THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For Aditi Mohoni (29) and partner Kunal Virwani (29), an impulsive road trip across Gujarat last year proved a life-changing experience and the inspiration for their ethical clothing brand, Aureole. “We started our journey from Ahmedabad and drove to Patan, Bhuj and Morvi where we stumbled upon weavers working on the finest textiles we had ever laid eyes on. The textures, art and skill involved in the process of khadi making had us spell bound. And inspired us to start Aureole,” Aditi tells us.
The label was launched on their e-commerce site in February this year with a versatile collection of dresses, tunics and tops for women. While most of us believe khadi to be a coarse cloth in an earthy palette of colours, Aureole’s soft textures and vibrant weaves subvert the traditional notions of India’s most revolutionary fabric. “Our main inspiration comes from nature and the idea of a contented life,” says Kunal of their effortless, romance-imbued silhouettes with names like First Date and Make a Wish.
Give me yellow
We love the electric yellow hue of their summer dress Sweet 16, the trendy off-shoulder Marie and the lady-like polka dots on their fit and flared dress Cleo. Kunal, who had worked in garment manufacturing in Dhaka (Bangladesh) says the duo is guided by “A strong passion to keep alive our crafts and textilesand make sustainable fashion accessible.”
The brand, which is headquartered in Kala Ghoda in Mumbai works with a small team of craftsmen. With orders coming in from all over the country, Aditi tells us that they interact with many discerning fashionistas in Chennai and Bengaluru. “While we are fascinated with khadi and its versatility, we are also exploring a collection in Chanderi and jamdani,” says Kunal of their upcoming collections. “We also hope to launch a collection of menswear and kidwear soon!” adds Aditi.
`2,000 upwards on aureole.in.
Details: 9619066405