Umoya

Umoya is a nonprofit enterprise that specialises in Shibori, a traditional Japanese dyeing technique. It aims to create elegant and eye-catching designs that keep abreast with current trends and colour pallets. Umoya was founded in 2007 and since then the brand has constantly been trying out new techniques and expanding their product line.The beauty of using a traditional technique like Shibori, is that there is always an element of surprise, since the process cannot be totally controlled. Each piece is unique, and cannot be duplicated. It is wonderful to know and witness a creation born of the collaborative efforts of the materials used, and the artist. The process involved is so unique and challenging that the piece created truly has a life of its own.

Purpose

Umoya aims to enable livelihood for the women around Kambipura, Karnataka, India, while at the same time providing a space where one could constantly learn new techniques, and apply it to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Skill development is of utmost importance to Umoya, and they are constantly learning how to make different products, all the while pushing their boundaries of what is possible with a traditional technique like Shibori.

People

The Umoya family currently consists of 6 women, along with the founder couple. The design unit is located in the village of Kambipura, which is also where all these women reside. Umoya provides a safe space to work, and the convenience of bringing their children to work when required. During the initial months of the Covid pandemic, additional women were employed to help make cloth masks that were then distributed for free to nearby localities, and eventually sold at a nominal price which helped the women of Kambipura provide for their families in these uncertain times.

Planet

At Umoya all the carry bags are made by patchworking the waste cloth generated during the dyeing process. They also save up tiny scraps of printed cloth, to create patchworked stuffed toys and cushion covers. The resulting products have an individuality that cannot be replicated, hence providing the end user with a one-of-a-kind creation.