Thursday, February 2, 2012

New Developments





2011 and 2012 are times of many new developments at Mehera Shaw! In 2011 we added several new product categories, 2 new labels, we added more private label openings and began an official internship program. It does feel like a lot, but in a vey positive way. We are still trying to catch up with all the possibilities suddenly opening up.
Our first new label: Erdenlicht is a German term for Light of the Earth and was developed specifically for the German market. Erdenlichet is a sustainable fashion label geared toward family and home life, high wearability, soft, casual comfort, and lasting quality. Always fair, always organic. Collections include women's and girl's nightwear, robes, Do-It-Yourself sewing kits for girls and women. Affordably priced.

Our second new label is Lena Ashe: For the vivacious young woman who loves everything about life, but has a cutting sense of humour, has seen a bit of the world, knows her mind and likes to be happy. Geared toward the 22+35 market, Lena Ashe is fun-oving, high spirited, fair trade clothing, full of colourful prints, free-slowing styles, wind-in-your-face, sunshine-in-the-air dreams.

In terms of new products, we have added some lovely Do-It-Yourself sewing kits in girl's styles. These are in printed cottons and are available in both English and German. Please see our photos under the Collections Menu on our main site.

We have added a nightwear category as well:lovely vintage romantic styles under our main Mehera Shaw label exquisite detailing in white cotton voile with lace accents. These will soon be available on our upcoming online shopping section and are currently available by wholesale order. Please see our photos under the main Collections Menu. We have also added a line of Erdenlicht nightwear for women in all organic cottons--simple, elegant, timeless styles. Photos are in the main Collections Menu and are available by wholesale order.

We are also starting to develop trend-driven fabric collections in both prints and solid colours for wholesale and retail sale. Please look for these on our website later in 2012.

Private Label Production

We have had a vey busy and success 2011 and hope to continue in this direction throughout 2012. Just an update on the specifics: we began adding more openings to our private label production in early 2011 and have received both a welcome and overwhelming response. We are trying to grow, albeit in a careful and pragmatic way, to accommodate the requests for new private labels as well as being able to balance production of our own Mehera Shaw label. In economically trying times, we are thankful to have more business. We are also happy to note how many young designers are choosing to work in a sustainable way--supporting fair trade and sustainable fabrics.

In 2012 we are planning to add an upper floor to our existing facility to accommodate our quality control area and fabric orders better. We hope to see this project completed in late May (certainly hope it will be completed before the start of the summer monsoon rains!!). We are working to develop the skill level of some of our younger tailors and hope to be able to offer more opening in our production schedule for new private label designers. Please contact Shari Keller at info(at)meherashaw.com if you are interested in more information in private label production. I will send you our Designer Guidelines packet which describes our facility and options for working with us in more detail.

Mehera Shaw Foundation: Water Treatment Plans

In November of 2010, Mehera Shaw staff, Nagarajanji and Madanji, along with director, Shari Keller, founded a non-profit trust. The purpose of the trust is to act as a development and collection program for knowledge regarding artisan textile techniques, low-impact/de-centralized textile technologies, vegetable dyeing and artisan block and screen printing. The trust will seek funding to implement programs which increase cradle-to-cradle sustainability in local textile manufacture in the area of Jaipur, India. It will also seek to be a knowledge base for designers wanting to learn how to design using sustainable techniques.

We are currently in the initial stages of seeking grant funding to build a water treatment and recycling facility for our dyer, Babu Khan. Currently Mehera Shaw purchases GOTS certified cottons as well as GOTS certified dyestuff but would like to complete the GOTS certified supply chain by incporating the required water filtration and treatment for our dyeing unit.

We are in the very early stages of this project and will welcome anyone who would like to participate. Through Mehera Shaw Textiles, we have set up an internship program whereby students may receive university credit for 3 month internships with Mehera Shaw. We will invite people with a background in water treatment and development in India to apply to aid us in this project. Serious applicants should write to Director, Shari Keller at info(at)meherashaw.com giving their CV, qualifications, experience and intent.
 
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