“Grateful for the enduring love and guidance of my mother, who ignited my passion for tradition, and thanks to my son, Wali, for bringing the transformative gift of motherhood into my life, my journey with my label became an emotional blend of heritage and newfound purpose.”
“Grateful for the enduring love and guidance of my mother, who ignited my passion for tradition, and thanks to my son, Wali, for bringing the transformative gift of motherhood into my life, my journey with my label became an emotional blend of heritage and newfound purpose.”
My very ordinary story begins as a little girl, fascinated by my mother’s colorful wardrobe and chic dressing table. I clearly remember the day I found her first pashmina shawl – natural in color with a border adorned with rustic needle work. While my mother would reserve her more intricate shawls for formal events, she often draped simple ones around the house. People would often boast about their latest pashmina purchase, After all these shawls have a worldwide history of carrying a status symbol.
One day, mama took me to a local artisan’s workshop where I witnessed the magical weaving with my own eyes. The artisan allowed me to feel the softness of the shawl and even demonstrated a trick where he passed a large shawl through his finger ring. I still remember the scent of the wool and the feel of the soft, warm fabric. The texture, luxurious feel, and the intricate process of creating the shawl captivated me.
I gifted myself the first shawl when i was 18 and have been adding more to my collection ever since. It’s a humble reminder of my beautiful and rich Kashmiri roots. I would often design shawls for myself and help my local shawl maker pick out color combinations for his next creation. That’s when I discovered my profound love for this “Soft Gold” called Pashmina – the highest and finest quality grade of Cashmere wool.
When I started working closely with these artisans, It brought me immense joy and satisfaction, but it also brought to my attention the challenges they face. Fast fashion, machine weaving, competition from cheaper alternatives, Political instability in the region, Lack of innovation, and unfair wages for these artisans make it difficult for them to barely support their families and households. The centuries-old technique and knowledge of shawl making have been passed down within the families of these artisans from generation to generation. In the past, these Kashmiri Artisans held the exclusive designation of fashion designers for the royal families. It has become my personal goal to ensure that these artisans receive the recognition they deserve. I want to give them a platform to not only showcase their talent to the world and tell their story through the beauty of their creations but also uplift them directly working with them without involving middlemen or traders. These traders often take a large share of the profits, leaving little for the artisans themselves. Additionally, I would like to add value by educating them on innovation, Pattern, Color scheming, and Technology.
This lays the foundation for “Mariya Sufi” with a vision of embracing slow fashion as a bridge between the past, The present, and the future – a tribute to where we’ve been and a promise for what lies ahead.
Warm Hugs,
Mariya Sufi