Sustainability, naturally-dyed and locally grown are terms now commonplace in the fashion industry. But brands that grow their own plants to create dyes are few and far between. Which is what designer Mridu Mehta Tiwari hopes to change with Kokūn (meaning, cocoon), which she founded in 2020, to create zero-waste garments eco-printed with tannin-rich leaves and flowers.
“Along with natural dyeing, our focus is on zero-waste techniques, and we see to it that not even a single piece of our scrap ends up in landfills. We patch and upcycle to make unique one-offs,” says Mridu, 30, who dropped her spring collection recently.
Inspired by nature, the range — featuring stretchy tops, pants, and skirts — draws from the “changing seasons and their impermanence and vivid beauty” and uses seasonal flowers and plants as dyes. Each piece is made-to-order, and uses “slow stitching” hand embroidery techniques like sashiko and kantha.
