Natural Dyeing
& Hand Painting

Studio, Gandhinagar

Hand painting in India has a rich history dating back thousands of years, with evidence of ancient murals and cave paintings, such as those in Ajanta and Ellora. Among the various traditional Indian art forms, Kalamkari stands out. Originating from the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Kalamkari involves intricate hand-painting on fabric using natural dyes. The word "Kalamkari" comes from the Persian words "kalam" (pen) and "kari" (craftsmanship), referring to the pen-like tools used for the detailed artwork. Historically, Kalamkari was used to depict mythological stories and epics.


In its earlier stages, Morii found inspiration in the traditional craft of Kalamkari. Fascinated by its meticulous techniques and the rich heritage of using natural dyes, Morii adopted these elements to shape its own artistic identity. However, diverging from conventional motifs, the brand developed a unique signature language that honors the essence of Kalamkari while introducing innovative and contemporary designs. In the words of co-founder Kabir, "Exploring Kalamkari and hand painting in general was a very liberating experience for Morii as it helped us to open our hands and develop the visual identity that today Morii is known for."



Traditionally, five to six different natural dyes were used in Kalamkari, such as red, yellow, blue, green, and black. These dyes were derived using meticulous and labor-intensive processes. For example, black color was derived by combining iron rust, jaggery, and water, and fermenting the mixture for 30 days. Similarly, red was derived from madder, blue from indigo, yellow from pomegranate, and brown from cashews. However, in today's fast-paced world, where consumers demand more options and convenience, natural dyeing has fallen out of fashion. Synthetic dyes have taken over, making natural dyeing a craft known only by a handful of artisans.



Hence, Morii places a heavy emphasis on the use of natural dyes for hand painting and naturally dyed fabrics for its artworks. The brand is working in constant collaboration with natural dyers across India to further develop variations in natural dyes while also using the waste generated by them in their artworks, contributing to the founders' vision of moving towards a zero-waste future.