do you feel a responsibility to preserve the natural and botanical life that surrounds us and if so, how do you do this?

To preserve the natural and botanical life surrounding us and to advocate about the same has been my biggest personal interest and I do it actively in every way I can. The same reflects in all the work we do as a brand too. We strive to create highest quality products using local natural resources and involving local artisans. We make sure our production cycle has the lowest carbon footprint. All our products use locally grown natural raw materials, for example, the base fabric we use for all our embroidery artworks is made of indigenous organic cotton crop called kala cotton, and we upcycle smallest bits of fabric waste from our studio. Our products are made in a very slow process and we promote mindful consumption.

Do you think design influences nature or does nature influence design?

I think both influences each other in different ways. Nature defines a direction for design, we build our living spaces defined by the natural climate around it, but sometimes design has a bad influence on nature! With problems like over consumption and waste generation, we have been depleting natural resources to a dangerous extent.

Tell us, what are your predictions for our public spaces and the relationships we have built with them during these times of uncertainty. Do you think they will continue to hold a significant part in our lives when normality arrives or will they become of a forgotten era? 

The pandemic will surely have a long lasting impact on the psyche of the public, there is a certain kind of phobia about being in public gatherings, more resistance in the concept of public places. We think this will be true in urban cities where people live in densely populated areas, their desire to get away to a more secluded destination is stronger. I feel there will be a shift towards natural outings into the mountains, forests and beaches rather than gatherings at the urban public spaces. I feel that art and good design will play a vital role in enhancing the experience of public spaces.

Can you share any projects which you have been working on recently? Or any plans for the future?

We have been working on wall art installation for the new Levis stores in India. There will be a series of textile wall art pieces made using different techniques such as hand-weaving, clamp-dyeing, patch work, embroidery and screen printing. The techniques and colour-palette used in these artworks reflects the process that goes behind making Levis garments.

As for future plans, we will be focusing more in the area of wall art. Creating wall art pieces gives us the perfect opportunity for putting together our knowledge of different textile techniques and involving various artisan communities into creating art pieces that are going to live a long life in beautiful homes.