Mrunal Khimji began her journey as a fashion designer 15 years ago in Muscat. Fascinated by the arts of India and a desire to get the varied forms of traditional crafts across the world, Mrunal launched her eponymous label featuring a plethora of Indian as well as contemporary designs in 2007. Mrunal, an alumna of the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, from where she graduated in jewellery designing, is a self-taught fashion designer. In this freewheeling interview, she talks about representing the art and crafts from India, sustainability, upcycling, and why there is no success without collaboration.
You launched Mrunal’s in 2007 as a self-taught designer. Fast forward to present day and your label is a name to reckon with not just in Oman but in other parts of the world too. How has the journey been?
It has been a great learning journey. Coming from a different field of expertise (jewellery designing), I had to learn everything from scratch as a fashion designer. I literally just jumped into the deep end. Along the way I swam, drowned at times, floated…but I kept going. I learned a lot; I am still learning, which keeps me going.
How did the shift from jewellery to fashion happen?
I left India quite early to pursue my education. While I was appreciative of international art forms, I didn’t feel the same for Indian arts and crafts until I visited art exhibitions when I went home to meet my parents. I remember going to art and fashion exhibitions in Mumbai and being fascinated by what India has to offer. I wanted to represent the arts and crafts of India through clothes and celebrate all that the country has to offer. Many craftsmen were moving out of the field due to a lack of support. Why can’t we empower them? That was the question I asked myself. Shortly after moving here, I opened a workshop in India and started showcasing in Oman. I realised I had to bring the crafts closer home – so along with opening Mrunal’s, I brought over the best craftsmen I had. My philosophy was to Make in Oman by bringing in the best craftsmen and raw materials from India. I did not want to open a commercial store where one could pick clothes off the rack. While showcasing and celebrating the rich culture of India, I also wanted to connect with the multi-cultural community we have in Oman.
What would you say is the ethos of your brand?
I aim to create pieces that can be carried forward by generations. It is not only watches and jewellery that can go to the next generation. When you have a beautiful, handcrafted outfit, it can be passed on to the next generation. Let’s take the tapestries of our generation to the next; it’s part of our heritage.
You have been an advocate for collaborations with peers and new designers, having hosted space for many at your boutique. Can you tell us about this initiative that you started right from the beginning of your career as a fashion designer?
Can you imagine a world without collaborations? Be it any field? I feel a standalone designer can be boring. As a designer, you have to be appreciative of others’ art and works. When I started off as a designer, I didn’t get any opportunities to collaborate or share space with anyone else in the field. I realised I have the platform to support my peers and upcoming designers. I am not just a designer; I consider myself to be a curator as well. A curator’s job is to bring together different arts and crafts. I learn from every designer or brand I have collaborated with, and I feel in turn I have been able to share my learnings too. We have had some renowned designers here that include Masaba Gupta, Varun Behl, Vidhi Shah, and Divyam Mehta to name a few.
Let’s not get pulled into the hype of changing the wardrobe every few months for social media. Respect the environment.
Mrunal Khimji
What keeps you motivated?
The desire to serve. I have asked myself – what have I done to make a difference? Even if someone said they felt beautiful in an outfit that we created at Mrunal’s or reminisce down the years about a saree that they bought from me and share their memories with others, it will be worth my while. We like to create memories and to keep the arts as well as tales from across India alive through our work.
Sustainability is a subject that is very close to your heart. With the rise of fast fashion, how does one do their bit towards the sustainability of our wardrobes?
Here is something to think about, which was shared in an ad by The Woolmark Company: Do you know where your clothes come from? Would you wear plastic? Every 25 minutes, an Olympic-sized pool of oil is used to make synthetic clothing. That’s almost 350 million barrels of oil each year. When we talk about sustainability, it’s often about switching off lights, saving water, or not using plastic. Why do we not address the topic of synthetic garments that not only harm the environment but also your skin? We have been long-time advocates of promoting organic, natural textiles that can last you a lifetime. Let’s not get pulled into the hype of changing the wardrobe every few months for social media. Respect the environment. Look at the labels when buying clothes. And be confident enough to repeat your clothes.
You have also been a strong advocate for upcycling. When did you initiate this process at Mrunal’s?
Upcycling is something that my ancestors used to do. My grandmother was a big advocate of upcycling. Old dresses were turned into bags to carry vegetables and groceries in. She had the uncanny ability to upcycle and reduce waste. I am just continuing the tradition. And in the process educate the new generation. The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters. We try to do our bit by reducing the impact through upcycling of leftover fabrics, even bits and pieces. We use leftover pieces of fabric to make everything from pencils and makeup pouches, bookmarks, buttons, and tassels to bags. We even give back any leftover material to our clients and ask them to come up with unique ideas to put the fabrics to use rather than discarding them. It’s not too much of an ask – we owe it to the environment and future generations.
