Mehera Shaw- Reclaim the Feminine! Sustainable, Fair Trade Fashion

New Developments

2012-02-02T17:17:00.001-08:00

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

2012-02-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

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.

Cooperatives Panel Discussion: Shari Keller for Mehera Shaw at the EFF Source Expo, October 2011

2012-01-30T15:30:00.000-08:00

As several people have commented on the value of the Source Expo panel discussions and I myself also found them to be incredibly fabulous resources, I thought I'd post some of my "pre-answers" that I had formulated in preparation for speaking on the panel about Cooperative Producers in developing countries who produce in a sustainable manner. I would like to thank Tamsin LeJeune and all those at EFF who made the Source Expo possible and hope that my thoughts can contribute to developing the network of people who believe in ethical fashion.

Shari Keller - Mehera Shaw
How is Mehera Shaw championing marginalized producer groups?
We work with artisan block and screen printers who are considered marginalized in the sense that they have a finished product but limited access to the western market. We work directly with them, allowing them to set the price based on the current market. We make a point of including prints in a very prominent way in every collection we make and of seeking out clients who also want to use artisan prints in their collections. When using prints, we also seek to incorporate traditional Indian design elements into our collections in a manner that brings about a positive blend of East and West. We use both traditional print motifs commonly seen in the market as well as developing our own prints. In this way we work to bring new ideas into the printing community, discuss what market trends are there. We also work with printers to plan ahead to print on organic cotton which takes special consideration as the width is different and the grade of dyestuff is, in this case, certified organic. When working with artisan producer groups, we are seeking a cultural connection as expressed through the final design. The design should take into consideration the nature of the art or craft and use it to it’s best ability so that it becomes inherently valuable in the market, rather than being seen as a lower quality craft item that perhaps does not have lasting value. Part of the mission of Mehera Shaw is to uphold Gandhi’s principle of decentralized, rural production which allows a more traditional way of life and reduces city over population and the degradation of the family structure.
In our website and with our customers, we also tell the story of the printers, in photos, in words, in descriptions of the how the prints and clothes are made. Our clothing is not an industrial product divorced from it’s place of production. It is imbued with the lives and stories of the people who made it. The look and feel of the final product, especially when done to it’s finest level, tells a story of beauty, artistry and regard.

What were the challenges involved and how have you overcome them?
Communication is always the greatest challenge. Real communication is two-way, it is not simply a matter of getting the producer to understand the needs of the buyer. It is also incumbent on the buyer to understand the constraints and skills of the producer. Communication is a long-term relationship--a commitment to people. When a designer or buyer sees something of beauty that they would like to include in their collection, it is important to realize it may take time to work out the details of the look, the quality standard, the necessary lead times. All too often, details and quality control issues are assumed on both sides, creating the potential for misunderstanding. It take patience, listening, support and respect to communicate effectively. Many times producer groups have a very high degree of skill but are missing the understanding of how to finish a product so it appears packaged for the western market. It takes effort on the part of the designer or buyer then to demonstrate how the finished product should look--to give similar examples, to show a range of what is acceptable, to train people in the quality standard. none of these things can be taken for granted.

How have you worked with groups to preserve artisanal techniques?
We always start with something simple so as to have the best chance as success and thereby build a rapport. We see what a group is already doing, find an example that suits our needs and make as few changes as possible. We discuss at length the quality standard, the lead times, who does the work, in what setting (at work or in the home), what variations can we expect in the product, both within one order and across orders at different times of year. then we go one round of ordering and see what things work and what don’t without placing too much expectation on the first round. Only gradually do we make more design changes as we learn their skills and time frame. We learn how a group thinks, how they see things. Not everyone can express the constraints within which they work verbally, so much of the process is understood through observation. On my side, it is also a matter of education and skill development. If the artisan skill can be integrated into a design suitable for the western market, and the quality control and links along the supply chain can be connected, the artisan work will be valued and preserved. Artisan work is almost always admired, it is finding the specific ways to work to get the product into a final product suitable for the western market that is the challenge. The preservation of the techniques in the process of integrating them into the marketable design and in improving the quality so it has lasting value.
It takes more effort, but when the product is really something of value to the end consumer rather than just a feel-good hang tag, the market will also continue to support artisan made products.

Luxury Panel Discussion: Shari Keller for Mehera Shaw at the EFF Source Expo, October 2011

2012-01-30T15:16:00.000-08:00

As several people have commented on the value of the Source Expo panel discussions and I myself also found them to be incredibly fabulous resources, I thought I'd post some of my "pre-answers" that I had formulated in preparation for speaking on the panel about the Luxury market in sustainable clothing. I would like to thank Tamsin LeJeune and all those at EFF who made the Source Expo possible and hope that my thoughts can contribute to developing the network of people who believe in ethical fashion.
Prepared thoughts for the Panel on Luxury and Ethical Fashion:

1)Please tell us about Mehera Shaw, and the types of products you produce

We produce wovens in natural fibers and certified organic cottons for the high-end women’s market. We use detailed stitching techniques such as pintucking, pleating,topstitching and several other hemming details. We use artisan made hand block prints and screen prints in most all our collections. We work in the women’s and girl’s markets. We re also a full production service offering pattern making, grading, sampling, sourcing, production. We produce our own high-end label, Mehera Shaw using sustainable methods and fabrics within the highest quality available. We are a fair trade company committed to working with artisan textiles and stitching techniques in India.

How have you integrated sustainable practices- such as sustainable livelihood creation and building on artisanal techniques- with a high quality product?

Several factors go into integrating artisan techniques with a product that is viable and high-end in the western market. For example, the printing is certainly an artisan craft, and as such can be done to the highest degree of skill within the craft. When done well, hand printing, with it’s inherent blurring of the repeat pattern, is also artistic and beautiful. It then behooves the designer to be intimately familiar with the look of this type of printing in order to develop designs that show off the look of the printing rather than appear as though it is ‘flawed’ because it did not reach an industrial standard. Within the broad category of sustainable livelihoods, it is again a matter of discovering the skill base the workers have and then developing it to it’s highest degree and designing within it, making se of the skills inherently available rather than trying to change them in any drastic way. For example, our stitchers are already well-trained in top stitching, pintucking, pleating, and quilting so I focus on their skills in my designs. We have spent years working to use their skills and bend them toward a western look and to develop them to the highest level. We are working within a fair trade standard at all times, so this process of integrating a western look as the final product with the skill base of our workers fits very naturally.

What have the biggest challenges been and how have you overcome them?
Communication, intercultural understanding and learning how to develop long-term relationships. It is not a matter of simply clarifying what the western market demands or standards are, it is a matter of really learning what is possible and how the people you are working with think, how they see things, how they see their finished product. I spend lots of time showing our pattern master fashion photos of runways designers and discuss with him the cut, the shape, the fit, details of the styles so that his eye is trained and he himself can make judgement calls as to what fits the standard and what doesn’t . I bring in books of western tailoring techniques so that everyone’s skill level comes to the standard I am looking for, but without criticism. Everyone wants to feel inspired and to feel that they are appreciated. It is a slow process, yet invaluable in terms of building trust, communication and undestanding.

What do you think is the future?
From my perspective, the only way the luxury market or any market for sustainable clothing can really work is with long-term, trusted relationships. The designer must learn to design around what is possible rather than feeling like ‘anything’ is possible or sourcing fabric from a fabric show independent of who will cut the patterns, who will stitch the designs. If the design takes an active, committed interest in working with the people making the garments and modifies their designs based on the artisan reality, the result can be spectacularly beautiful. The investment is in the people. It is also a step toward what I would term ethical trade. This is a deeper level of integration than what the fair trade standard concerns are: it is about building trusted supply chain networks, all the way from the fabric supplier and producer, to the designer and finally through to the end buyer. It is not an anonymous relationship, just like Shakespeare’s market square where public life happens or Marx’s market place where face-to-face commerce happens based on trusted, known relationships, ethical trade would bring us back to the human invest needed to develop solid, supportive and trusted supply chains. Back to the human factor The artisan is no longer anonymous. The designer is not the sole hero. It is a collaboration at heart.

5) Can the biggest designer names be producing outstanding product quality to high sustainability standards?
Yes, they can. But again, it takes more careful attention to integrating the supply chain. It is a give and take rather than the western world stating it’s needs, demanding a certain standard, then dismissing a supplier if those standards are not met the first time out. It is also not enough for a company to want the ‘feel good’ hang tag designation of fair trade or the CSR brownie points of working with a certified factory. It takes intercultural understanding and long-term planning. It takes a deeper commitment on the western side to understanding what is required on the production side to make it sustainable and to support, financially, morally and culturally, those requirements.
It is akin to slow food. The time and planning and investment of the soul must be an integral part of the design. There are two types of production choices: the industrial, high-volume, model where everything is computer aided design, pantone shades are met exactly, fabric is mill-made. Then there is the artisan model where specialized designs are made on a smaller scale. This requires artistry on the part of the pattern masters, the dyers, the printers. It is less exact and will not turn out precisely the same each time. It s also infused with a human touch and has the potential, like haute couture, for real artistry. The attention, then, must placed first in understanding which details are important, and then in overseeing the details, step by step: this is the human factor.

Mehera Shaw at the EFF Source Expo

2012-01-30T15:04:00.000-08:00

Mehera Shaw Textiles Pvt. Ltd. presented our abilities as a fair trade small-scale production studio to the folks at London's EFF Source Expo last October. It was a great success for us and a big thank you to everyone at EFF for going to such considerable efforts to make all the connections between designers, producers and suppliers along the way. We've had loads of inquires about Mehera Shaw ever since and hope to grow enough to keep up! I've put together a Designer Guidelines document for any of you who may be interested in working with us. We are very small-scale at the moment but for many of you, that is a good match. We do high-end (meaning lots of stitching and tailoring detail) women's wear in wovens, natural fibers including GOTS certified organic cottons and Jaipuri screen and block prints. We are also just now developing our collection of organic printed voiles for wholesale and retail sale along with a new product range of Do-It-Yourself sewing kits! Please don't hesitate to write to me about any of these items or just your thoughts about fair trade artisan production in India. I can be reached at: info@meherashaw.com.

Mehera Shaw at Innatex August 2011

2011-08-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

Come see our new collection of Artisan Organics and our newest label, Erdenlicht at Innatex Booth #75, hosted by our agents, Lebenskleidung.

Mehera Shaw announces new affiliate label: ErdenLicht "Light of the Earth"

2011-02-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

Mehera Shaw announces the creation of a new affiliate label: ErdenLicht "Light of the Earth". Organic and natural fibers nightwear in vintage and renaissance silhouettes. We will post photos of the new look, hopefully by early May! This label will be available for wholesale orders through Mehera Shaw. It is produced by Mehera Shaw Textiles under fair trade working conditions. ErdeLicht will also be available online through our Mehera Shaw shopping cart by end March 2011. It will be available initially in both the US and the EU. We hope to make it available to UK and Australia residents within the year as well.

Artisan Organics Organic Cottons Summer 2011

2011-01-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

Spring summer 2011 Uptown Style

2011-01-02T10:29:00.001-08:00

Boheme Epoche

2011-01-02T10:18:00.001-08:00

Summer 2011 Collections

2011-01-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Summer 2011 collections are available now. For in-stock collections of Boheme Epoche and Andalusian Gardens, please contact Shari Keller directly. We are taking orders on our UpTown Style Collection for delivery in March-April. We are also taking orders on our new Artisan Organics Collection of GOTS certified organic cottons, which are herbally dyed. Delivery March-April. Please see photos for styles on the various collections.

Mehera Shaw Showing at TheKey.to and Innatex January 2011

2011-01-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

Mehera Shaw is showing our winter 2011 collections of Artisan Organics at both TheKey.to (20-22 Jan in Berlin) and Innatex (29-31 Jan near Frankfurt) in Germany in January 2011. We are excited to announce that this collection is the first to include GOTS certified organic cottons along with our beautiful handloomed Kashmiri wool coats, handloomed cottons, tassar silk and artisan hand block prints. Our main collection is our women's wear, but at the Innatex show, we will also be including a new girls collection (sizes 2-10) of organic cottons and artisan textiles and fabric selections of hand block prints for order as well. We are also available to work with other designers on a small-scale to help them produce fair trade and eco-friendly clothing. For spring 2011, we will also have a smaller collection of organic and hand block printed cottons available for March -April delivery as well. Please come visit us in Germany this winter! For further information, please email Shari at info@meherashaw.com

Bohême époque - Spring 2011

2010-11-22T16:36:00.000-08:00

Spring 2011 Collection in cotton silk.

Fall Collection 2011

2010-09-19T10:43:00.001-07:00

Spring Collections

2010-04-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

Spring Collections have arrived in our Minneapolis shop!
New Spring Hours: We are now open Tuesday through Saturday 11am-7pm
Back in Carrboro! Mehera Shaw is now available in limited collections at Painted Bird Boutique in the Carr Mill Mall, Carrboro, NC

From the Design Desk, Jaipur, India

2010-02-21T16:40:00.000-08:00

I recently returned from one of my regular 2 week trips to our Jaipur production studio. As always,my trip was productive and busy. On this trip, we started sampling new styles for summer as well as some one-of-a-kind styles for Kashmiri wool long coats. I'm excited to see the new styles in person as it were. I'm attaching some photos of the new summer styles as a sneak preview. These are style in cotton silk (the best of both worlds as the weave in one direction is cotton, in the other is silk--cool comfort plus silky luxury!) I'm also in the process of developing our overall brand, Mehera Shaw, into some smaller more specialized collections, including a luxe fabric collection of easy wear elegance, a hip, youth oriented collection, a men's line and an organic collection.

I'm also attaching a photo of our group of employees in Jaipur including our manager, pattern master, cutter and stitchers. These people do a fabulous job and really make Mehera Shaw what it is. As I have time, I will write more about my experiences working with them in Jaipur as I can't say enough positive tings about them and their focus and dedication.
From the Pink City,
Shari Keller
Designer,
Mehera Shaw

Spring Patisserie Fashions

2010-02-21T16:26:00.000-08:00

Spring is almost here! We've just posted our lovely spring/summer 2010 fashion photos to our site and want to let everyone know they will be available on our shopping site and in our shop by March 21st. Just in time for spring! Our theme for 2010 spring/summer is The Pastisserie. Inspired by delectable French edibles--pastries, wine, fresh fruits and vegetables--our equally fresh model goes shopping for the best in fresh, organic food. We support and celebrate the finest in life—fair trade, feminine beauty, and of course, an unparalleled joie de vivre.

Mehera Shaw Design House Now selling in India

2009-12-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

Mehera Shaw Designs,by Shari Keller, are now available in India. For more information, please send email inquires to: info@meherashaw.com.

Cozy Quilted Sale

2009-10-28T09:25:00.001-07:00

''We are having a sale to help keep you cozy- All quilted jackets and vests are 40 to 70% off. They are one hundred percent eco-friendly cotton through and through, guaranteed to keep you warm without overheating, available in colourful solids and rich hand block-prints. We have almost twenty styles and prints to choose from, some casual and easy to wear and others so dramatic, striking and elegant that holiday season comes to mind.''

Mehera Shaw feature on channel 9 FOX news

2009-09-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

Go to approximately minute four and a half for Mehera Shaw and Minnesota Fashion Week spot.

Fashion Week and September Sale!

2009-09-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

MN Fashion Week Events and Sale

2009-09-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

Feminine Fair: In House fashion show

Mehera Shaw Boutique, Thursday, September 24, 7-9pm

Shari Keller, designer of the Mehera Shaw line shows off her Fall 2009 collection, "Footpaths: the Silk Road to Highstreet." Models will mingle and chat with the audience during this casual fashion show. White wine and refreshments will be offered.

Meet the Designer: Chat with Refreshments

Mehera Shaw Boutique, Saturday, September 26, 1-4 pm

On display will be photos of Shari’s previous collections, her workshop in Jaipur, and of block printing by village artisans. Informal conversations will focus on design and production: the process of creating a “look,” developing a collection, having it made, and the significance of fair made.

SALE: Friday and Saturday, September 25-26: 30% off storewide on regularly priced garments.

Mehera Shaw is a contemporary artisan line with feminine styling, upholding fair made standards. Shari uses natural fibers in highly wearable, layered silhouettes. She specializes in the handblock prints of the Jaipur region of India. Shari and her husband, Mark Keller, own Mehera Shaw as well as their own manufacturing company in Jaipur, India.--

The Fashion Muse: Embracing Pragmatism and Femininity at Mehera Shaw for Fall

2009-08-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis, MN, August 2009—Designers often say they’ve got a muse by their side when developing a new collection. But what inspiration should the muse offer in these uncertain times? Glamorous optimism? Tough Chic minimalism? Safe classics? While Donna Karan and Balenciaga may be defining a softly draped pragmatism in their silhouettes, others such as Zac Posen are off replaying the glamour of Hollywood circa 1940s with fanciful collections that are surely meant to counterbalance the economic realities. Ralph Lauren and Hermes have balanced sculpted classics with a bit of whimsy and adventure. Karl Lagerfeld found his muse in the warrior-esq power-woman of the eighties—all in an effort to strike the right mood in tough times. Still others, like Shari Keller who designs Mehera Shaw, and has an eponymous shop here in Minneapolis, engage their muses with the toughest of jobs: appeal to both the creativity and pragmatism of the feminine spirit.

This fall, Shari walks the fine balance between affordability, wearability and joie de vive. Her new fall collection is titled “Footpaths: The Silk Road to High Street”. The look? Bohemian Classicism: touches of nouveau classics woven together with folkloric elements from across the Orient. Styles range from sophisticated and smart, a la Audrey Hepburn, to contemporary artisan-wear akin to the tapestries of Etro and the heritage prints of Liberty of London.

Shari notes, “As always, I strive for wearability, comfort and femininity in this fall’s collection. In response to the times, I have found inspiration from lands along the Silk Road: trading centers rich in a mix of Oriental cultures where one can enjoy the play of the sensuous with the pragmatic. I use layer upon layer of richly patterned fabrics, subdued pastels mixed with saturated-tones in heavily quilted jackets, ruched skirts, and richly stitched tunics. I allude to Tolstoy’s Russia: reds, maroons, and teal blue together. I pair tassar silk and handloomed wool in neutral tones contrasted with earthy olive and burnt sienna.”

Shari uses only natural fibers in her collections. Her color palate includes a range of neutrals such as wheat, parchment, bark as well as iron, graphite, and warm grays as a more subtle, atmospheric response to the traditional black. She reworks traditional autumn colors in shades of soft reds, honey yellows, muted sienna shades and hints of sensual lavender. Saturated tones are also present in fall’s array: midnight and majolica blues mixed with warm olives give an air of refinement and much needed mystique to counterbalance the times.

“At Mehera Shaw, we see women looking for high-value styles: styles that are affordable, highly wearable, and yet decidedly feminine. It’s a look that transitions easily from work to socializing, can be dressed up or down and won’t go out of style quickly. Women also love a bit of creative expression, a touch of magic, to their overall look –achieved through richly colored scarves, accessories, and a few specialty pieces. Feminine expression is vital to maintaining a cheerful outlook during tough times.”

Owners Mark and Shari go one step further in their embrace of the pragmatic, creative feminine. They urge women to “be the change they want to see” in the philosophy of the late Indian social leader, Mahatma Gandhi. In practical terms, this means a vibrant, be-yourself form of feminine esprit coupled with a belief in grassroots buy local, buy independent, purchasing power. Shari comments, “Our customers support independent businesses and buying fair made wherever possible.”

Mehera Shaw is part of a growing trend of artisan-style, small businesses, i.e., businesses that develop a high quality product on a smaller scale and tailor it to local customer needs. The Kellers have also created a vertical business by designing and manufacturing their own product under fair trade working conditions. Mehera Shaw is located at 2004 Hennepin and on the web at meherashaw.com.

Upcoming Events: Look for Mehera Shaw during MN Fashion Week.“Feminine Fair” is the title for their upcoming in-house fashion show September 24, 7-9pm. “Meet the Designer,” a chat and in-house reception, will take place September 26, 1-4pm.

2009-08-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some snapshots from the new Fall collection. The prints are called (my personal favourite) Peking Rose and Village Flower, and are some of the most rich and beautiful I have yet seen.

I hope these beauties can inspire us all to look forward to Fall.

Siobhan.

Shari's Notes From The Design Desk

2009-07-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

July is a month to make the most of your current wardrobe—perfect for showing off the wonderful dresses in your summer wardrobe. Also, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy more great summer styles. Arriving in our shop for End of July—first, a fabulous, not-to-be-missed, semi-annual clearance sale! We are selling off many discontinued styles at great prices starting the last Saturday in July. Did I say great prices—they will be really great! 60-70% off! Mark your calendars, and enjoy the savings—still plenty of time to wear all our fun summer prints round the lake or out and about.

First of Fall: Our Lady of Perpetual Anticipation has the word that first of fall is soon to see! Time to look ahead for our Mehera Shaw fall-preview, arriving in our shop July 25th! We will be sending out early-bird specials, so keep watching or write to us and ask to be included in our customer list. First of fall includes lots of ¾ sleeve cotton voile tops and tunics in a more muted color palate--warm grey-blues, lavender, naturals, olives and a Chinese floral print on deep maroon which I quite like-- a range of crop pants and some lovely wrap dresses.

For later in the fall, when Jack Frost starts appearing, we have many lovely, cozy quilted jackets arriving, quilted skirts, leggings, and new collections in cotton jersey, twill, corduroy, velvet, silk. Of course, as I mentioned in my Notes from Jaipur, I was actually imagining Yasminka, Mongolian princess (and current fashion muse), somewhere between Lake Baikul and Tashkent when the cold arrived—a very practical princess who knows how to dress when she happens to be in urban Minneapolis. She and I were quite pleased with many new finds on my recent trip to Jaipur--particularly the new fabric we sourced including silks, cotton silks, handloom wool, and some exceptional trouser fabric. As always, I had many new samples made and am now in the process of deciding which of those will actually make it into production for the final garment. I have really been taken recently with a number of East Asian influenced design elements: frog buttons, Mandarin collars, wrap tops and kimonos. Of course I always hope to have everything I love made, but usually I have to edit the collection based on practical limitations, or juggle the timing of the collections, especially for winter collections as the quilting alone takes an incredible amount of time. Stay tuned for Yasminka’s arrival in the Twin Cities later this fall.

New developments: I have also begun adding several new products to Mehera Shaw. We have a fuller children’s line due in our shop end of July—same type of Asian influenced designs in easy-to-wear styles with colorful prints for girls age 2-10. My 6 year old loves the clothes, combines prints with amazing style, and can climb trees quite well in our skirts, thus demonstrating the easy-to-wear aspect!

We are adding block printed cotton quilts to our collection beginning this fall—in children’s, single and queen sizes. They are unbelievably soft and cozy--great for those chilly evenings around the corner!

Down the line, hopefully by spring, we will have a new nightwear collection of both demur, vintage styles and muted colors in the softest of cotton voile as well as a more trendy line of nighties in jazzy prints. Long, quilted robes to be coming as well—just about perfect for any season.

For next summer we hope to have a limited collection of plus sizes from 1X-3X in women’s tunic tops and skirts. I’ve had many requests for this line over the years and hope to fit it into our production schedule soon.

Five New Outfits

2009-06-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Jessica, our associate and internet go-to lady, shows us what she wore to work at the store today and tries on a few looks from the pickings at our Minneapolis store.

Blisland Tunic- $88, Charcoal Leggings- $58

“This is how I came in today. It’s unusually cold and really windy for this time of year, so maybe unconsciously I’ve dressed in darker colors! I get cold easily, so I usually dress in layers. I’m wearing my favorite Mehera Shaw cotton leggings under a black tunic dress that I bought in Japan when I lived there. Over that is our Blisland printed tunic top.”

Shree Phul Jaal Tunic Dress- $89, Cherry Blossom Pink Topstitched Cropped Pants- $88, Silk Chiffon Scarf- $40

“This ensemble was actually one of a few featured in our Spring/Summer collection model shots. It looked so cute on the model that I had to try it on. I love these pants! They remind me of the 1920s. The blouse is so flow-y and comfortable, too. I tied a silk scarf around my waist for a little definition of my figure. One customer called this look “very swashbuckling” and I have to agree!”

Dusty Turquoise Top- $58, Brown Lace Skirt with Ties- $117, Handloomed Raw Silk Scarf- $50

“I really like chocolate brown and light blue together. It’s a really carefree, comfortable look that is put-together but still very relaxed. "

Golden Lotus Tank Top- $68, Black Voile Skirt with Pintuck Detail- $156, Handloomed Silk Colorblock Scarf- $60

“I’ve been dying to try this top on! The “Golden Lotus” print is my favorite at our store. One of our regular customers came in to try on this top and she looked so bright and cheerful that she made me want to try it, too! This actually came out more formal than I had expected, especially with the gorgeous scarf.”

Basil Green Wrap Dress with Printed Belt- $139, Boysenberry Blouse- $68, Indigo Cotton Scarf- $16

“I feel very jet-set in this look, like I’m about to go to Paris or Rome. I wouldn’t had thought to wear the Boysenberry top unbuttoned as a kind of cardigan, but it’s a great idea and adds even more color and sophistication to the outfit.”

Shari's Notes From Jaipur

2009-06-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

Shari Keller, the Designer and Creative Director for Mehera Shaw, writes from our production studio in Jaipur, India:

Deepali, our shop lady, quality control checker and computer person, Vijay, and Rajan, our manager for everything at our Jaipur Store

I have been in Jaipur for the past 10 days working out new designs and sourcing fabrics for future collections. I work at our Mehera Shaw production studio in which is located in an affluent neighborhood in Jaipur. I’ve had a rather strong desire to try out some Chinese influenced designs lately, so I’ve sketched out a tunic style with Mandarin collar, quilted front and back insets, and beautifully hand-done, Chinese buttons. I’ve added to that a style of traditional Ladakh pants and hopefully we’ll make a Ladakhi quilted vest as well. In general, my imagination has been leading me along the Silk Road for inspiration, so I also have some richly quilted long coats, trimmed in velvet with Chinese/Russian buttons. Before my trip to Jaipur, we shot some fashion photos of our upcoming fall collection and kept our model going with images of yak herding Mongolian princesses. My fictional muse is now named “Yasminka” and is able to lead large herds across the Mongolian plains while looking gorgeous in multiple turbans, a quilted jacket, Ladakhi pants, and perhaps a saber at her side. What does all this have to do with you and me and a stylish urban fashionista? The challenge I suppose, is to bring all my imaginative wanderings into focus in a very wearable, comfortable, yet richly intoned and decidedly feminine style. Hints from my style muses filter down into something urban, stylish, unique. I love the hint of the Orient and the wearability of the West.

My desk, before it got too messy

On this trip, we also searched for and found a new block printer. We are always on the lookout for new artisans to work with and this was a particularly good discovery. He specializes in the vegetable dyes of Bagru village, a centuries old tradition that has been developed to the point of true artistry. The printing techniques are dependent on the weather, quality of the water, drying times, and absorption of the fabric. All these elements influence the colors, so the mixers and printers are truly master artisans at work. I always find myself lost in the beauty of a print, noting how it changes characteristics when done in different color schemes. It is usually difficult to limit myself in choice of prints. Often, as I work, I choose a print and develop it into new and slightly modified color schemes. On this trip, the vegetable dye colors were so lovely and earthy, I decided to go ahead and use them as is since they brought the richness of my oriental inspirations to light.

Madanji, our pattern master, putting a new sample on the dress form

I am also developing a few original prints, blending the characteristics of the traditional block print motifs with stylized floral patterns and contrasting shades of intense jewel tones and muted pastels. There is almost limitless possibility in this realm. I love the freedom of imagination reigned in by my guiding principles: beauty, femininity, and wearability.

Ramuji, our cutter, Hanumanji, our sample maker, and Madanji, our pattern master

I have come to have great respect for those who are working here in our studio now. Our pattern master is brilliant at making lovely clothes from my sketches. Our cutter is equally as talented in making sure the patterns and prints are cut just so. They take the care that few people even consider doing. Each day, at our shop in the states, I hear people comment on the quality of the cuts, the stitching. Praise for this goes to our stitchers: a small group of men (yes, in India the men are typically the stitchers, pattern masters, and cutters). Day after day, they carefully make beautiful clothes. They are all ordinary people; but they are doing their best. All these bits and pieces, on a human scale, are felt in our clothing.

So, needless to say, I love every minute of the whole process—from sourcing and developing beautiful fabrics to working out the designs with our staff.

Jessica's Tips for Wearing Mehera Shaw as a 20-Something

2009-06-22T16:36:00.001-07:00

Many younger women in their late teens and twenties come into our store while waiting for the bus or just taking a stroll around our South Minneapolis neighborhood. They really enjoy looking at our clothing, but sometimes seem to say things like:

“Oh! My mom would really love this store!”
Or,
“I should take my grandma here sometime!”

Admittedly, Mehera Shaw clothing is designed to accommodate a wide demographic and array of personal tastes, but it seems that our style can be a bit intimidating at times to younger fashion buyers.

As a 20-something fan of Mehera Shaw (as well as an employee with access to a generous discount), I’m constantly finding new ways to incorporate our clothing into my admittedly casual wardrobe. Part of the fun of my job is seeing peoples’ reactions to how I wear our clothes and inspiring customers of all ages to play around and layer in ways they would not have thought of previously.

I often pair boldly printed tunics with a dark denim pencil skirt or wide-legged black pants, throw on our lightweight cotton leggings under mini dresses and loose blouses, and layer cropped cardigans over printed wrap dresses for a funky but classy retro look. I accessorize our look with sweet headbands and tiny gemstone earrings to add an even more feminine touch.

Mehera Shaw is a very exclusive and upmarket brand, and with that comes the price of our clothing that is often not so easy on the budgets of those just getting started in the professional world. Buying separates, while indeed a good investment, can get quite expensive if one’s fashion budget is stretched thin. My personal solution to this is to buy a dress and layer it; wear a cropped blouse or a button-down shirt over it to create the illusion of a skirt, or wear the dress as-is. You can see how I’ve paired an Ocean Teal cotton blouse with my Golden Lotus printed wrap dress to create this look:
Scarves, which are very, very in right now, are a great way to put a little of our “Spice Chic” into your wardrobe. Starting at only $18, scarves are incredibly versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down and tied, wrapped, and worn many different ways. See how different my casual outfit looks with and without a scarf? Also, try wearing a tunic top or short (or even long) dress worn over skinny denim or leggings- it's always a fashion-forward and youthful look, but it’s also a staple of Indian fashion! This combination looks good on just about everyone and is a unique alternative to top-and-slacks or top-and-skirt pairings.

Mehera Shaw clothing is designed to embody the creativity, expressiveness, and femininity of all women, so experiment and discover your own youthful, colorful looks.

Jessica, Minneapolis Store Associate, on Mehera Shaw Clothing

2009-06-22T16:34:00.000-07:00

As a woman in her now mid-twenties, I’ve come to the point in my style life where I realize that my wardrobe is not quite professional and just on the edge of being “grown up.”
This is not especially surprising. I graduated from college only two years ago and my career has taken me from being an elementary school teacher in Japan (no place for silks and suits) to being a freelance writer and illustrator (where I can work in pajama pants and a t-shirt) to an Associate at the Mehera Shaw boutique in Minneapolis. Only now, working in the Fashion sector, is my wardrobe becoming more polished. I absolutely give the credit for this to Shari Keller’s designs for Mehera Shaw. All aspects of our clothing – the cuts, the colors, the prints, and the production ethics- inspire me immensely. I feel polished but feminine and entirely my own in my clothes from our store. More than anything, when I wear Mehera Shaw, I feel more confident and classically individual.

My personal style has come a long way since I first discovered pleated miniskirts and Doc Martens in high school, but it’s obvious that there have been two constants in my clothing history: COLOR and PRINT. My biggest style influences have always been the 1960s (with Mod London’s use of color and simple cuts to make bold statements) and the 1920s (with an increasingly internationally-inspired silhouettes and motifs and the dedication to artisan details and techniques). Mehera Shaw fits me perfectly since it takes aspects of both of these eras and incorporates them into a modern, polished look; the clothes are bright, colorful, unique, and incredibly well-made. When I look around our store, I find my favorite mod day dress re-imagined as a red paisley print shift, a prohibition-era gamine look embodied in turquoise cropped topstitched trousers, and the modern tunic as a reminder of the inspiration I draw from traditional world costume.

Like many, I’m also increasingly committed to Fair Trade practices and a have a strong preference for buying handmade goods. As a consumer, I want to send my money to the artists and artisans themselves, and I feel positive about buying at Mehera Shaw since I know that it will be fairly supporting everyone involved at our studio in Jaipur. When making a purchase at our store, I’m also supporting the farmers in India who provide the organic cotton and silk used to make our fabrics. Finally, as a former Asian Art major and all around “art geek,” I’m thrilled to be able to purchase contemporary versions of the centuries-old Indian artistic tradition of woodblock printed clothing.

Mehera Shaw has absolutely contributed to me ever-changing sense of style. I really am inspired by being surrounded by such beautiful, fun, and joyful clothing all day, and am always looking forward to what’s next for us!

Siobhan, Minneapolis Store Manager, on Mehera Shaw Clothing

2009-06-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

Is there a way to lean back against the wall we have hit in our economy and strike an attractive pose? Might we find novel ways to look outstanding against such a grey backdrop? Let me tell you, those black and brown outfits won’t pop much against that aforementioned wall. That haute tough smirk won’t take you far this year when what we all crave is a genuine smile. What we need now is some color, some fun and delight.

In brighter times, when options and ideas were more profuse, it seemed sensible and somehow grounding to look hard-edged. In the midst of disposable incomes and trends those black outfits appeared nonchalant and stoic, a grand contrast to the hyper-stimulation of advertising and the burgeoning mass media. As the nineties crept forward through the millennium fashion embraced darker and darker cloth and attitudes that continued right through into recent years. The culmination came in skull-and-crossbones motifs in the strangest places- on baby clothes for example. Finally we started to see so much black polish and grey fabric that the nonchalance began to metamorphose into plain negativity, perhaps an uncanny prelude to the recent crash.

So the worst has happened, or so some would say. Here we are rebuilding and reframing our perceptions. Now, rather than a makeover for our home and a new wardrobe every season, we might just be able to commit to one or two new pieces of clothing every few months. Personally I want those pieces to be uplifting and graceful. I want them to be high quality, investment pieces that won’t quickly date and that justify the time I took in selecting them. Mehera Shaw offers clothing that is elegant and classic, with just enough whimsy to make the pieces feminine, and enough color to lift any black mood. The delightful variety of prints are examples of age-old traditions of printing and dyeing, making luxury and history accessible and most of all- wearable.

The tightening of purse-strings has also made many people more conscious of the Global Community and has given us a chance to pause and reflect on what we might do to be better citizens. I find, with less money to spend, I generally make far more conscious and conscientious decisions and think much more carefully about where that money goes when I sign it over. It is time well spent to find places like Mehera Shaw who are committed to Fair Trade and to ecologically sound practices. It comes as a relief to know that I am doing as little harm as possible and maybe even helping someone by considering more carefully where my dollar goes.
This is the perfect time to embrace the beauty that is ours to claim. It is a time to find charm in good company, artistry in that well-prepared dinner and pleasure in smelling the proverbial roses. In the midst of these shaky times I hope, as women, we can still find ways to celebrate and show ourselves in a new light. We need to take responsibility and be the beauty we want around us, be the happiness we still feel, and manifest these ideas not just in our attitudes but in our outer appearances as well.

Welcome To Mehera Shaw

2009-06-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to the Mehera Shaw blog! If you're not familiar with us, please visit our website to view our collections of organic, fairly made, "decidedly feminine" clothing, learn more about our history, and contact our Minneapolis, Minnesota and Chapel Hill, North Carolina boutiques.

We'll be regularly featuring articles written by Mehera Shaw staff on everything from how to wear our clothing to issues in Fair Trade and Eco-living, plus shop updates, announcements of new merchandise and sales, as well as the sources of our inspiration.

Thank you, and welcome to Mehera Shaw!